I believe I am reading the webpages correctly, but thought I would double-check here.

When we go to Paris, we always use our Carte Orange and buy a new coupon hebdo. It appears that Paris now has a smart card system, Navigo, which is starting to replace the Carte Orange.

We would not mind getting one of these instead, cause we love London's Oyster card and all others of its ilk, but when I read the form it looks like I need to have a Paris address or some sort of certification from my employer in Paris.

Is this correct? Can I not just pick one up when I get there?

http://www.navigo.fr/

Thanks,
BillJ

It's for people working or residing in Ile de France, not for visitors, though I suppose if a visitor wanted to fill out the form with a Paris address and phone number, they would probably be able to get one.

The Carte Orange is also intended for people working or residing in Ile de France (because it's subsidized by the government), though they usually will sell it to anyone who requests it.

It's probably easiest for most people to stick with the Carte Orange, which won't be disappearing anytime soon.

I don't know why people continue to say that the Carte Orange is "intended for people working or residing in France". Where exactly does it say that? I agree that they "usually" sell it to anyone-do you know of any documented instance when they did not?

I also agree that the Carte Orange is the easiest way to go, and also that it will be around for a long time. The Navigo's only edge is that some turnstyles in the Metro only take a swipe ofthe Navigo card-and that'shardly a big deal.

After reading about a couple of tourists who tried to buy one and were refused (they then went to a different metro station and bought one with no hassle), I wrote to the RATP a while back to ask them if tourists could purchase the Carte Orange. They gave me the information I mentioned above: That because the cards are subsidized, they are meant for local residents and workers, but that there was no rule preventing visitors from buying them if they wished.

This is also the reason you don't see the Carte Orange listed among the options on the English version of the RATP site or on the French version if you are using the transport pass "wizard" and specify being a nonresident of Ile de France.

I personally have never had a problem buying a Carte Orange.

I'm very surprised-could you quote what RATP said? And when did they write to you? Several years ago, Rick Steves had a similar statement in his Paris book, and after seeing a poster in the Metro saying anyone can buy a Carte Orange, I emailed his office asking for the source of his info. They never wrote back, but the caveat was removed from the next edition of the book.

Of course RATP would say that the passes are intended for locals, just as United Airlines would say that Mileage Plus was designed for frequent flyers. But just as MP can and is often used by others, the Metro passes are used by anyone who thinks that it is the best way to pay. Was RATP really saying anyone can use them or did they really imply some restrictions exist?

I have never heard of anyone being questioned on residency when buying a Carte Orange so this is a new one for me too. I sometimes see confusion when tourists are at a Metro ticket offices due to langauge issues, especially when the ticket agent has a bad attitude.

This would have been back in 2003, and I no longer have that email from the RATP; however, the content was essentially as described above, that the card is intended for those who live and work in Ile de France but that visitors could buy them, too.

I suspect another reason the Carte Orange info doesn't appear on the English version of the site is that they want to sell the more expensive Paris Visite pass.

I have never seen anyone refused a carte orange at the pay wicket. And in many stations now, you have to use a machine to get a carte orange. But. . . you are supposed to fill out the address form on the back of the picture card, and you are supposed to write the number from the lower right corner of that card on the actually carte orange ticket, although most people don't. I have seen Controle insist that you do so, although not recently.

So to sum up, it seems agreed that residency and nationality should have no impact on whether someone buys and uses a Carte Orange, right?

I know no one who has heard about this ever happening. I don't doubt the poster who read about it but just as the Steeves' book had it wrong, what you read isn't always factual.

I suggest folks come to Paris and buy from among any of the tickets or card that works best for their plans and schedule.

Indeed. That was never in question.

If people have actually had problems buying it from certain agents, according to their stories they have been able to get it from a different agent, so the denial seems to have been completely arbitrary (not unlike the TSA... ). People should buy whatever form of ticket works for them, though the original item in question (Navigo) does require them to provide more information.

I think (but am not positive) that the Navigo must be mailed to the address that has been given. We just used a Paris Visite last week because we arrived in Paris on Thursday and were too late to buy the Carte Orange. It's more expensive than the CO, but works just as well. It includes the Noctilien night bus and the Balabus too. We use buses a lot so it paid for us to buy the Visite.