Senior CharlieCard

To complete your online application, be prepared to:

1. Upload an image of the front of a valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID. Expired IDs will not be accepted.
2. Upload a picture of yourself from the neck up and in front of a solid background. Hats, face coverings, and sunglasses are not permitted.

Please allow between one to two weeks for review and processing. We will contact you via phone or email if we need more information to determine your eligibility.

You can choose to either receive your Senior CharlieCard in the mail or pick it up at the CharlieCard Store. If you choose to have it mailed, you will receive your card within two to four weeks after approval. If you choose to pick it up, we will contact you via phone or email with instructions.

All information provided by you will be used solely for determining your eligibility for a Senior CharlieCard. Incomplete applications cannot be submitted or processed until all information and eligibility documents have been received and/or uploaded.

The CharlieCard Store is located at Downtown Crossing Station, on the underground concourse between the Red and Orange lines:

• 7 Chauncy Street
• Boston, MA 02111

Here’s what you can expect once you arrive:

1. You’ll need to present a valid (non-expired), government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport, state ID).
2. You’ll need to have your photo taken.
3. If approved, you’ll receive a temporary Senior CharlieTicket, valid for use while you wait for your permanent Senior CharlieCard to arrive in the mail within 7 – 10 business days.

View CharlieCard Store hours

Schedule an Appointment

If you'd prefer, you can schedule your visit ahead of time. Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 AM – 11:15 AM.

Book an appointment

Councils on Aging and Senior Centers occasionally host Senior CharlieCard events where you can apply for a card. 

Here’s what you can expect during an event:

1. You’ll need to present a valid (non-expired), government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or state ID) for proof of age.
2. You’ll be able to fill out an application and have your photo taken.
3. Event staff will mail your application and photo to the MBTA, and your permanent Senior CharlieCard will arrive in the mail within 4 – 6 weeks.

Load cash value or monthly passes onto your Senior CharlieCard at any fare vending machine, at the CharlieCard Store, at fare boxes on buses and trolleys at street-level stops, or online via the MyCharlie website. 

Please note: Discounted monthly passes are not available for Express Buses. You can purchase a one-way ticket for 50% of the standard cash fare at onboard fareboxes and fare vending machines.

Here’s how you can use your Senior CharlieCard on the Commuter Rail:

1. Show your Senior CharlieCard to MBTA staff at Commuter Rail ticket windows, to an onboard conductor, or tap it at a fare vending machine to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare or purchase a 10-ride ticket.
    
2. You can also show a ticket agent or conductor a valid (non-expired), government-issued license or photo ID that shows you’re 65 or older for reduced Commuter Rail fares.
    
3. mTicket: Enter your Senior CharlieCard serial card number on the Reduced Fares page under the “My Account” section in your mTicket app. The reduced fare will then automatically appear when purchasing a ticket.

Note: Discounted monthly Commuter Rail passes are not available.

Show your Senior CharlieCard at ferry ticket booths to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare or purchase a 10-ride ticket.

You can also show a ticket agent or ferry official a valid (non-expired), government-issued license or photo ID that shows you’re 65 or older for reduced ferry fares.

The Charlestown Inner Harbor Ferry and Hingham/Hull Commuter Ferry offer discounts for seniors on all trips.

Please note:

• The Salem and Winthrop ferries are operated seasonally by their respective municipalities. Prices and discount options may vary depending on what time you take your trip.
• Discounted monthly passes are not available.

Learn more about where you can take a ferry