On 22 July 2026, airport rail operator Express Rail Link (ERL) announced that from 1 August 2026, newly purchased KLIA Transit weekly and monthly passes become QR codes in the KLIA Ekspres app. Only the weekly and monthly passes changed. At the time of checking, the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit gates still accepted contactless bank cards and Touch ‘n Go cards. The change points to the key fact about riding in Malaysia: on the same route, how you pay depends on which ticket you buy and which operator runs the service. This guide covers what card to prepare for riding in Kuala Lumpur, how to buy it and how to top it up.
The short answer: to ride the LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT and Rapid KL buses in Kuala Lumpur, first get a Touch ‘n Go card (RM10 each, excluding stored value). For KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit to and from the airport, you can go through the gate directly with a contactless credit or debit card, and cash is not accepted. Rapid KL’s announced bank card payment is at customer service counters, and it does not say whether the gates accept bank cards directly, so Zagdim recommends not relying on a bank card alone to enter stations. Paying for Grab with a card issued outside Malaysia costs an extra 3% handling fee on the total transaction.
This guide answers:
- What is the difference between the Touch ‘n Go card, the TNG eWallet and the TNG eWallet Visa card? Is the balance shared?
- Where do you buy the card and where do you top it up? Which places charge a top-up fee?
- How do you pay from the airport into the city? Can a credit card or Touch ‘n Go card go straight through the gate?
- If you hold cards and a phone number from Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore or Malaysia, can you use them in Malaysia?
Key Points
- Who this is for: visitors to Kuala Lumpur for tourism, business, family visits or property viewing, including those from Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China and Singapore, and people who will live, commute or drive in the Klang Valley long term.
- Touch ‘n Go card: RM10 each, excluding stored value. It works on all expressway tolls in Malaysia and on the main public transport in the Klang Valley. A single top-up is RM10 to RM500, and the card holds a maximum of RM1,500.
- Airport rail: KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit are fully cashless and priced in ringgit. The gates accept AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay contactless cards, and also Touch ‘n Go cards (with at least RM20 on the card before the trip).
- Rapid KL: since 30 April 2024, customer service counters accept credit and debit cards for buying tokens, topping up Touch ‘n Go cards and buying passes. The official announcement does not say whether gates accept bank cards directly.
- Rapid Kembara Pass: RM45 for one day and RM75 for three days (both including an NFC Touch ‘n Go card and stored value), with unlimited rides on Rapid KL rail and buses, but not on KTM or the airport rail link (ERL).
- TNG eWallet: visitors can register with a passport valid for at least six months, with no Malaysian phone number needed, but the number must belong to a country or region open for registration. Topping up with a credit card issued by a non-Malaysian bank incurs a convenience fee of up to 2.6%.
First, Work Out Which Case You Are: Short-Stay Visitor or Long-Stay Resident?
A short-stay visitor and a long-stay resident need different things. A short-stay visitor mainly needs a contactless bank card plus a Touch ‘n Go card, and anyone living or driving in Malaysia long term needs a Touch ‘n Go card. Find your case, then pick the sections that apply.
| Your situation | What Zagdim recommends preparing | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short-stay visitor, moving only between central Kuala Lumpur and the airport | A contactless credit or debit card plus one Touch ‘n Go card | The airport rail accepts bank cards directly; in town Rapid KL uses a Touch ‘n Go card or tokens bought at the counter |
| Short-stay visitor making many Rapid KL trips in a day | A Rapid Kembara one-day or three-day pass | Unlimited rides on Rapid KL rail and buses during the validity period |
| Commuting regularly between designated KLIA Transit stations | A KLIA Transit weekly or monthly pass (a QR code in the app) | Open to both Malaysian and non-Malaysian passengers; limited to designated KLIA Transit sections and not valid on KLIA Ekspres |
| Long-stay resident who drives | A Touch ‘n Go card, optionally with the TNG eWallet’s PayDirect | All expressway tolls accept Touch ‘n Go cards |
For example, a visitor flying in for three days can go from the airport into the city on KLIA Ekspres by tapping a contactless credit card directly, then buy a Touch ‘n Go card or a Rapid Kembara pass at the customer service counter of an LRT or MRT station.
Payment Methods Compared
Six payment methods are commonly used for riding in Kuala Lumpur, each with its own scope: the Touch ‘n Go card, contactless bank cards, Rapid KL tokens, the Rapid Kembara pass, KLIA Transit weekly and monthly passes, and the TNG eWallet. Mixing them up is the easiest way to get stuck at a gate.
| Payment method | Who can use it | Where to buy or how to start | ID needed | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touch ‘n Go card (physical stored-value card) | People riding Klang Valley public transport or driving on expressways | Rapid KL customer service counters (except BRT stations and bus hubs), RM10 each, subject to stock | Whether to show a passport when buying a card follows the counter’s explanation | All expressway tolls, main Klang Valley public transport, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit gates |
| Contactless credit or debit card | Holders of AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa or UnionPay contactless cards | Use the card you already hold | No separate registration | All KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit gates; payment at Rapid KL customer service counters |
| Rapid KL token | People riding the LRT, MRT, Monorail or BRT | Rapid KL customer service counters, payable by credit or debit card | Follow the counter’s explanation | Rapid KL rail |
| Rapid Kembara pass | Open to all users | Rapid KL customer service counters, loaded onto an NFC Touch ‘n Go card | Follow the counter’s explanation | Rapid KL LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT, buses and MRT feeder buses |
| KLIA Transit weekly or monthly pass | Malaysian and non-Malaysian passengers | Bought only in the KLIA Ekspres app, which requires registering an account and binding a device | Follow the app’s registration process | KLIA Transit |
| TNG eWallet | Visitors from countries or regions open for registration | Download the app and register | A passport valid for at least six months | For riding, it must be linked to an Enhanced Touch ‘n Go card; it can also pay in shops |
**Glossary | Enhanced Touch ‘n Go card:** the newer Touch ‘n Go card with NFC, which can be topped up directly using the TNG eWallet on your phone. Older cards do not have this function.
Three products with similar names need to be told apart:
- Touch ‘n Go card: a physical stored-value card, with the money held on the card.
- TNG eWallet: an e-wallet on your phone, not a bank deposit account.
- TNG eWallet Visa prepaid card: a Visa card applied for in the app. It is a different product from the Touch ‘n Go card, and it works in different places.
The balance on a Touch ‘n Go card and the eWallet balance are counted separately. Money is deducted from the eWallet only when PayDirect is linked at a toll plaza or car park.
How to Buy and Top Up a Touch ‘n Go Card
A Touch ‘n Go card can be bought at the customer service counter of a Rapid KL station for RM10 each. Top-ups can be made at physical top-up points, and an Enhanced card can also be topped up using the TNG eWallet.
Buying a card
- Rapid KL customer service counters sell NFC Touch ‘n Go cards at RM10 each, except at BRT stations and Rapid KL bus hubs, and subject to stock.
- The official product information lists the card price as RM10 each, excluding stored value, so you top up separately after buying.
- The counter can top up a Touch ‘n Go card by credit or debit card.
- Whether you must show a passport when buying a card follows the counter’s explanation.
Top-up locations and fees
- Physical top-up points include: Touch ‘n Go service and sales centers, Touch ‘n Go counters at some petrol stations, LRT stations, some KTM stations, ATMs and CDMs at partner banks, self-service kiosks (SSK), and authorized agents.
- A single top-up is RM10 to RM500, and the card can hold at most RM1,500 at any time.
- Under the fee schedule at the time of checking: topping up with cash or a deposit account at designated bank ATMs, LRT stations, third-party shops, petrol stations, convenience stores and kiosks costs RM0.50 per transaction, and other top-up points do not charge.
Topping up by phone
- An Enhanced Touch ‘n Go card can be linked to the TNG eWallet and topped up from the eWallet balance. Both new and old cards can be topped up at physical top-up points.
TNG eWallet: Can Visitors Register?
Visitors can register for the TNG eWallet without a Malaysian phone number, but the number must belong to a country or region open for registration, and verification uses a passport valid for at least six months. If you want to pay by phone, or top up an Enhanced card through the app, you need to register first.
Visitors can download and register before arriving in Malaysia:
- Download the TNG eWallet app.
- Register with a phone number. A Malaysian number is not needed, but the number must belong to a country or region that TNG has opened for registration and be able to receive a verification code.
- Enter the verification code you receive (the official explanation mentions the code being sent through a messaging app and also mentions that the number must be able to receive SMS, so go by what the app shows when you register).
- Verify the account with a passport valid for at least six months.
Points to note:
- Open only to some countries or regions: at the time of checking, the TNG eWallet official visitor page listed 21 countries or regions open for registration. Hong Kong (+852), mainland China (+86) and Taiwan (+886) are on the list, while Singapore and Malaysia are not. The other listed places are Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. The list changes, so go by the list shown in the app when you register.
- Ways to top up: international credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, or a Reload PIN bought at large convenience stores and petrol stations.
- Top-up fees: topping up with a credit card issued by a non-Malaysian bank incurs a convenience fee of up to 2.6% of the top-up amount, and the actual amount is as shown on the top-up page. For debit and prepaid cards, check the amount on the page before you top up.
- How to ride: the official visitor page’s method is to link the eWallet to an Enhanced Touch ‘n Go card and then use the eWallet to top up the card. Zagdim recommends not assuming the phone app itself can scan or tap in at Rapid KL gates.
- Feature limits: visitors can pay cashlessly, but some features such as investments and insurance may be limited to Malaysian residents.
TNG Digital announced on 3 September 2026 that international visitors spent more than RM1 billion through the TNG eWallet in the first six months of Visit Malaysia 2026. This is a transaction figure published by the company itself and not a public transport statistic.
Tapping a Bank Card to Ride: Where It Works and Where to Check First
A bank card can be tapped directly to ride KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit. Whether Rapid KL gates accept bank cards directly is not stated in the official announcement. Even where it is “tap a card to enter,” each operator’s rules differ, and one operator’s rules cannot be used to infer another’s.
- KLIA Ekspres, KLIA Transit: every gate accepts AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay contactless credit or debit cards. You must tap on both entry and exit.
- Rapid KL (LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT): what Rapid Rail announced is that from 30 April 2024, customer service counters can use credit or debit cards to buy tokens, top up Touch ‘n Go cards, and buy My50 or MyCity passes. The announcement does not say gates accept bank cards directly to enter and exit, so Zagdim recommends preparing a Touch ‘n Go card before you reach the station, or buying a token at the counter.
- A card with contactless function: this does not mean every transport gate accepts it. It depends on each operator’s own gate rules.
Rapid Kembara Pass: For Those Making Many Trips in a Day
The Rapid Kembara pass costs RM45 for one day and RM75 for three days, with unlimited rides on Rapid KL rail and buses during validity. Compare it if you plan to visit several sights in one day and change lines several times.
| Plan | Total price including NFC Touch ‘n Go card and stored value | Can ride | Cannot ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day pass | RM45 | Rapid KL LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT, buses and MRT feeder buses, unlimited | KTM, ERL (airport rail link), Rapid Penang, Rapid Kuantan, Putrajaya Nadiputra buses, and other non-Rapid KL services |
| Three-day pass | RM75 | Same as above | Same as above |
Points to remember:
- The pass is loaded onto an NFC Touch ‘n Go card and bought at a Rapid KL customer service counter.
- The card must hold at least RM5 for unlimited rides with the pass.
- The prices are those listed in the terms at the time of checking. The operator reserves the right to change the terms, so Zagdim recommends confirming again before you leave.
How to Pay From the Airport to Central Kuala Lumpur
To go from the airport to central Kuala Lumpur on KLIA Ekspres or KLIA Transit, you can go through the gate directly with a contactless credit card, debit card or Touch ‘n Go card, and neither line accepts cash.
- Fully cashless: fares are priced in ringgit (MYR) and can be paid with a credit card, debit card, e-wallet or other approved digital payment methods. Cash and foreign currency are not accepted.
- Tap straight through the gate: AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay contactless cards can all be tapped at the gate, on both entry and exit.
- Touch ‘n Go card: it can be used directly at the gate, but the card must hold at least RM20 before the trip.
- Weekly and monthly passes: from 1 August 2026, newly bought KLIA Transit weekly and monthly passes are QR codes and can only be bought in the KLIA Ekspres app. A TravelCard bought before that date can be used until it expires or the trips are used up.
- Rapid Kembara does not apply: the airport rail belongs to ERL, and the pass cannot be used there.
For example, a visitor who has just landed and has no ringgit cash can go through the gate to ride KLIA Ekspres by tapping a contactless Visa or Mastercard. If they use a Touch ‘n Go card instead, they must first check the card holds more than RM20.
How to Pay for Ride-Hailing and Taxis
You can pay for Grab by cash, credit card, debit card or GrabPay, and cards issued outside Malaysia incur an extra 3% handling fee. There is no unified official list of payment methods accepted by street taxis. The two services’ payment methods cannot be treated as one.
- Grab: you can choose cash, credit card, debit card, GrabPay or PayLater, and you choose the payment method when you book.
- Cards issued outside Malaysia cost an extra 3%: since 4 March 2024, Grab Malaysia charges a handling fee of 3% of the total transaction on rides and food-delivery orders paid with a credit or debit card issued outside Malaysia, and the fee is shown before checkout.
- Try binding the card before you leave: whether a foreign card can be bound successfully is something Zagdim recommends trying once in the app before departure.
- Street taxis: there is no unified official list of the payment methods they accept, so Zagdim recommends asking the driver before you get in whether they take cash, cards or e-wallets.
Driving on Expressways: Touch ‘n Go Card and PayDirect
All expressway tolls in Malaysia accept the Touch ‘n Go card. After you link the card to the TNG eWallet, toll plazas that support PayDirect can also deduct from the eWallet. For long-stay residents, renters and those who drive themselves, the Touch ‘n Go card is also the way to pay expressway tolls.
- The Touch ‘n Go card can be used for all expressway tolls in Malaysia.
- PayDirect: once a physical Touch ‘n Go card is linked to the TNG eWallet, tapping the card at a toll plaza or parking terminal that supports PayDirect charges the eWallet first, and the card balance is used only if the eWallet balance is insufficient.
- PayDirect applies only at supported toll plazas and terminals, not on every expressway. Which route works follows TNG’s published list of toll plazas.
Balances and Common Situations
There are two reasons for getting stuck at a gate: an insufficient balance and mixing up cards. A minute spent checking these five situations before you leave avoids them.
- Balance too low for the airport rail: before riding KLIA Ekspres or KLIA Transit with a Touch ‘n Go card, the card needs at least RM20.
- The pass will not tap through: Rapid Kembara requires at least RM5 on the card.
- Thinking money in the eWallet lets the card pay: the physical card balance and the eWallet balance are separate, except when using PayDirect at supported toll plazas or car parks.
- Wanting to load a lot at once: a single top-up is at most RM500, and the card holds at most RM1,500.
- Treating the TNG eWallet Visa card as a Touch ‘n Go card: they are different products, so check which one you are holding before you ride.
Can Your Cards and Phone Number From Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Singapore or Malaysia Be Used?
Transport cards from other places are those places’ own transport cards. Contactless bank cards can be tapped directly at the airport rail gates, and whether a phone number can register for the TNG eWallet depends on whether it is on the open list. First see whether what you hold is a local transport card, a bank card or a phone number, as the answers differ.
| What you hold | Riding in Malaysia |
|---|---|
| A local transport card such as Hong Kong’s Octopus, Taiwan’s EasyCard or Singapore’s EZ-Link | These are those places’ own transport cards. For example, EZ-Link’s official explanation describes its use as Singapore’s MRT, LRT and buses. Zagdim recommends not assuming they can enter stations in Malaysia, and preparing a Touch ‘n Go card separately before you leave |
| A contactless credit or debit card issued in Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China or Singapore | AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay contactless cards can be tapped directly at KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit gates; at Rapid KL they are used to pay at the counter |
| A phone number from Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China or Singapore | Registering for the TNG eWallet does not need a Malaysian number. At the time of checking, the official visitor page’s open list included Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan and did not include Singapore; go by the list shown in the app |
| Visitors from Malaysia | Can use the Touch ‘n Go card directly; KLIA Transit weekly and monthly passes are also open to Malaysian passengers |
When paying for Grab with a card issued outside Malaysia, remember the 3% handling fee; topping up the TNG eWallet with a credit card from a non-Malaysian bank costs up to 2.6%. For your card issuer’s own overseas transaction fees, Zagdim recommends asking your bank before you leave.
FAQ
Do I need to buy a Touch ‘n Go card for a few days in Kuala Lumpur?
To ride Rapid KL’s LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT or buses, Zagdim recommends buying one. The card costs RM10 each, excluding stored value. Rapid KL’s announced bank card payment is at customer service counters, and it does not say whether the gates accept bank cards directly.
Can I take KLIA Ekspres directly with a foreign credit card?
Yes. All KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit gates accept AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay contactless credit or debit cards, and you must tap on both entry and exit.
Where do I buy a Touch ‘n Go card?
Customer service counters at Rapid KL stations sell them, RM10 each, except at BRT stations and bus hubs, and subject to stock. Whether you must show a passport when buying a card follows the counter’s explanation.
Is the balance on a Touch ‘n Go card shared with the TNG eWallet?
No. The balance on the physical card and the eWallet balance are separate. Only at toll plazas or parking terminals that support PayDirect is the fee deducted from the eWallet first.
Can I register for the TNG eWallet without a Malaysian phone number?
Yes, but the number must belong to a country or region open for TNG registration, and you need a passport valid for at least six months. Topping up with a credit card from a non-Malaysian bank costs a convenience fee of up to 2.6%.
Can the Rapid Kembara pass be used on the airport rail link?
No. Rapid Kembara does not apply to KTM, ERL (the airport rail link), Rapid Penang, Rapid Kuantan or the Putrajaya Nadiputra buses. It covers Rapid KL’s rail and buses.
Is there an extra charge for paying Grab fares with a foreign card?
Yes. Since 4 March 2024, Grab Malaysia charges a handling fee of 3% of the total transaction on credit or debit cards issued outside Malaysia, shown before checkout.
Important Notice
This guide is general information and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. It is based on the official web pages and product information of Touch ‘n Go, TNG Digital, Prasarana and Rapid Rail, Express Rail Link, Grab Malaysia and Singapore’s SimplyGo, checked on 14 November 2026. Card prices, top-up fees, pass prices, the card types accepted at gates, the countries or regions open for eWallet registration and overseas card fees all change, so please rely on the latest announcements from each operator and your card issuer.
Have a question about this guide? Leave a comment below, or ask Zagdim directly.
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Sources
- Touch ‘n Go: Product Disclosure Sheet: Touch ‘n Go Card
- Touch ‘n Go: Fees & Charges: Touch ‘n Go Card
- Touch ‘n Go: Enhanced Touch ‘n Go Card
- Touch ‘n Go: International tourists: Go cashless in Malaysia
- TNG Digital: International tourists: Go cashless in Malaysia with TNG eWallet (list of countries and regions open for registration)
- TNG eWallet: Product Disclosure Sheet: TNG eWallet
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: What is the difference between Touch ‘n Go eWallet Visa Card and the Touch ‘n Go Card?
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: What is PayDirect?
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: What identification do I need to sign up for a TNG eWallet account as a tourist in Malaysia?
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: Do I need a Malaysian phone number to sign up?
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: Can I sign up for TNG eWallet before arriving in Malaysia?
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: What are the convenience fee rates for TNG eWallet?
- TNG eWallet Help Centre: Do tourists have complete access to TNG eWallet’s full suite of features and services?
- TNG Digital: TNG eWallet enables over RM1 billion in tourist spending
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- Express Rail Link: KLIA Transit Season Pass: Now with QR Code System
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