Standard physical Suica cards (the green IC cards used for transit in Japan) do not have a fixed expiration date, but they will become invalidated if they are not used for a period of 10 consecutive years. If you have a Suica from a trip a few years ago, it is almost certainly still active and ready to use in 2026. However, there are exceptions: the "Welcome Suica" (the special red card for tourists) is only valid for 28 days from the date of first use and cannot be refunded or used after that window. For those using Mobile Suica on an iPhone or Android device, the digital "card" remains active as long as the app is maintained, though you may need to re-verify your payment method periodically. If you find yourself with an old physical card that has expired after a decade of disuse, you can sometimes have the remaining balance transferred to a new card at a JR East ticket office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) for a small handling fee. As of 2026, these cards remain the most convenient way to pay for trains, buses, and even vending machine snacks across most of Japan.