Porto, Aug. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - The queues to sign up for the municipal card, which allows Porto residents to use public transport free of charge, have remained long more than three weeks after the local authority introduced the measure, with the local authority urging people to use online channels.
When Lusa asked about the long queues that form every day outside the Citizens' Office, where people line up to sign up for the free metropolitan travel pass announced by the mayor, Pedro Duarte, on 15 July, the local authority said it has stepped up both in-person services and digital channels.
According to the council, since 10 July, the new dedicated helpline «has handled almost 4,000 calls», operating from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to assist residents with the registration process.
«There are now 11 counters exclusively dedicated to the Porto Card, plus four stations dedicated to updating the Free Metropolitan Pass for those who already had a Porto Card,» reads a response sent to Lusa on Monday.
The council «urges people to prioritise the digital channel» to avoid queues such as those seen in recent weeks, with residents reporting to Lusa that they had to wait more than four hours between arriving in the early hours of the morning and being attended to.
«The in-person service should be reserved for people who lack the digital skills to apply online. Currently, only 36% of those opting for in-person service are over 65,» the council said.
The council emphasised that the «customer service team has been significantly strengthened» and that staff are on hand to screen people and monitor the room's capacity.
On 15 July, five days after Pedro Duarte's announcement, the council had recorded around 30,000 applications and activations of the free travel scheme.
At the time, the mayor said that the queues were «a sign that people have signed up and are indeed recognising the benefit granted to them», which was «on the one hand, highly reassuring».
However, he also said he believed that, «as people become better informed», the queues would begin to shorten, given that it is possible to apply for this card via the council's website, saying that council staff were «working very hard» and putting in «overtime» to meet this demand.
«I believe that now, as the next few days unfold, things will also settle down a little and return to normal,» he said, pointing out that people would be able to use public transport in the coming months.
On 13 July, Lusa reported that more than 100 people, mostly older residents and immigrants, had waited all morning for a ticket from the Citizens' Office to ensure they could get their municipal card, and that there had already been disagreements between those who had been waiting for hours and those trying to jump the queue.
Public transport is free for those with a registered address in Porto since 10 July, provided they hold the Porto Card.
Students residing in Porto, even if their registered address is elsewhere, can also apply for the Porto Card.
In addition to the Citizens' Office, people can apply for the municipal card online (https://cartao.porto.pt/) and at other locations.
On the municipal card website, simply click the ‘Sign up' button at the top of the page and complete the registration.
SIF/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
