Tap-in/out payments heading to Singapore transport after two-year trial

Public transport users in Singapore will be able to use debit and credit cards to tap in and out for their travel payments from April 2019.

After more than two years of account-based ticketing trials, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is launching SimplyGo – the official name for the contactless bank card payments system. The programme is initially being open only to Mastercard users and those with Mastercards in mobile wallets where the device is NFC-enabled. Visa holders are having to wait until the end of 2019 before they can take part.

SimplyGo will be available to use via both a website and smartphone app. A full list of supported operating systems and devices will be revealed by the LTA ahead of the launch in April. 

As is the case in other cities with this approach to transport payments, there’s no need to top up a separate card and there’ll be no additional fee to use the service. Those without bankcards can upgrade existing cards to take part in SimplyGo, for example concession cards, EZ-Link, or NETS Flashpay cards – though holders of these cards will need to wait for advice on how to do so from LTA.

The launch of the programme in April is expected to make commuting a lot more convenient for Singapore’s citizens, and those eligible to take part (Mastercard holders) will not have to pre-register their cards.