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.
Next branch
Use the quick steps above first. Open the full detail only when you need examples, edge cases, or the next task.
Detailed guide Full notes, examples, and recovery steps
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.