Seniors, It's Time to Claim Your Benefits! Upgraded Senior Citizen Cards in Taiwan's Six Major Cities Offer Up to NT$1,000 Monthly Until Death – Automatic Deposit via Card

As Taiwan officially enters a super-aged society, counties and cities continue expanding senior citizen card benefits, with the six major cities rolling out new measures. Not only are monthly subsidy amounts increasing, but the usage scope of senior cards is no longer limited to bus rides. Today, in addition to MRT, TRA (Taiwan Railways), taxis, and YouBike, some cities now allow deductions for hospital registration fees, National Sports Centers, hot springs, and cultural venues, making the senior card an essential welfare tool for elders’ daily transportation, healthcare, and leisure.

2026 Upgrade: Senior Citizen Cards in the Six Major Cities Now Offer Up to 1,000 Points Monthly—Usable for Medical Visits and Transportation. Here’s the Latest on Subsidies and Eligibility.

Starting July 2026, Taipei and New Taipei will raise their monthly subsidy from 480 to 600 points. Kaohsiung will officially switch to a monthly 600-point system. Taichung maintains the highest subsidy among the six cities—1,000 points monthly (1,500 for indigenous people)—and each city’s welfare features are becoming increasingly diverse. Below is a summary of the 2026 senior card benefits, eligibility, and usage rules in the six major cities.

2026 Senior Citizen Card Eligibility in the Six Major Cities

Residents meeting the following criteria can apply for a senior card at their household registration location:

• Registered residents aged 65 or older in the city/county. • Indigenous residents may apply early at age 55 in certain cities. • Eligible foreign permanent residents may apply according to each city’s regulations.

Three Key Points on Application and Usage

1. First-time application is free All first-time card issuances are free. Applicants typically need to prepare their ID card, a recent 2-inch color photo, and relevant qualification documents. Indigenous applicants applying early must also submit household registration documents.

2. Most cities use a monthly point expiration system Except for cities with free-ride systems, most of the six cities adopt a “monthly issuance, monthly use” policy, where unused points do not carry over to the next month.

3. Replacement for lost or damaged cards incurs a fee If a card is lost or damaged, users must first report it and then reapply at the district office. Most cities require a card production fee of approximately NT$50 to NT$110.

Taipei City Senior Citizen Card

Monthly Subsidy

Starting July 2026, the monthly subsidy will increase from 480 to 600 points.

Transportation Benefits

Usable on Taipei MRT, city buses, TRA (up to 150 points per trip), intercity buses, YouBike, and Maokong Gondola. Designated爱心 taxis (care taxis) offer up to 85 points deduction per ride.

Daily Life and Medical Benefits

Beyond transportation, points can be used to offset fees at National Sports Centers, public swimming pools, and Beitou’s designated public hot spring baths. For healthcare, outpatient registration fees at Taipei City United Hospitals, Guandu Hospital, and Wanfang Hospital can be deducted up to 100 points. Participating in designated health check programs allows up to 600 points deduction for certain items.

Usage Notes

Monthly points expire at month-end. Cards must be renewed every six months.

New Taipei City Senior Citizen Card

Monthly Subsidy

Starting July 2026, the monthly subsidy will increase to 600 points.

Transportation Benefits

Usable on New Taipei city buses, Taipei-New Taipei MRT, Taoyuan Airport MRT, designated intercity buses, and TRA (up to 150 points per trip). Designated爱心 taxis offer up to 85 points subsidy per ride.

Starting July 1, 2026, seniors using the senior爱心 card to rent YouBike 2.0E electric-assist bicycles in New Taipei City enjoy the first 30 minutes free. After the new policy launched, average daily rentals increased by approximately 166% compared to before, indicating strong popularity among seniors and supporting daily shopping, medical visits, and short-distance commuting.

Daily Life and Medical Benefits

Cardholders can deduct outpatient registration fees at New Taipei City United Hospitals and district health centers, up to 50 points per visit. Deductions also apply to Guandu and Wanfang Hospitals. Points can be used for entry and certain facilities at National Sports Centers.

Usage Notes

Points follow a monthly use policy and expire at month-end. Cards must be renewed every six months.

Taoyuan City Senior Citizen Card

Monthly Subsidy

General seniors receive 800 points monthly; indigenous seniors in Fuxing District receive 1,000 points monthly.

Transportation Benefits

Usable on contracted buses, Taoyuan Airport MRT, TRA (within city limits, up to 70 points per trip), YouBike 2.0E, and爱心 taxis.

Recreational Benefits

Senior cards allow free access to National Sports Centers and offer free admission to designated scenic areas such as Cihu and Xiaowulai, encouraging seniors to engage in outdoor exercise and leisure tourism.

Usage Notes

Monthly points expire at month-end. Eligible indigenous residents may apply early at age 55.

Taichung City Senior Citizen Card

Monthly Subsidy

General seniors receive 1,000 points monthly; indigenous seniors receive 1,500 points monthly—the highest among the six cities.

Transportation Benefits

Usable on Taichung city buses, highway buses, and Taichung MRT. TRA trips can be deducted up to 45 points. Designated爱心 taxis currently offer 85 points per ride. Starting October 1, 2026, the per-ride subsidy will increase to NT$100.

Medical and Sports Benefits

Senior cards can offset partial co-payments at district health centers and contracted clinics, up to 50 points per visit. Points can also be used for facilities at National Sports Centers, sports parks, including gym, swimming pool, and court rentals.

Usage Notes

Monthly points follow a “use-it-or-lose-it” policy and expire at month-end. Eligible indigenous residents may apply at age 55.

Tainan City Senior Citizen Card

Monthly Subsidy Method

Tainan does not use a point system. Instead, it offers unlimited free rides—different from the other five cities.

Transportation Benefits

Cardholders can ride Da-Tainan buses, Yellow Taxi Buses (Xiao Huang Gongche), and certain local buses unlimited times for free, without deducting points. When traveling to other counties for MRT, light rail, or TRA, seniors enjoy half-price fares under national senior discounts, paid via the card’s stored value.

Recreational Benefits

Seniors enjoy half-price or free admission to Tainan’s public historical sites, cultural parks, and certain scenic areas. Partnered National Sports Centers also offer exclusive discounts.

Usage Notes

Eligible indigenous residents may apply early at age 55. Lost or damaged cards require a replacement fee.

Kaohsiung City Senior Citizen Card

Monthly Subsidy

Starting July 1, 2026, Kaohsiung will switch from an annual 1,200-point system to monthly 600-point disbursements—up to 7,200 points annually—significantly increasing benefits.

Transportation Benefits

City buses, highway buses, ferries, and Kaohsiung Light Rail are fully free and do not deduct monthly points. The 600 monthly points can be used for Kaohsiung MRT, TRA (up to 50 points per trip), and designated爱心 taxis (up to 85 points per trip).

Additionally, points can be used to purchase MeNGo public transport monthly passes, including the NT$199 bus pass and NT$399 urban commuter pass, and enjoy benefits like 30 minutes free on YouBike 2.0(E).

Medical and Recreational Benefits

Cardholders can deduct outpatient registration fees at municipal hospitals, Qishan Hospital, and district health centers, up to 50 points per visit. The program will gradually expand to public-private partnership hospitals. Points can also be used for entry fees at National Sports Centers, Silver Fitness Clubs, and designated cultural venues.

Usage Notes

Monthly points are settled per issuance cycle and expire if unused. Lost or damaged cards require a self-paid replacement fee.

2026 Six Major Cities Senior Card Benefits Comparison Table

| City | Monthly Subsidy | TRA Benefit | Taxi Benefit | Medical Benefits | Special Benefits | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Taipei | 600 pts | Up to 150 pts/trip | Up to 85 pts/trip | Registration fee deduction at City United Hospitals, Guandu, Wanfang | Hot springs, sports centers, YouBike, Maokong Gondola | | New Taipei | 600 pts | Up to 150 pts/trip | Up to 85 pts/trip | Deduction at United Hospitals, health centers | YouBike 2.0E first 30 min free, sports centers | | Taoyuan | 800 pts (1,000 for Fuxing indigenous) | Up to 70 pts/trip | Up to 72 pts per fare | No medical deduction | Free at sports centers, Cihu & Xiaowulai free entry | | Taichung | 1,000 pts (1,500 for indigenous) | Up to 45 pts/trip | Up to NT$100/trip from Oct 2026 | Partial co-payment deduction at health centers & clinics | Sports centers, sports park facilities | | Tainan | Free ride system | Half-price outside city | None currently | No medical deduction | Unlimited free rides on Da-Tainan & Yellow Taxi Buses | | Kaohsiung | 600 pts | Up to 50 pts/trip | Up to 85 pts/trip | Deduction at municipal hospitals & health centers | Free buses, light rail, ferries; MeNGo passes; cultural venues; sports centers |

Six Major Cities Senior Card Q&A

Q: What documents are needed for first-time senior card application? A: Typically, a national ID card, a recent 2-inch color photo, and relevant qualification documents are required. Indigenous applicants aged 55 must also submit household registration documents. After preparing the documents, apply at your household registration district office.

Q: Can the senior card be used across counties? A: Yes, but rules vary. For MRT, TRA, and other public transport, senior discounts or partial point deductions usually apply. However, city buses,爱心 taxis, and local special benefits are mostly limited to the issuing city or partnered routes. Outside the issuing city, users typically pay with the card’s stored electronic value.