Sube

SUBE, short for Sistema Único de Boleto Electrónico, is an Argentine national program that uses a contactless smart card to pay fares on most public transport. Introduced in 2012 by the national government, its purpose is to unify fare collection, simplify payment across operators, and centralize subsidy delivery.

The card is issued to users and can be loaded with credit at authorized points, banks, or through official channels. It is used on a range of services, including buses, the Buenos Aires subway (subte), and many suburban trains, with expansion to additional provinces over time. When boarding a vehicle or entering a station, users tap the card on a reader and the fare is deducted from the balance.

SUBE is coordinated by the Ministry of Transportation in conjunction with provincial transport authorities and participating operators. Since its inception, the system has been deployed beyond the Capital Federal and Greater Buenos Aires, aiming to cover a larger share of the country’s urban and interurban networks and to standardize pricing and subsidy administration.

People eligible for social assistance can access Tarifa Social SUBE, which provides discounted fares. The program also supports card reissues and balance transfers if a card is lost or damaged, and offers options for online top-ups and account management to facilitate user access. Data collected through the system is used for fare accounting, subsidy distribution, and system integrity, subject to applicable privacy protections.