Unused Opal Cards: Take Action Before 8 June 2027

Changes are being introduced for unregistered Opal cards that have remained unused for an extended period.

From 8 June 2027, unregistered Adult and Child/Youth Opal cards that have not been used for five years or more will be cancelled. Any remaining balances will be recovered and reinvested into public and active transport initiatives across NSW.

What do I need to do?

If you have an affected Opal card, take one of the following actions before 8 June 2027:

  • Use the card by tapping on at an Opal reader
  • Register the card to an Opal account
  • Transfer the balance to another registered Opal card
  • Request a refund of the remaining balance

Simply topping up an Opal card does not count as using it. To keep an unregistered card active, it must be used to tap on or registered before the deadline.

Which cards are affected?

The change only applies to:

  • Unregistered Adult Opal cards; and
  • Unregistered Child/Youth Opal cards

The card must also have remained unused for five years or more.

Registered Opal cards, Concession Opal cards and Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal cards are not affected.

Requesting a refund

Customers who no longer require their Opal card can request a refund of the remaining balance. Refunds can only be paid into an Australian bank account and may take up to 20 business days to process.

When applying online, customers will need to provide their card details and upload a photograph showing the card cut in half.

Important: Do not cut the card if its card number or security code is faded or unreadable. Instead, complete the paper refund form and return the intact card to Opal Customer Care.

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