Public Transport Card Guide (EZ-Link), Singapore

The EZ-Link card is the contactless travel card of choice in Singapore to ride smoothly in the MRT, LRT and even the public buses, with a speedy tap-in/tap-out and distance based fares which reward transfers within a ride. Passengers have the option to purchase and refill at MRT stations, ticket offices, convenient shops and self-service machines or use the SimplyGo app to check balances and automatically refresh the balance.

Short term residents can use the Singapore Tourist pass (STP) which will entitle them to bus and train travel over 1 to 3 days in a row. Always swipe in and swipe out to save maximum fare, have a small buffer balance and travel during off-peak to get comfort. To families, a one-adult card per person avoiding queues and time-saving transfers, a regular EZ-Link card is more convenient than a visitor tourist pass of fixed days.

Where to get and costs

• Purchase at MRT Passenger Service Centres and TransitLink Ticket Offices; most of 7-Eleven stores sell EZ-Link cards as well.
• Standard entrance charge consists of a minor non-refundable fee to start the card and initial stored value; maintain a minimum balance to swipe at the gates.
• Tourist? Take the case of the STP of unlimited basic bus/MRT/LRT travels per 1-3 days; premium services are not available.

How to use on MRT/LRT and buses

• When entering at the gates or bus readers, tap in and when leaving to make sure that the fares are charged according to distance.
• The number of transfers in a journey is known to be up to five, which lowers the total fare compared to the individual tickets.
• In case you forget to tap out, a full fare is paid; solve at a TransitLink office (where necessary).

Top-up and app features

• Top up in General Ticketing Machines, Add Value Machines, TransitLink counters, the selected ATMs, and convenience shops.
• The companion application handles the balance checks, transaction history, card expiry notification, rewards and auto top-up.
• Store receipts or app records in order to track expenses, particularly in multi-stop itineraries.

Tourist Pass vs EZ-Link

• EZ-Link: Pay-as-you-go, which suits flexible or longer stay; prices are based on actual usage and transfers.
• STP: 1-3 days of unlimited use; ideal when travelling on large buses on short routes.

Tips for smooth travel

• Always keep the card in a convenient sleeve; do not tap two or more NFC cards simultaneously.
• Keep at least several dollars in the bank so as to avoid gate rejection in times of peak transfers.
• In the case of groups, each person should be allocated one card; it should not be shared in the same fare gate.

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