São Paulo Metro to end use of magnetic tickets in October 2026

The São Paulo Metro has announced that it will stop accepting magnetic paper tickets, known as Edmondson tickets, starting October 31, 2026. This marks the end of a system used by passengers for over five decades.

The decision to phase out the technology is driven by the need to modernize ticketing and address the limitations of mechanical turnstiles, which have become obsolete and difficult to maintain due to a lack of replacement parts. Additionally, the move aims to reduce maintenance costs and minimize paper waste.

Passengers can continue to use their existing magnetic tickets until the October deadline. Following this, a transition period will run from November 2026 through January 2027, during which users can exchange remaining tickets for digital passes or equivalent credit.

Future boarding will rely on digital methods, including printed or mobile QR codes, Bilhete Único and TOP cards, and contactless payments via debit/credit cards or digital wallets.