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Ovpay in public transport

OVpay allows public transport passengers to check in and out using their debit card, credit card or mobile phone. This makes travelling easier, without the need for a separate OV-chip card. OVpay works through contactless payment and is available with all carriers in the Netherlands.

What is OVpay?

OVpay(opens in new window) allows travellers to check in and out at gates and card readers, using their debit card, credit card or digital payment card on their smartphone. The system was developed by Translink(opens in new window) and public transport companies, in collaboration with banks, ICS, card brands and the Dutch Payments Association.

OVpay is the successor to the OV-chipkaart and uses existing means of payment. Travellers can immediately use the system without prior registration or balance top-up.

How does OVpay work?

When checking in and out, travellers briefly hold a payment card or mobile phone against the card reader. The payment is automatically processed through the traveller’s bank and all travel expenses are usually debited together in one go, at the end of the day. The system recognises both physical and digital payment cards of the card brands Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard and Visa.

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Growth in Usage

Since June 2023, it has been possible in the Netherlands to check in and out at all public transportation companies using a debit card, credit card, or cell phone. This makes the Netherlands the first country in the world with a nation wide solution.

Since mid-2024, you can link a age-based discount to a payment card, but only for buses, trams, and the metro. More options will follow in the future, such as linking discounted passes. This makes the debit card a fully-fledged alternative to the OV-chipkaart.

Of all contactless cards used on public transit in December 2024, 41% were debit or credit cards—either physical cards or digital versions on a smartphone or smartwatch. The remaining 59% were OV-chipcards. Twelve months earlier, the share of payment cards was still at 33%

  • December 2023

  • December 2024

The 2025 passenger survey shows that the use of debit cards on public transit continues to grow. In 2025, 50% of public transit passengers traveled using a debit card, compared to 40% in 2024. For 66% of these passengers, the payment card was the most frequently used ticket.

Role of the Dutch Payments Association

OVpay is an important step towards future-proof and customer-friendly public transport. The Dutch Payments Association works with members and other stakeholders to create a reliable and accessible payment infrastructure on which OVpay can build.