How to check your IC card balance
You do not need a station machine. Any NFC phone can read the remaining balance straight from the card.
Four steps
- Open the app and let the scanner start on its own.
- Take the card out of your wallet, thick cases and other cards can block the read.
- Hold the card flat against the back of an Android phone, or the top edge of an iPhone.
- Keep both still for a second or two until the balance appears.
What you see after a read
Along with the balance you get the recent transactions stored on the chip: train trips with entry and exit stations, purchases in shops and vending machines, and top ups. Totals for spending and travel are calculated on your phone.
If the read fails
- Turn NFC on in your phone settings, on Android it is sometimes off by default.
- Remove the card from a wallet holding several contactless cards.
- Move the card slowly across the back or top of the phone to find the antenna.
- Try again without a metal or very thick case.
Still stuck? Contact support.
Common questions
Does checking the balance cost anything?
No. Reading the card only looks at the chip, it never changes the balance or charges a fee.
Do I need internet?
No. The balance and history are stored on the card, so the read works offline, including on a plane or underground.
Which phones can read IC cards?
Any iPhone from the iPhone 7 onwards, and most Android phones with NFC. iPhones need iOS 13 or later.