TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Passengers in Taipei and New Taipei City will be able to ride buses and the MRT using QR codes on mobile payment apps from Jan. 3, with the same frequent rider discounts as traditional transit cards.
Taipei's Department of Transportation said the new system will support five electronic payment providers: Easy Wallet, iPass Money, icash Pay, JKOPay, and PXPay Plus, per CNA.
Passengers should first open their preferred mobile payment app and select the “ride code” instead of the regular payment code. After activating the ride code, they can scan it at the ticket reader or gate.
Once the screen shows a successful scan, payment is complete. There is no need to wait for the app to display confirmation, helping ensure smooth boarding and alighting for other passengers.
Like using a traditional transit card, passengers must scan the QR code both when boarding and alighting, and must use the same payment method for the entire trip. Only Easy Wallet, iPass Money, and icash Pay will offer transfer discounts.
Credit cards and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay cannot be used for buses yet. For the MRT, these options will be available after a six-month testing period, expected to launch in July next year.
Regarding frequent rider rewards, Taipei Metro said the current usage of stored-value cards such as Easy Wallet, iPass, and icash Pay will remain unchanged. Passengers using QR code ride codes will receive the same MRT rewards, with cash-back credited to their payment account on the fifth of the following month, but rewards cannot be combined across different payment tools or accounts.
The department said the city will continue to work with and invite other payment providers, such as Line Pay Money, to join the system, aiming to allow passengers to access all major public transit in Taipei and New Taipei City with just a mobile phone.
