Monday rush hour. As usual, you’re getting ready to head to work… but when you reach the turnstiles, disaster strikes! You realize you’ve left your Navigo pass at home. Well, by the end of 2026, that will be a thing of the past! Because if you have a credit card, you’ll be able to validate your trip directly… Here’s how it works!
Taking public transit… with your credit card!
Following in the footsteps of London, Madrid, Lisbon, and New York, it’s now Paris’s turn to roll out this system, which thousands of users have been eagerly awaiting. And it’s about time!
How does it work? Users will be able to pay for their daily fare directly with their physical or digital credit card, using a validator designed for this purpose. You’ll be able to take buses, trams, RER trains, Transilien trains, and even the metro using your credit card—all contactless.
But to take advantage of it, you’ll have to be patient! Buses will be the first to adopt this new system in the summer of 2026, followed gradually by the metro, RER, and Transilien trains, with clear priority given to the most tourist-heavy lines. But be warned: each time you swipe your card, a fee of about 10% of the transaction amount will apply…
But why hasn’t this system—which has been in place for about a decade in certain cities across France and Europe—arrived in Paris sooner? Well, quite simply because it’s very expensive! It costs 100 million euros to install thousands of devices in train and metro stations… So mark your calendars for this summer to start testing this brand-new system!
