As of September 1st, Panama’s public transportation payment system has officially moved into a new phase — and if you use Metro de Panamá or Metrobus/MiBus, there are a few important changes you should know about.
The change is part of a major modernization led by SONDA, together with Panama’s transportation authorities. More than 4 million existing card balances have already been migrated to the new digital platform, and more than 3,500 new validators have been installed across Metro stations, MiBus buses and paid bus zones.
The biggest difference is that the system is moving from the old Stored Value model, where much of the information was held on the physical card itself, to an Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) system that stores card and balance information centrally in the cloud.
There Is a New Online Platform: POCAE
Starting August 30, 2026, SONDA moved its online affiliation and card-consultation services to a platform called POCAE.
This means that if you want to register your transportation card, check your account information or manage your card online, POCAE is now the platform you should use.
This is important because there has been some confusion about whether everyone must create an account just to ride Metro or Metrobus.
You do not currently need a POCAE account simply to continue using your existing physical card. SONDA states that traditional transportation cards remain valid and passengers can continue recharging and using them as before. POCAE is now required for the online affiliation and consultation process, not for simply entering the Metro or riding a MiBus.
How to Register Your Card
If you use Metro or Metrobus regularly, registering your card is still highly recommended.
The process currently published for POCAE is:
- Visit the POCAE platform.
- Select the option to create a new account.
- Enter the personal information requested by the system. Current registration instructions specifically mention a cédula number.
- Create your password.
- Log in to your new account.
- Add the serial number printed on your transportation card.
- Once added, the card becomes associated with your digital profile.
Access the official POCAE platform
What if you’re an expat without a Panamanian cédula?
This is an important detail for our community. The online instructions published on September 1 specifically mention entering a cédula during account creation. The current SONDA FAQ does not provide a separate online registration procedure for someone who only has a passport.
If POCAE does not accept your identification, the safest option is not to create incorrect information in the system. Instead, visit a SONDA Centro de Atención Especializado (CAE) or contact SONDA directly for assistance with registration.
SONDA also provides WhatsApp assistance through Tita at 6673-2467.
Why Should You Register the Card?
One of the most useful benefits is balance protection.
With the new cloud-based system, your money is no longer dependent solely on the physical card. SONDA says that if a registered card is lost or damaged, its balance can remain protected in the virtual account rather than disappearing with the plastic card. SONDA specifically recommends registering cards for this reason.
So, while registration is not presently required to ride, it is particularly worthwhile if you use public transportation frequently or normally keep a significant balance on your card.
Your Existing Card Still Works
Do not throw away your current Metrobus card.
SONDA has confirmed that traditional cards remain valid. You can continue recharging them with cash at the usual locations, machines, paid zones and participating businesses. Passengers without a smartphone or bank account are not being excluded from the system.
Your previous balance should not disappear either. Existing balances were recorded and migrated automatically as part of the transition to the new system.
Important: Your First Tap May Take Longer
If you have not used your card since the new system was activated, your first validation may take a few extra seconds.
SONDA has instructed passengers to place the card firmly against the new validator and leave it there until the screen turns green.
This initial interaction helps link the card with the new platform. SONDA says this process only needs to happen once, and the additional processing time has contributed to some of the longer lines seen during the transition.
With the new validators, you should look for the green screen and check mark confirming that the card has been accepted. SONDA specifically advises passengers not to repeatedly tap the card if they are unsure whether it worked. First check whether the turnstile has already been released.
Why Doesn’t the Validator Always Show My Final Balance?
Another change passengers may notice is how transactions are processed.
During the transition, some users have seen messages such as “Pase adelante” rather than immediately seeing the familiar balance information.
Under the new system, transactions are processed through the centralized platform rather than entirely on the card itself. SONDA says some trips or balance changes may therefore take a short period to appear in the online transaction history.
You can now review your balance and transactions through POCAE.
Digital Recharges Just Got Easier
This is one of the most convenient changes.
Previously, after making certain electronic Metrobus card recharges, passengers sometimes had to activate or download the recharge at a machine or totem before the money could actually be used.
That extra step is being eliminated.
With the new cloud-based system, electronic recharges can be available directly through the validators without requiring a separate activation at a machine. SONDA says this applies to electronic recharge channels including online banking and Yappy through the A2-20 app.
What If Your Card Suddenly Doesn’t Work?
There have been legitimate problems during the transition.
Passengers reported cards that were not immediately recognized, unexpected balance information and delays at Metro validators after the migration. SONDA describes these as part of the system’s stabilization period.
If your card is rejected, SONDA recommends waiting a few seconds and trying it again.
If it continues to fail, visit a Centro de Atención Especializado (CAE) located at Metro stations and paid bus zones.
For Metro passengers whose cards were not being recognized during the transition, Metro de Panamá also allowed affected passengers to proceed while the problem was being resolved.
What If Your Balance Looks Wrong?
Don’t immediately assume your money has disappeared.
SONDA says temporary discrepancies may appear while information is synchronizing with the new system. These should generally correct themselves within the following hours or after another trip.
If the difference is still there after 48 hours, SONDA recommends going to a CAE so the account can be reviewed.
What If You Were Charged Twice?
If you believe the validator charged you twice or deducted the wrong fare, SONDA says the transaction can be reviewed and corrected.
Visit a CAE and, if possible, have the date, approximate time, station or bus information available. If the incident happened on a MiBus vehicle, record the bus number as well. This information can make it easier to locate the transaction.
Can You Pay With a Bank Card Now?
This is another major part of the upgrade, but passengers should distinguish between what the system is designed to support and what is already fully available everywhere.
SONDA says the new system is being prepared to accept Visa and Mastercard debit, credit and prepaid cards, regardless of the issuing bank or country. It is also designed for digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, with additional QR-payment options expected to be integrated progressively.
This is particularly important for expats and tourists because international Visa and Mastercard cards are intended to work directly with the open-payment system, without requiring a Panamanian bank account. SONDA says passengers will pay the official transportation fare without an additional transportation-system commission for using a bank card or digital wallet.
Because this rollout is happening progressively beginning in September, keep your existing Metrobus card with you until you personally confirm that your preferred alternative payment method is active on the route or station you’re using.
Does This Apply to Metro or Only Metrobus?
Both.
The modernization covers the integrated transportation payment network, including Metro de Panamá stations, MiBus buses and Zonas Pagas.
The physical Metrobus transportation card is already used throughout this integrated network, which is why the changes can affect someone who primarily rides the Metro even if they rarely use the buses.
The Bottom Line
As of September 1, 2026, you can continue using your existing transportation card on Metro and Metrobus. You do not have to create a POCAE account simply to ride, but POCAE is now the platform used for online affiliations and consultations, and registering your card provides important advantages — especially the ability to associate it with a digital account and protect your balance.
If you use public transportation regularly, our recommendation is to keep your current card, create your POCAE account, register the card using its serial number, and verify your balance and transactions online.
If something looks wrong during these first days — an unrecognized card, missing recharge, unusual balance or duplicate transaction — don’t immediately replace or discard your card. Allow the system time to synchronize when appropriate and use a SONDA CAE for unresolved issues.
For assistance, SONDA currently provides customer support through Tita on WhatsApp at 6673-2467.
One Diversity will continue monitoring the transition and sharing any important changes that affect everyday transportation in Panama.
Information verified and updated as of September 1, 2026. The new payment system is still being stabilized and some functions are being introduced progressively.
