How to use an IC card
Get one card, charge enough balance for the day, and use the same card consistently until you exit.
Steps
- Buy or set up one IC card before your first busy transfer.
- Charge enough balance for the day so you do not get stuck at the gate.
- Tap the same card or phone on entry and exit.
- Top up before you run low, not after you are already blocked.
Common mistakes
- Entering with one card and trying to exit with another.
- Letting the balance get too low during a rush transfer.
- Mixing paper tickets and IC taps without understanding which one is active.
What it solves
- Faster gate entry
- Easier bus and subway payment
- Fewer small paper tickets during short urban rides
Good routine
- Buy or issue the card early in the trip.
- Add a practical balance before the first long day.
- Tap once, wait for the confirmation, then keep moving.
- Recharge when convenient, not when the queue is behind you.
If something goes wrong
- Go to the staffed gate, not back through the automatic gates.
- Show the card or phone you used to enter.
- Keep calm and explain the last station where you tapped in.