Taiwan EasyCard 2026 Complete Practical Guide
Overview
The EasyCard is Taiwan's most popular contactless smart card, offering a 15–20% discount on Taipei's public transport system. In addition to Taipei, Taiwan has three other major transport cards - icash, i-Pass, and EasyCard - with varying levels of acceptance across different regions. Foreign visitors can purchase one without registration, making it an essential item for anyone visiting Taiwan.
Core Data Table
Comparison of Four Major Transport Cards Across Taiwan
| Transport Card |
Issuer |
Main Coverage Area |
High Speed Rail |
Taipei MRT |
Taichung Metro |
Kaohsiung Metro |
Convenience Stores |
| EasyCard |
EasyCard Corporation |
Mainly northern Taiwan, expanding island-wide |
No |
Yes |
Partial |
Yes |
Yes |
| icash 2.0 |
President Chain Store Corporation (7-11) |
Island-wide |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| iPASS |
Kaohsiung Metro and others |
Mainly southern Taiwan, expanding island-wide |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| i-pass (AI Jin Ka) |
Far EasTone Telecommunications |
Island-wide |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Recommended for Visitors: EasyCard (most Taipei MRT discounts) or icash 2.0 (available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide)
Taipei MRT EasyCard Discount Details
| Discount Category |
Discount Rate |
Conditions |
| Taipei MRT Rides |
85% of full price (15% discount) |
Automatically deducted when riding with EasyCard |
| Bus (Taipei City) |
80% to 90% depending on route |
Transfer discount with MRT same journey calculated separately |
| MRT + Bus Transfer Discount |
Second ride free at most |
Transfer within 90 minutes |
| YouBike 2.0 (first 30 minutes) |
Free |
Deducted from EasyCard |
| YouBike 2.0 (over 30 minutes) |
TWD 5 per 30 minutes |
Deducted from EasyCard |
| Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus |
Partial discount on some routes |
Varies by route |
Taipei MRT Fare Reference (EasyCard Deduction)
| Distance |
EasyCard (TWD) |
Notes |
| 0–5 km |
TWD 20–25 |
Short distance |
| 5–10 km |
TWD 25–30 |
Medium distance |
| 10–15 km |
TWD 35–40 |
Cross-district |
| 15–20 km |
TWD 40–50 |
Long distance |
| Over 20 km |
TWD 50–65 |
Terminal stations |
Detailed Explanation
Purchase Locations and Deposits
| Purchase Location |
Deposit Required |
Initial Fee |
Immediate Use |
| Taipei MRT Station Customer Service Centres |
Yes (TWD 100 deposit) |
From TWD 100 |
Yes |
| Convenience Stores (7-11/FamilyMart/Hi-Life) |
No (varies by card type) |
TWD 100–200 |
Yes |
| Taoyuan Airport Service Counter |
Yes (TWD 100) |
From TWD 100 |
Yes |
| Convenience Stores (Online Order) |
— |
Depends on package |
Collection required |
Note: EasyCard deposit of TWD 100 is non-refundable (some special editions may be refundable); card cancellation refunds the remaining balance minus a TWD 20 service charge.
Top-up Methods
| Top-up Channel |
Minimum Amount |
Maximum Amount |
Service Charge |
| MRT Station Top-up Machines |
TWD 100 |
TWD 1,000 per transaction |
Free |
| Convenience Stores (7-11/FamilyMart) |
TWD 100 |
TWD 1,000 per transaction |
Free |
| EasyWallet App (linked to bank) |
TWD 100 |
— |
Free |
| TaiwanPay/Mobile Payment |
TWD 100 |
— |
Free |
| Bank ATM (some supported) |
TWD 100 |
— |
Free |
Maximum card balance limit: TWD 10,000
EasyCard vs icash 2.0 Comparison (Traveller Perspective)
| Comparison |
EasyCard |
icash 2.0 |
| Taipei MRT Discount |
15% off |
15% off (unified from 2024) |
| Purchasing Convenience |
Available at MRT/convenience stores |
Available at 7-Eleven nationwide |
| 7-Eleven Purchases |
Accepted |
Accepted (more icash points) |
| Taiwan Railway Travel |
Accepted (some routes) |
Accepted |
| Recommended for |
Travellers primarily in Taipei |
Travellers across Taiwan |
Taiwan Railway/Taiwan Tour Bus Acceptance
- Taiwan Railway: EasyCard can be used on some routes (commuter trains), but reserved seats (Taroko Express/Puliman) and long-distance trains require separate tickets
- Taiwan Tour Bus: Most routes accept EasyCard, with some offering discounts
- High Speed Rail: Does not accept EasyCard (separate HSR tickets required, available via HSR app/kiosks)
Foreign Traveller Usage Notes
- Foreign travellers do not need to register their EasyCard; presenting a passport is only for statistical registration (not mandatory)
- EasyWallet App requires a local Taiwanese phone number and bank account, making it difficult for foreign travellers to set up
- If you have Line Pay or Apple Pay in Taiwan, you can bind your EasyCard through the wallet function
Notes
- EasyCard balance below TWD 0 (with -TWD 30 buffer) needs to be topped up to continue using
- YouBike 2.0 must be unlocked with EasyCard/mobile app; credit cards cannot be used directly
- For areas outside Taipei (Kaohsiung/Taichung), it is recommended to use local cards (iPass/icash 2.0) to ensure maximum discounts
- Special-shaped EasyCards (Hello Kitty/cartoon versions) are available at stationery shops/specific stations; they have higher collectable value but the same functionality
- EasyCards with no usage record for over 4 years may be frozen; please take note
Related Resources
- [[FactcheckDocs/TW/TW_datatable_交通費率_v1]]
- [[FactcheckDocs/TW/TW_datatable_taiwan_sim_card_tourist_2026_v1]]
- [[KNOWLEDGE_MAP]]
Data Sources / Related Verification
The data in this article is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (TW_datatable_taiwan_easycard_guide_2026_v1.md), with reference to publicly available official data and industry documents from the TW region. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.
[[FactcheckDocs/TW/TW_datatable_交通費率_v1]][[KNOWLEDGE_MAP]]
Taiwan Market Data
Taiwan had 8.1 million visitors in 2023, GDP of $759 billion, night market culture renowned worldwide, and 13 one-star Michelin restaurants in 2024.
| Metric | Data | Source |
|---|
| Annual Visitors | 8.1 million | Tourism Bureau |
| GDP | $759 billion | DGBAS |
| Michelin | 13 | Michelin |
