Paper tickets are making their exit soon!

The time has come to bid farewell to paper tickets. In 2025, they will progressively be phased out from the Île-de-France regional network, to make way for simpler, more modern solutions.

Summary

  1. Changes for simplified commutes
  2. What are the alternatives to paper tickets for occasional journeys?

As of 8 April 2025, over 140 RER and metro stations across the Île-de-France region have stopped selling paper tickets.

This is a new stage in the transition to the end of paper tickets. The transition was already under way at the beginning of the year, with the introduction of new electronic tickets (Métro-Train-RER tickets, and Bus-Tram tickets), and new schemes, including the extended validity of Navigo Liberté + travel passes across the Île-de-France region.

By the end of 2025, paper tickets will progressively stop being sold for travel on bus routes, and on tram, metro, suburban train, and RER lines across the Île-de-France regional network. 

Changes for simplified commutes

The discontinuation of paper tickets is part of a broader move to upgrade public transport in the Île-de-France region, as mandated by Île-de-France Mobilités. The aim of the ticketing revolution is to:

  • Streamline passenger traffic: by shortening lines at RER and metro stations, and speeding up ticket validation
  • Improve the daily passenger experience, by providing greater flexibility
  • Reduce the environmental impact, by doing away with the production and recycling of paper tickets
  • Facilitate access to public transport for every type of passenger: RATP station staff are readily available in RER and metro stations, to provide passengers with personalised advice and assistance, notably seniors, and people who are less familiar with digital technology, in order to ease the transition

Note: The t+ and Origine-Destination single-trip tickets, which are still available at a flat fare of €2.50, will progressively be phased out in favour of the more affordably priced solutions described below

What are the alternatives to paper tickets for occasional journeys?

There are already several simple, convenient solutions for travel in the Île-de-France region, which will replace paper tickets: 

 

1. Navigo Liberté + travel passes

Do you live or work in the Île-de-France region? Then Navigo Liberté + is what you need!

  • Go anywhere across the Île-de-France region, on any transport mode. More convenient, with no need to load tickets, and no hassle!
  • Travel freely by tapping your pass, and in the following month, pay only for the journeys that you have made
  • Benefit from preferential rates, and free transfers: 20% off the journey price (€1.99 instead of €2.50 for a Métro-Train-RER ticket, and €1.60 instead of €2.00 for a Bus-Tram ticket)

Find out more on the Navigo Liberté + travel pass 

 

2. Navigo Easy travel pass

This is the easy and convenient solution for occasional passengers. Navigo Easy travel passes provide several advantages:

  • They can be loaded an unlimited number of times at ticket machines, or directly on a smart phone
  • They last approximately 10 years
  • They are not personalised, and can be shared with other passengers for other journeys (please note that a Navigo Easy travel pass containing several tickets cannot be used for several people making the same journey)

Simply purchase a Navigo Easy travel pass (€2) from any ticket machine at RER and metro stations, or from RATP station staff, and load it with the desired tickets. Navigo Easy travel passes can be loaded either at ticket machines, or directly on smart phones in the Bonjour RATP (*) and Île-de-France Mobilités apps, and in apps from official distributors (**).
 

Tickets that can be loaded on Navigo Easy travel passes :

> Best practices with Navigo Easy:

  • Each passenger has to hold an individual pass with the right ticket. 
    1 passenger = 1 pass.
  • Paris Région <> Airports tickets cannot be loaded on passes that already contain Métro-Train-RER tickets. Use a separate pass, or purchase your Paris Région <> Aéroports ticket on your phone.

 

3. Tickets on smart phones

For passengers who prefer to travel light, tickets can be purchased directly on smart phones in the Bonjour RATP (*) and Île-de-France Mobilités apps, and in apps from official distributors (**).

Your smart phone is also your travel pass:

  • Purchase your tickets in a few clicks, at any time (tickets are stored on your phone)
  • Tap in with your phone
  • Look up your purchase history

Find out more on purchasing and validating tickets on your phone

> Best practices with smart phones:

  • Each passenger has to hold an individual pass with the right ticket. 1 passenger = 1 pass. 
    This means that a single phone cannot be used to purchase several tickets for several passengers on the same journey.
  • Save time! Navigo Easy travel passes can also be loaded with a smart phone. No need to wait in line at the ticket desk or ticket machine!

Find out more on purchasing and validating tickets on your phone  

 

4. On-board SMS bus tickets 

Are you planning to take the bus, but do not have a ticket? 
With on-board SMS bus tickets (€2.50), you can purchase your tickets before boarding your bus. It is very simple, convenient, and fast. Using your telephone (local number):

  • When you see the bus arriving, send “Bus + route number” in an SMS to 93100. You will then receive an SMS that will serve as a transport ticket.
    Example: send Bus29 to 93100 if you are taking bus route number bus ligne 29
  • Simply show your on-board SMS bus ticket to the driver when you board the bus. And that’s it! 

The emergency ticket is available on any phone model with a Free, SFR, Orange or Bouygues Telecom phone subscription. There is no need to download an app. You do not need a bank card or change, as the cost of the ticket will be directly charged to your mobile phone bill. 

Find out more about on-board SMS bus tickets 

 

(*) The Bonjour RATP app is developed by RATP Smart Systems.
(**) Or official Île-de-France Mobilités distributor apps. App contracted by Île-de-France Mobilités to distribute digital versions of public transport tickets across the Île-de-France regional network. Find the full list of official distributors at Titres de transports dématérialisés : découvrez les revendeurs officiels | Île-de-France Mobilités