TPASS 2.0 TPASS is a national initiative launched by the Taiwanese government to promote affordable, low-carbon, and green public transportation. While the original TPASS 1.0 acts as a monthly pass offering unlimited rides for a flat fee, TPASS 2.0 (launched in January 2025) operates as a frequent rider program. It is specifically designed for users who might commute less often, travel across different regions, or just want to earn money back on their regular transit use. Instead of paying a large sum upfront, you pay per ride and earn cash rebates based on your monthly travel frequency.
How to register and Top Up to join the program? You need to register an identity-linked electronic ticket card (such as an EasyCard, iPASS, or icash 2.0) on the official TPASS 2.0 website, https://tpass.gov.tw/esgtms/svc/webui/home. If you choose to buy a brand new, specially designed TPASS card and register it online, you can receive a one-time 100 NTD cashback bonus.
Several ways to Top up (adding value to) your card is highly convenient in Taiwan
- Cash Top-Up: You can add value using cash at the four major convenience stores (7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, and OK Mart) or at passenger information counters in MRT stations.
- Mobile Top-Up: If you use a new generation "SuperCard" (超級悠遊卡), you can use the Easy Wallet app (https://www.easycard.com.tw/en/) on your smartphone to top up your balance anytime and anywhere.
Benefits and Rebates The core benefit of TPASS 2.0 is its tiered cashback system. Here is how you benefit:
Basic Rebates: If you take 11 or more trips in a single month (from the 1st to the end of the month), you become eligible for fare rebates. The maximum rebate you can earn is 2,500 NTD per month per card.
TPASS 2.0+ Upgrades: As of December 2025, the program expanded to include medium- to long-distance national highway buses. If you ride these specific routes just 2 or 3 times a month, you get a 15% fare rebate. Riding 4 or more times gives you a massive 30% rebate.
Claiming Rebates: Your earned rebates will be available starting the 25th of the following month. You can easily claim them by tapping your card at a convenience store counter or an MRT top-up machine.
Using TPASS 2.0 in Taipei and New Taipei (Greater Taipei Area) The Greater Taipei area has a massive public transit network, and your registered TPASS 2.0 card works seamlessly across the Taipei MRT, New Taipei Metro (like the DanHai and Ankeng Light Rail), local buses, and YouBike.
When using it in this area, it is important to know how your trips are counted. Local bus and national highway bus trips are combined into one category, while trips on the Taipei MRT, New Taipei Metro, and Taiwan Railway (TRA) are calculated separately. This means if you are a regular Taipei MRT commuter, you only need to hit 11 MRT rides in a month to start earning rebates for the rail category. Furthermore, the Taipei MRT has its own internal frequent rider program (offering a 5% to 15% discount depending on your ride count as of March 2025), which can actually be combined with your TPASS 2.0 benefits.
Long story short, there are EasyCard, iPASS and icash 2.0, 3 kinds of contactless fare payment in Taiwan, you can buy the physical card from the convenience store, the cost is NTD100 for the empty card (0 value), you can top up