After you move to Madrid and start using public transit, you need a smart card to load your tickets. This card is called the Tarjeta de Transporte Público.
This guide explains how to choose, buy, and register your transport card.
Understand the two card types
Madrid uses two different transit cards. You must select the card that matches your travel frequency and age.
Tarjeta Multi
The Tarjeta Multi is an anonymous red card. It is designed for tourists and occasional travellers.
It costs €2.50 to purchase. You do not need to register your name or photo to use it.
You can load single tickets and 10-trip tickets onto this card. Multiple people can share a single card when travelling together.
Tarjeta Personal
The Tarjeta Personal is a personal transport card. It contains your name, passport number, and photograph.
It costs €4.00 to issue. You cannot share this card with other people.
You must have this card to load monthly passes (Abono Mensual). It is the best option if you commute daily.
Where to buy the Tarjeta Multi
You can purchase the anonymous card easily upon arrival in Madrid. It requires no registration or paperwork.
Purchasing at ticket machines
You can buy the card at any Metro de Madrid ticket machine. These machines are available at all metro stations.
Touch the screen and select your language. Choose the option to purchase a transit card.
Select the ticket type you want to load. You must load at least one ticket when buying the card.
Pay the €2.50 card fee plus the ticket price. The machine will dispense the card immediately.
Purchasing at tobacco shops
You can buy the card at licensed tobacco shops. These shops are called estancos and have a brown and yellow sign.
Ask the clerk for a Tarjeta Multi. They accept cash and card payments.
You can buy the card empty or load tickets on it immediately.
How to apply for a Tarjeta Personal
If you want a monthly pass, you must apply for a personal card. The application process requires identification.
Document checklist
Bring these items to your appointment or upload them online:
- Identification document : Your original passport, NIE, or TIE.
- Color photograph : A recent passport-sized color photo with a white background.
- Application form : The filled out application form if applying in person.
- Fee payment : The €4.00 issuing fee.
Requesting the card online
Go to the official website of the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM).
Select the option to request a new card. Fill out your personal details and upload your identification document.
Upload your digital photograph. Pay the €4.00 fee with a credit card.
The card will arrive by post at your Madrid address within 10 business days.
Requesting the card in person
You must book an appointment at a CRTM office. These offices are called Oficinas de Gestión de la Tarjeta Transporte Público.
Book the appointment online through the CRTM website. Choose an office at a major station like Sol, Atocha, or Moncloa.
Bring your documents and the €4.00 fee to the office. The clerk will take your photo and print the card on the spot.
How to apply for a Spanish residence permit (TIE)
Buying a card at the airport
If you fly into Madrid-Barajas Airport, you can buy a card at the airport metro stations.
Metro ticket machines at the airport
Go to the Metro station in terminal T1-T2-T3 or terminal T4. Use the red ticket machines.
The machines will automatically add the airport surcharge to your purchase.
Total initial costs
You must pay the card fee, the transit fare, and the airport surcharge.
Example: You buy a card with a single ticket at the airport. You pay €2.50 for the card, €1.50 for the metro fare, and €3.00 for the airport surcharge. The total cost is €7.00.
For a card with a 10-trip ticket, you pay €2.50 for the card. The tickets cost €12.20, and the surcharge is €3.00. The total cost is €17.70.
How to top up your transport card
You can add tickets or monthly passes to your card at several locations.
Station machines
Place your card on the red circular reader at any Metro or Cercanías machine.
The screen will display your current ticket balance. Select the ticket or pass you want to load.
Pay the fee and wait for the screen to confirm the top up. Do not remove the card until the transaction finishes.
Mobil application
Download the official Tarjeta Transporte app on your mobile phone.
Your phone must have NFC technology enabled. Hold your card against the back of your phone to scan it.
Choose your ticket type and enter your payment card details. Scan the card again to load the balance.
What to do if you lose your card
The process for a lost card depends on the card type.
Lost Tarjeta Multi
If you lose an anonymous card, you cannot recover your unused tickets.
You must buy a new card for €2.50. You must then pay to load new tickets.
Lost Tarjeta Personal
If you lose your personal card, you can recover your active monthly pass.
Go to a CRTM office or apply online for a duplicate. You must pay a €6.00 fee for the duplicate card.
The system will block the lost card. The clerk will transfer your remaining pass balance to the new card.
Questions and answers
Can I buy a transport card without a NIE?
Yes. You can buy the anonymous Tarjeta Multi at any ticket machine without identification. You can also apply for the Tarjeta Personal using your foreign passport number.
Does the Tarjeta Multi expire?
Yes, but not quickly. The card is valid for 10 years from the date of purchase. The expiration date is printed on the back of the card.
Can I load a monthly pass onto a Tarjeta Multi?
No. You can only load monthly passes onto the personal transport card. The anonymous card only accepts single and 10-trip tickets.
Can I use the same card for Metro and buses?
Yes. The tickets loaded on your card are valid on both Metro de Madrid trains and EMT city buses. You can tap the card on both networks.
What is the Tarjeta Infantil?
A free card for young children. Children between 4 and 6 years old can get a free transit card. It allows them to travel for free on all public transit.
Can I get a refund for unused tickets?
No. The transport authority does not issue refunds for unused tickets or expired monthly passes. Ensure you only load the tickets you plan to use.
