This invention relates to a smart card connector (10) which has the following: a contact carrier (11) which bears read contact elements (11) which have read contacts, a cover (12) which via a top (139) of the contact carrier (11) is fastened to the latter and forms a card receiving space, a read contact element lifting device (14) which is pivotally mounted in the contact carrier, and contact/lifting surfaces made on the read contact element lifting device (14), on which surfaces the read contact elements rest, when a card which strikes the lifting device (14) is pushed in, the read contacts (171, 172) being moved into contact with the card contacts.