With the new school year just a week away, don’t forget to apply for your child’s Zip Oyster photocard or check their current card hasn’t expired.
Most bus drivers are relaxed about kids getting on buses but under the rules if you’re caught without a valid card it means paying full adult fares – or facing penalty charges.
What the card provides
The Mayor and TfL currently provide over 750,000 young people with free or reduced rate travel with a Zip Oyster photocard, which works across all London transport. Here’s what your child gets:
- Ages 5-10: Free travel on Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line, plus most National Rail services that accept pay as you go
- Ages 11-15: Free travel on buses and trams, plus child-rate fares on Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line
- Ages 16-17: Half the adult pay as you go rate on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services
The scheme extends beyond central London, covering children in South West London and those travelling on certain routes into Surrey.
How to apply
The application process is straightforward but can take time – so apply today if you can. You’ll need:
- A clear digital photo of your child
- Details from their valid passport
- £11 administration fee for 5-10 cards, £16 for 11-15 cards, or £21 for 16+ cards
If your child doesn’t have a passport, you can complete the application at a Post Office instead.
The scale of the scheme
The numbers show just how vital these cards are for London’s young people. Young people aged 11-18 made over 280 million journeys on the bus network alone in 2014/15, while validations of concessionary Oyster cards more than doubled from around 166,000 to over 400,000 per day within the first week of the Zip scheme launching.
Don’t leave it to the last minute – apply online or check your existing card is still valid. Cards have specific expiry dates, so even if your child had one last year, it might need renewing.
Brief history
The Zip scheme was launched in January 2008 by then-Mayor Ken Livingstone, becoming mandatory from June 1 that year. It was designed to bring together different young people’s free travel schemes under one recognised branded card and make it easier to manage concessionary travel across London’s transport network.
