ORCA makes it easy

An ORCA card is the easiest way to pay when you travel the Puget Sound region by bus, train and ferry. Once you add money or a monthly pass to your ORCA card, you pay your fare just by tapping your ORCA card on the card reader on board buses or at stations. Your ORCA card works on all seven of the major public transportation agencies serving the region:

ORCA is your transfer

You can use the ORCA card to pay fares and transfer seamlessly. You can continue your trip on another bus or on light rail while getting credit for the fare you’ve already paid. ORCA transfers are valid for two hours after you first tap your card.

*Washington State Ferries, Kitsap Fast Ferries, and Seattle Center Monorail are excluded from the 2-hour transfer credit policy. Riders who use ORCA E-purse and transfer from another ORCA agency will be charged the full fare.

Getting and loading an ORCA

There are several ways to buy an ORCA card or load value onto existing cards:

close-up of an Orca card

Get your ORCA pass now!

An ORCA card is the easiest way to pay when you travel the Puget Sound region by bus, train and ferry.

Buy an ORCA cardReload an ORCA card

Which ORCA fare is right for you?

Find your best ORCA fare by visiting the myORCA web site to see available pass options and reduced fare programs.

Go to myORCA.com

Rider uses ORCA card at bus stop
Adult ORCA card

An Adult ORCA card helps riders ages 19–64 pay their fare and save on transfers. See if you qualify for any of our other ORCA options for even more savings!

Get an Adult ORCA card

close-up of an Orca card
Regional day pass

The ORCA regional day pass provides unlimited rides on participating transit services for one day — great for occasional riders. The ORCA regional day pass is only valid for trips of $3 or less, which will cover Community Transit Adult fares and transfers to Link light rail.

Learn about the Regional Day Pass

two youth riders holding up their ORCA passes in front of a bus
Free Youth ORCA card

Youth ages 6–18 can sign up for a Youth ORCA card and ride for free. Children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. Replacement Youth ORCA cards cost $3.

Get a Youth ORCA card

two older adult riders at a Swift bus station
Senior RRFP

The Senior Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) gives riders ages 65+ reduced fares on participating transit agencies in the Puget Sound area.

Get a Senior RRFP ORCA card

Riders with disabilities qualify for reudced ORCA rates
RRFP for riders with a disability or Medicare

The Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) gives riders ages 65+, riders with disabilities, and Medicare card holders reduced fares on participating transit agencies in the Puget Sound area. Reduced fare ORCA cards are free, but replacement cards cost $3.

Get an RRFP ORCA card

three riders comparing different ORCA cards together
ORCA LIFT for low-income qualified riders

For low-income residents, we offer reduced fares through the ORCA LIFT Program. It’s just like a regular ORCA card, but allows riders to pay a reduced bus fare based on household income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, established by the US Department of Health & Human Services.

Get an ORCA LIFT card

Rider uses ORCA card to board a bus
Subsidized annual pass

Residents of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, who are enrolled in one of six state benefit programs, can get a subsidized annual pass for trips on King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit services.

See if you qualify for the subsidized annual pass

Other ORCA options

ORCA E-purse

Your ORCA card can act like pre-paid debit or gift card. Add money to the card and the cost of your ride is deducted automatically whenever you use your card. For ORCA, this is called “E-purse” and is ideal for new or infrequent riders. Learn more on myORCA.com.

Add a monthly pass

For riders who take more than 18 roundtrips a month, we recommend a monthly pass. Pick a pass value based on the fare of your most frequent trip. For instance, buy a $2.50 pass if you’re an adult who takes local Community Transit buses. Your monthly pass is good for unlimited rides on transit systems throughout the region.

If you make transfers to a bus or train with a higher fare, you can pay the cost difference with cash or with E-purse value that you've added to your ORCA card. Learn more on myORCA.com.

Tap to Pay

Use Tap to Pay to pay your fare with a debit or credit card in your wallet or one loaded on your phone through Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™. Simply tap your payment method on the ORCA card reader.

If transferring to another transit service, tap the same contactless card to receive the same two hour transfer credit as an ORCA card. Transfers only work between transit services which accept Tap to Pay and transfer benefits (please note that Tap to Pay is not available on DART paratransit or Zip Shuttle). Visa, Mastercard, Discover Network, and American Express credit or debit cards are accepted. Learn more about Tap to Pay on myORCA.com.

Ferry riders

If you ride the Washington State Ferries, you can load a WSF monthly pass on your ORCA card, creating your own "Ship to Shore" pass, or use your E-purse to pay for individual ferry rides (walk-on fare only).