When you’re traveling to Taiwan or just starting your life here, one of the first questions you’ll face is: “How do I get around? Do I need cash to buy tickets for the MRT and buses?” That’s when a small contactless card—the iPASS card—becomes your best friend for getting around Taiwan hassle-free!
Think of iPASS as Taiwan’s version of an integrated transport and micropayment card, similar to Japan’s Suica, Hong Kong’s Octopus, or Korea’s T-money. Just tap and go—you can ride the MRT, trains, and buses, plus buy stuff at convenience stores and coffee shops, and even rent YouBikes.
You might have heard of Taiwan’s other transport card—EasyCard—so you’re probably wondering what’s the difference between iPass and EasyCard? Actually, they’re both island-wide transport cards and work pretty much the same way. The main difference is that EasyCard was promoted by Taipei City Government, while iPass was pushed by Kaohsiung City Government. In the early days, some northern public transport only accepted EasyCard, and some southern transport only took iPass, but now both work everywhere across Taiwan.
Whether you’re a short-term tourist or a long-term student/worker settling in Taiwan, this article will give you the complete lowdown on iPASS—what it’s for, how to buy it, top-up strategies, and how one card can unlock Taiwan’s transport and daily life!
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Read more: Ultimate Taiwan EasyCard Guide: Everything You Need for MRT, YouBike, and Bus Travel
Table of Contents
How to Use iPass in Taiwan | One Card for Transport & Shopping
Works on All Public Transport
Originally, iPASS was launched to serve Kaohsiung’s transport system, but today you can use it all across Taiwan. Whether you’re in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, or even remote areas like Hualien and Pingtung, you can use iPASS on MRT, buses, Taiwan Railway, intercity buses, light rail, ferries—basically any public transport.
For example, in Taipei you can tap iPASS to enter the MRT, in Kaohsiung you can ride the Kaohsiung MRT and light rail, plus transfer to bus systems. In some cities like New Taipei and Taichung, you can even get transfer discounts (like NT$8 off when switching from MRT to bus), making daily commuting more affordable. Plus, some YouBike bike-sharing systems support iPASS registration and rental, perfect for short trips.
For independent travelers or people living in Taiwan, this one-card convenience not only saves time buying tickets but also avoids the hassle of getting change or dealing with language barriers.
Read more: Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide: 10 Types of Taiwan Transportation and How to Use Them
Micropayments Made Easy
Beyond transport, iPASS supports extensive micropayments, making it a great daily spending companion. In Taiwan, you can use iPASS at almost all convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart), plus chain supermarkets (PX Mart), bubble tea shops, fast food (McDonald’s, KFC), coffee shops (Starbucks) and more.
Many parking lots, vending machines, gas stations, and movie theaters also accept iPASS, so you don’t need to pull out your wallet—just tap and pay.
Campus Access, Library Books & Smart Integration
The above two functions are what tourists use most, but iPASS goes beyond transport and shopping! It’s often integrated into student IDs, employee cards, and access cards—important features if you’re living in Taiwan long-term. Many Taiwan universities and high schools issue student IDs with built-in iPASS functionality, so you can tap for building access, ride transport, and buy meals. (In northern Taiwan, most schools partner with EasyCard instead.)
You can also pair it with the official iPASS MONEY App to top up, make online payments, check transaction history, and even apply for virtual cards and e-receipt integration, creating a completely digital lifestyle.
How to Buy & Top Up iPASS | Beginner’s Essential Guide
Where to Buy iPASS
You can buy iPASS at service counters in almost all MRT stations across Taiwan, especially convenient in Kaohsiung MRT and Taipei MRT systems. If you’re taking the MRT straight from the airport, remember you can grab one at the service desk or near ticket machines.
All four major convenience store chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, OK Mart, Hi-Life) sell standard iPASS cards. Sometimes they release special designs, anime collaborations, or holiday limited editions that are both collectible and practical.
If you want to buy in advance, you can purchase on KKday and pick it up directly at Taoyuan Airport when you arrive. This bundled purchase includes NT$200 stored value—super worth it! Plus, iPASS cards never expire and can be reused forever (you can also ask friends who’ve been to Taiwan if they have one you can borrow).
How to Top Up iPASS
After buying your card, you can top up through several methods:
- Convenience store counter top-up: The most common and convenient way. Just tell the clerk how much you want to add, tap your card, and you’re done. Amounts are in New Taiwan Dollars, usually starting from NT$100.
- MRT station auto top-up machines: Most MRT stations have self-service machines where you can insert bills to charge your iPASS and check your balance.
- App top-up (iPASS MONEY): Download the official app, link your bank account or credit card, and top up online while checking your balance and transaction history in real-time. Great for long-term residents or those wanting virtual card features.
- Auto top-up function: Link your iPASS to a specific credit card, and it’ll automatically add money when your balance drops below a certain amount (like auto-adding NT$500 when below NT$100), saving you from frequent top-ups.
The top-up limit is usually NT$10,000. If you need heavy long-term use, we recommend using the app to track your balance and manage expenses.
iPASS App & Virtual Cards | Digital Life Made Easy
iPass can also work as a virtual payment card, though this feature is less useful for tourists but more relevant if you’re studying or staying long-term in Taiwan.
The official iPASS MONEY App lets users directly top up cards on their phone, make QR payments, check balances, view transaction history, and apply for digital payment features, upgrading your iPASS into an e-wallet. You can also link bank cards and enable “auto top-up,” so it automatically adds money when below a certain amount—basically using it like a bank card. So what’s the difference from paying directly with a bank card? The difference is that for small payments, this e-wallet is more convenient than bank cards, since some shops might not accept credit cards but will take iPass for micropayments.
Summary: Who Should Use iPASS? What’s the Difference Between iPass and EasyCard?
In conclusion:
Living in Taipei/New Taipei or frequently using Taipei MRT → Recommend EasyCard
Living in Kaohsiung/Pingtung or frequently using Kaohsiung MRT → Recommend iPASS
While both iPASS and EasyCard now work island-wide, in southern Taiwan (Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung) and eastern regions, iPass is still more widely accepted, with many co-branded tourist cards and local partnership discounts.
Also, if you’re riding Kaohsiung MRT, you can purchase 1-day or 2-day unlimited passes at any station service counter for unlimited rides during the validity period. So if you’re traveling to Kaohsiung and need this unlimited MRT service, iPass would suit you better than EasyCard.
| Feature | EasyCard | iPASS |
| Issuing Company | EasyCard Corporation (Taipei City Government-led) | iPASS Corporation (Kaohsiung City Government-led) |
| Northern/Southern MRT | ✅ Supports Taipei MRT | ✅ Supports Kaohsiung MRT |
| Taipei Ubike Support | ✅ Full support | ✅ Supported, but initially promoted EasyCard |
| Kaohsiung Ubike Support | ✅ Supported | ✅ Full support |
| Main Promotion Area | Taipei, New Taipei focus | Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan focus |
| Official App | Easy Wallet – check balance, transaction history | iPASS MONEY – check, top-up, payment functions |
Feel free to check out more details via iPass Official website
Read More: Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide: 10 Types of Taiwan Transportation and How to Use Them
Read more: Ultimate Taiwan EasyCard Guide: Everything You Need for MRT, YouBike, and Bus Travel
