New York Metrocard for Seniors: Guide

The Metrocard is one of the must-haves of New York for those who need to get around the city. In this article, we’ll talk about what the Metrocard offers for seniors in the city.

Table of contents

• At what age can you be eligible for a reduced-fare Metrocard in New York?
• New York Metrocard for seniors: fares
• The reduced-fare MetroCard registration process
• New York Metrocard photo requirements
• Get a Metrocard photo online!
• Reduced-fare MetroCard renewal or replacement

At what age can you be eligible for a reduced-fare Metrocard in New York?

Starting from the age of 65, seniors can get a reduced-fare New York Metrocard. As proof of age, applicants will need to show a document with their birth date.

New York Metrocard for seniors: fares

The reduced fare given by this card is $1.35, or half of the base fare ($2.75) for subways and local buses.

The reduced-fare MetroCard registration process

You can either apply online, by mail or in person.

To apply online:

• Go on to the MTA registration page for reduced fare and complete a registration;
• Upload a valid photo;
• Upload a valid ID;
• Submit.

To apply in person, go to the MTA customer service center, fill out your application, and show two valid IDs as proof of identity and age, one of which must be a photo ID.

To apply by mail:

• Complete your application;
• Include a valid photo;
• Include a copy of a valid ID;
• Mail your application to the MTA office.

The needed documents here are identity and age proof, which can be:

• Driver’s License from any state
• Passport from any country
• NYC Department of Aging ID card
• Medicare card, along with another form of photo ID

New York Metrocard photo requirements

The specifications for the Metrocard photo are based on the U.S. passport photo standards, with a bit of a tweak:

• The picture must not be older than six months;
• The photo’s background must be plain white;
• The US visa photo size is 2” x 1 1/2” in print;
• Face-to-photo ratio: your face should occupy about 70% of the picture.

Here is an example:

Get a Metrocard photo online!

As usual, ID photos have to follow certain rules to be accepted. To avoid wasting time and resources, we recommend you trust the editing of your photo to a professional tool that guarantees that your photo will fully satisfy the parameters up to the subtlest details and be accepted by the embassy or consulate.

Just upload a portrait (or even a selfie) of you taken in decent lighting, with a proper dress code, and properly posed: look straight to the camera and keep a neutral expression. Visafoto will take care of the rest.

Take an image with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here, and instantly get a professional photo for your visa, passport, or ID.

First, take a photo of yours under daylight like this one:

You will get two files from Visafoto: a digital photo for electronic applications and a template ready for printing.

Check out: Guidelines to print out your ID photo for as low as $0.50

Reduced-fare MetroCard renewal or replacement

If you actively use your MetroCard, you can get a new one sent to you automatically before expiry. For card replacements, you can contact the MTA office.