Smart card

Starting February 1, 2024, children under 14 years old will enjoy free public transport via a new electronic card system. Previously available for ages 7 to 10, the updated initiative grants free travel to a wider age group, requiring replacement of existing cards by February 1. Parents can extend current cards until then at a cost of BGN 15 for January.

Bulgaria has embarked on a digitization journey by replacing traditional paper food vouchers with a plastic card, akin to a bank card, initiating this transformative move at the start of the year. This transition will involve a grace period until July, allowing issuance of both paper and electronic vouchers.

A new generation of identity cards will be issued in Bulgaria probably by the end of the year. They will have an embedded chip, which will enable electronic identification and use of electronic services.

The new documents will have the highest level of forgery protection. The difference in their appearance will also be the photo on the back of the card.

Prices of cards and the new changes, valid from January 1st 2023, can be also be read here.

1 The new time tickets - how to use and charge them

How do I buy a ticket?

Ljubljana – An agreement on the production of Slovenia’s new biometric identity cards was signed on Monday. The new ID cards will cost 29 euro and contain multiple identity markers and security features. It is expected that Slovenia will start issuing them in March next year.

Cardholders for non-contact payments Mastercard and Maestro will now be able to cover up to leva 50 bills without entering a transaction approval PIN. The increase of the current limit of BGN 20 will come into force on April 12, the operator of these cards announced.

The decision on Tuesday by the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) to allow commuters in the Greek capital to use their old October passes until November 15, is expected to lead to new revenue losses.

Commuters in the Greek capital will be able to use their old punch-tickets and October passes until November 15, the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) said on Tuesday, revising the date from November 10 as announced earlier.

The extension of the old system was granted in response to the long queues that have been forming at issuing booths for the new electronic cards.

Commuters in Athens can now purchase smart cards for public transport, which can be used instead of paper tickets, at sales points that have opened at 11 different metro stations.