Cardboard metro tickets are bowing out for good in Île-de-France. After bus drivers stopped selling them on November 1, the last ticket machines that still offered these magnetic tickets in stations and train stations will stop issuing them on Wednesday, November 5. This change is part of the modernization of public transport in the Paris region and the simplification of fares introduced in January 2025 with the single fare system.
There are several solutions available to users who want to continue traveling. The Navigo Easy pass, sold for €2, allows you to load individual tickets. The Navigo Liberté+ pass offers a 20% discount on standard tickets, with the cost of your journeys debited at the end of each month. Finally, monthly or annual passes remain the preferred solution for unlimited travel throughout the region. According to Île-de-France Mobilités, sales of paper tickets have fallen by 82% since the beginning of the year, now accounting for only 3.7% of purchases.
If you still have magnetic tickets in your drawers, there are several options available to you. These tickets are still accepted on the Île-de-France network, but with different deadlines depending on the mode of transport. On the metro, RER, and Transilien trains, you can use your tickets until June 1, 2026. However, be careful with their date of purchase: tickets less than one year old are fine, but those purchased before 2025 are still subject to the old conditions. For example, an old T+ ticket will only be valid in Paris and will not allow you to take the train.
On buses and trams, the grace period is shorter. Ticket machines equipped with a slot for paper tickets will gradually disappear by May 1, 2026. The transition is taking place line by line, with the gradual replacement of ticket validators. The T1 tram and certain bus lines have already stopped accepting these tickets since November 1. If you regularly use these modes of transport, it is best to use up your stock quickly or opt for an exchange.
Can't use your last tickets in time? No problem, you can still exchange them. Go to an RATP or SNCF ticket office between November 1, 2025, and September 1, 2026, with a Navigo Easy card (available for €2). Your paper tickets will then be converted free of charge into equivalent tickets on this new medium. The exchange is on an equivalent basis: full fare for full fare, reduced fare for reduced fare. Origin-Destination tickets to airports can be exchanged for Paris-Region Airport tickets. Please note that no refunds are available, only conversion to the new medium.
This exchange option is good news for those who still have full ticket books. It is estimated that, on average, one in ten tickets was never used, either because it was lost, demagnetized, or simply forgotten. With the new system, this problem disappears.
For Île-de-France Mobilités, this transition is in response to changing usage patterns. Since the switch to two single fares for bus-tram (€2) and metro-train (€2.50) in January, residents of the Paris region have overwhelmingly turned to the new tickets. User associations generally welcome this simplification, which puts an end to the complex system of fare zones.
However, a few issues have been pointed out. Unlike the old cardboard ticket books, it is no longer possible to use a Navigo Easy card to travel with several people at the same time. Each traveler must now have their own card. This restriction can complicate outings with family or friends for those who only use public transportation occasionally.
The Plus de trains association also raises an issue concerning access to airports. The €13 airport ticket is not compatible with other tickets on the same card. You therefore need to get a separate Navigo Easy pass or buy this ticket directly on your phone via the Bonjour RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités app. This complexity may surprise occasional travelers or tourists.
In short, if you still have paper tickets, you now know what to do with them. Either use them in the coming months or exchange them at the ticket office before September 2026. And if you're looking for a good deal to travel cheaper on a daily basis, the Liberté+ pass remains a great option for those who don't use public transport enough to make a monthly pass worthwhile.
End of paper tickets: how to travel when visiting Paris, alternative solutions
Since November 5, 2025, paper tickets have been phased out in stations and train stations in the Paris region. This may be unsettling for travelers passing through the capital. Whether you're a tourist or an occasional visitor, we'll guide you through the different options. Rest assured, between the Passe Navigo Easy, Liberté+, the Île-de-France Mobilités app, and contactless payment on buses, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting around Paris. Follow the guide to find out which options are the most affordable for your needs. [Read more]
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End of paper tickets: how to travel when visiting Paris, alternative solutions
