Junaeb announces transition of TNE to digital format

Junaeb director Fernando Peña has announced that the Tarjeta Nacional Estudiantil (TNE) will transition from a physical plastic card to a digital format. The decision aims to improve student mobility and reduce friction between students and bus drivers, specifically addressing historical incidents of violence regarding fare applications.

The transition will be gradual. A bidding process is expected to take place in 2026, which will lead to a “marcha blanca” (trial period) where both physical and digital formats coexist. While a definitive date for the total elimination of the plastic card has not been set, the agency intends to phase it out over a reasonable period following the digital implementation.