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From 28 July 2026, NSW seniors and pensioners can tap on with a linked bank card, phone or smartwatch instead of their physical Gold Opal card, and still get the $2.50 daily fare cap and $17.50 weekly cap. Set it up via a Transport Connect account, but keep carrying proof of your concession entitlement, as that part doesn't change.
Getting to appointments, running errands or catching up with family should never hinge on remembering to grab a plastic card on the way out the door. From today, that is one less thing for older Sydneysiders to think about. A change to the NSW public transport network means seniors and pensioners can now tap on with a bank card, phone or smart watch and still receive their full concession fares, giving hundreds of thousands of people across Sydney a simpler way to get around.

Physical Gold Opal cards are not going anywhere. If you are happy with your card, keep using it exactly as you do now.

But if you would rather tap on with something you are already carrying, 

Transport for NSW has set out a simple four-step process:

Step One

Check eligibility. Confirm you qualify for a Seniors or Pensioner Concession fare.

Step Two

Create a Transport Connect account online. Link your concession details and a credit or debit card.

Step Three

Tap on and off with the same card or device every trip. Using the same one consistently helps ensure your fares are calculated correctly.

Step Four

Keep your concession proof on you. This is a detail worth knowing: you still need to carry valid proof of your concession entitlement, such as your Seniors Card or Pensioner Concession Card, when you travel, even once you have switched to tapping on with a phone or bank card. It is the physical Opal card itself that becomes optional, not proof of eligibility.

Once set up, tapping on with a bank card, phone or smart watch gives the same deal as today: the $2.50 daily fare cap and the $17.50 weekly cap.

Why does this matter for older Sydneysiders?

Transport for NSW estimates that between 30 and 40 per cent of seniors and pensioners will eventually switch to contactless payments, and around 8,000 concession holders have already signed up since the broader rollout started three months ago. 

For customers of our Sydney home care teams, many of whom use public transport such as buses, trains and ferries outside of our travel and transport services for appointments, to do their shopping or catch up with family, this is one less thing to plan around each day.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison put it well: public transport is a vital service for seniors, and this change is about making it easier to tap on and tap off like everyone else, without giving up the concession fares that make travel affordable. 

It is a small but meaningful example of technology catching up with how people actually live. Plenty of older Australians already tap their phone to pay for groceries or a coffee, and now the same habit works for the light rail through the City and Inner West, the ferries our customers on the Northern Beaches use to get into town, or the trains connecting Ryde and Parramatta with the rest of the city.

A tip for family members and support workers

If you support an older family member, or you are one of our Community Support Professionals in the Eastern Suburbs or out in Macarthur and Western Sydney helping a client get to appointments, social outings or the shops, this is worth flagging to them directly. 

Signing up takes a few minutes online, and for anyone less confident with apps or online accounts, a family member or support worker can help set it up in person.

Setup is a one-off task: once the account is linked, the everyday routine is exactly the same tap-on, tap-off habit they already know, just with a different card or device in hand, and their concession proof still tucked in their bag.

The bigger picture

This sits alongside a broader run of cost-of-living changes to transport in NSW, including a lower weekly toll cap, the removal of toll admin fees, a rego reduction for privately owned vehicles, and a 12-month freeze on Opal fare increases.

For Sydney families managing the cost and logistics of ageing at home, easier and cheaper transport options make a genuine difference to independence. Being able to get to a doctor's appointment, keep up a regular routine, or see family without relying entirely on others is a big part of what our local Sydney teams help customers achieve every day, and small changes like this one can help seniors stay mobile and connected on their own terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I have to switch to a bank card, phone, or smartwatch?

No. Your physical Gold Opal card still works exactly as it does today. The new contactless option is simply an alternative for anyone who would rather tap on with something they are already carrying.

Will I still get my $2.50 daily fare cap and $17.50 weekly cap?

Yes. Once your account is set up and linked correctly, tapping on with a bank card, phone or smart watch gives you the same concession fares as your Gold Opal card.

How do I set it up?

Check that you are eligible for a Seniors or Pensioner Concession fare, then create a Transport Connect account online and link your concession details and a credit or debit card. It only needs to be done once.

Do I still need to carry my Seniors Card or Pensioner Concession Card?

Yes. Switching to contactless payments makes the physical Opal card optional, not your proof of concession entitlement. You should still carry your Seniors Card or Pensioner Concession Card when you travel.

What happens if I tap on with a different card or device to usual?

Try to tap on and off with the same card or device for every trip. Mixing devices can affect how your fares and weekly cap are calculated.

I don't have a smartphone or smart watch. Can I still use this?

Yes. A linked credit or debit card works just as well as a phone or smart watch. You can also keep using your physical Gold Opal card if that suits you better.

Who can help me set this up if I'm not confident online?

A family member, friend or support worker can help you create your Transport Connect account and link your card in person. It is worth asking for help if you are unsure, since it is only a one-off task.