Fortaleza will begin replacing the Free Transit Card for Persons with Disabilities (PcD) on September 22, 2026, for people who already have an active benefit. The process includes re-registration, facial biometric enrollment and issuance of a new card, which will be delivered during the appointment. Etufor said more than 47,000 active users are included in this phase.
To reduce queues and distribute demand, replacement appointments were organized by the first letter of the beneficiary's first name. Service is in person, Monday through Friday, and requires advance booking on the Etufor website.
Replacement calendar by first-name initial
The official schedule runs from September 2026 through February 2027. The City of Fortaleza published the following groups:
| First-name initial | Assigned month |
|---|---|
| A | September 2026 |
| A, B, C, D or E | October 2026 |
| E, F, G, H, I or J | November 2026 |
| J, K, L or M | December 2026 |
| M, N, O, P, Q or R | January 2027 |
| R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y or Z | February 2027 |
Note the overlap: in the published schedule, the letters A, E, J, M and R appear in two consecutive months. The official notice does not explain whether the repetition represents an additional service window or another operational rule. People with one of these initials should therefore check the dates actually released in the booking system before selecting an appointment.
Etufor advises beneficiaries to attend only during the month assigned to the initial of their first name. The purpose is to keep daily demand within the service capacity of the locations.
Documents required for replacement
For replacement of an already active card, Etufor requires four items:
- the old PcD Free Transit Card;
- an official photo ID;
- CPF, the Brazilian individual taxpayer number;
- proof of address issued within the previous six months.
No medical report is required to replace the old card with the new one. This exemption applies to the re-registration of people who already have an active PcD Free Transit Card. The city notice does not extend that rule to first-time applications, which continue under the regular benefit process.
Facial biometrics make the beneficiary's presence mandatory
The beneficiary must go to the selected location in person because the new issuance process includes facial biometric enrollment. According to Etufor, the biometric record will be used for identification at bus validators and is part of the security measures associated with the new card.
The process does not end with a receipt for later pickup. The City says the new card will be delivered immediately after the appointment and biometric enrollment.
How to book the replacement
- Check the first letter of your first name and identify the corresponding month in the official calendar.
- Go to the Etufor booking portal.
- Select a service location, available date and time within the period assigned to your initial.
- Prepare the old card, photo ID, CPF and recent proof of address.
- Attend in person on the scheduled date to complete facial biometrics and receive the new card.
Because the campaign works by appointment, going directly to a service location without booking is not enough. The system should be checked for available dates and times.
Service locations announced by the city
The City listed Monday through Friday service, by appointment, at the following locations:
- Etufor headquarters: Av. Juscelino Kubitschek, 5451, Passaré;
- Etufor Service Center at RioMar Kennedy: Av. Sargento Hermínio Sampaio, 3100, Presidente Kennedy;
- Casa do Cidadão at Shopping Iguatemi: Av. Washington Soares, 85, Edson Queiroz, Services Arcade, basement level;
- Vapt-Vupt: units in Antônio Bezerra, Centro and Messejana, as well as Shopping Parangaba and Shopping RioMar Papicu.
Because the location is selected during booking, availability at each site may vary by date and time.
What if this is your first application?
The letter-based calendar was announced for people who already have an active PcD Free Transit Card and need to replace it. People who are not yet beneficiaries and want to apply for the first card, as well as people who requested a first card but have not yet received it, may follow the regular process and book any available date, according to the City.
This distinction matters because the documents and eligibility criteria for a first application should not be confused with the simplified replacement checklist. The medical-report exemption announced by Etufor specifically applies to replacement of the old card for active beneficiaries.
What changes with the new PcD Free Transit Card
In addition to a redesigned appearance, Etufor says the card includes technological improvements and will be linked to facial biometric enrollment. The stated aim is to strengthen security and reduce improper use of the benefit, which is intended for the person with a disability and, when applicable, an accompanying person.
The official launch of the new card is scheduled for September 21, 2026, at Etufor headquarters, and re-registration begins the next day, September 22. Sindiônibus is responsible for issuing the card.
Quick checklist for the appointment
- Use the initial of the beneficiary's first name to find the month.
- Book before going to a service location.
- Bring the old card, photo ID, CPF and proof of address no more than six months old.
- Do not bring a medical report if the procedure is only replacement of an active card.
- The cardholder must be present for facial biometrics.
- The new card is issued during the appointment.
The rules, addresses and schedule were published by the City of Fortaleza on September 17, 2026. Because the campaign continues through February 2027, users should check the Etufor portal before the appointment for any operational updates.
