translink free travel pass

Tickets and Travel Cards

CONCESSION PASSES

On presentation of your half fare smartpass you are entitled to 50% off the standard adult single fare on scheduled bus and rail services operating within northern ireland., are you entitled to a half fare smartpass.

Concession travel is available for people aged between 16 and 64, resident in Northern Ireland for at least the last three months. and who fall into one of the five categories below:

People who have been awarded the higher or lower rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for a period of at least 12 months.

People who have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds.

People who are registered as partially sighted with a Health and Social Services Trust.

People who are known to a Health and Social Services Trust as having a learning disability.

People who are in receipt of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

How to apply for a Half Fare SmartPass

If you believe that you would be entitled to a Half Fare SmartPass you can pick up an application form from Your local Translink Bus or Rail Station or call us on: 028 9066 6630 and we will post you an application.

Carefully complete the application (guide notes are provided within the form) and enclose one recent colour passport-sized photograph. When your application has been approved your new SmartPass will be posted directly to your home. Please note that processing of applications will normally take at least six weeks.

Day Return Tickets for Half-Fare SmartPass Holders

Please note that local Day Return rail tickets are now available for DFI Half-fare SmartPass holders for travel between stations within Northern Ireland only. This means that for the price of an Adult single fare, Half-fare SmartPass holders can purchase a day return ticket – this applies for rail only.

Note that this new option is only available:

• to Half-fare SmartPass holders (NOT any Free SmartPass holders e.g. 60, Senior, Blind, ROI Senior etc)
• in rail services only (SmartPass return tickets are not available on bus

60+ SmartPass

If you are aged between 60 and 64 and you are a permanent resident of Northern Ireland (you must have been resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of 3 months), then you are eligible for a 60 Plus SmartPass. This enables you to be eligible for free travel throughout Northern Ireland.

How to Apply

Application forms can be obtained in the following ways:

in person from any manned Translink bus or rail station

by telephoning 028 9066 6630 (deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630)

by emailing:  [email protected]

60+ SmartPass Holders who will turn 65 shortly

Your 60+ SmartPass is programmed to run out at the end of the calendar month in which you become 65. If you have applied for a Senior SmartPass, it will not be sent to you until near the end of the month in which you become 65.

As free all Ireland and cross-border travel is only available with a Senior (65+) SmartPass, it may be that you have to wait up to three weeks following your 65th birthday before you can claim this benefit.

Please call us on 028 9066 6630 if you have changed your address.

Senior SmartPass

Free travel is available to all Senior Citizens who are 65 years of age or over and who are resident in Northern Ireland (you must have been resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of 3 months to be eligible).

With a Senior SmartPass you can travel anywhere in Northern Ireland on any Translink bus or rail service completely free of charge. You can also enjoy free cross border travel and internal Republic of Ireland travel.

Renewing your SmartPass

SmartPasses are only valid for five years. Please check the expiry date on the front of your SmartPass to determine when it will expire as it cannot be used to obtain free travel after this date. Approximately three months before each SmartPass expires the Department for Infrastructure will write to pass holders explaining how to get a new pass. A dedicated user helpline has also been set up on 028 9066 6630 for those seeking further information.

Lost or Stolen Cards

Faulty or damaged cards.

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Free Travel Scheme

From Department of Social Protection  

Published on 25 July 2019

Last updated on 15 February 2024

• 1. Latest updates
• 2. What the Free Travel Scheme is
• 3. How to qualify
• 4. Expired PSC and Free Travel Cards
• 7. Operational Guidelines

Latest updates

Minister Humphreys announces New Free Travel Scheme Extension. From July, the Free Travel Scheme is being extended to people who have never been able to drive due to a disability, and to drivers who have a licence and are medically certified as not fit to drive for a period of 12 months or longer.

Read the full press release here

What the Free Travel Scheme is

The Free Travel Scheme is available to:

• everyone who is 66 or over and legally living permanently in the State
• certain people who are under 66 and legally living permanently in the State. If you are under 66, you must meet certain conditions to qualify

The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on all public transport owned by the State. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas, with some exceptions.

Free travel is also available on some services operated by private bus and ferry transport operators. If you would like to find out if a transport operator accepts Free Travel Cards, the full list is available here or you can contact the department to check.

When you use your Free Travel Card, you must follow the rules that apply to the type of transport you are using.

You cannot use your existing Free Travel Card for free travel within Northern Ireland. Find out more about how to avail of free travel within Northern Ireland.

Free Travel Companion Card

If you qualify for the Free Travel Scheme, a Free Travel Companion Card may be available in some cases. This card allows a companion to travel with you for free. No one else can use your Free Travel Card, it is for you only.

Your Public Services Card (PSC) will display one of the following codes in the top left-hand corner to identify if you can avail of free travel with a spouse, partner, cohabitant or companion:

• FT-P - only you can avail of free travel
• FT+S - your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free
• FT+C - a companion who is over 16 can travel with you for free

If you have a Free Travel Card but are unable to travel alone due to a medical condition, you can apply for a Free Travel Companion Card using the:

• FT O/70 application form if you are 70 or over
• FT U/70 application form if you are under 70

How to qualify

If you are 66 or over.

Everyone who is 66 or over and legally living permanently in the State, can use the Free Travel Scheme.

The department will automatically send you a Free Travel Card if you:

• are aged 66 or over
• are getting a social welfare pension
• have confirmed your identity through the SAFE registration process, and
• your Public Services Card (PSC) has not expired

If you are not SAFE registered, the department will ask you to do so. Once this has been completed, the department will send you your Free Travel Card.

If your PSC has expired, you must you must renew it to avail of the Free Travel Scheme. You can do so online at MyWelfare.ie or at your local PSC Centre.

If you are under 66

If you are under 66, you may be entitled to use the Free Travel Scheme if you are legally living permanently in the State and you:

• are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension
• are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
• have been getting Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
• are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance
• are getting a social security invalidity payment (or similar payment) from another EU member state or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months
• are a widow, widower or a surviving civil partner and you are 60 or over

If you are under 66, have confirmed your identity through the SAFE registration process and your Public Services Card (PSC) has not expired, you will automatically get a Free Travel Card if you receive:

• Invalidity Pension
• Blind Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Carer's Allowance

If you are not SAFE registered, you will be asked to do so before the department sends you your Free Travel Card.

If you meet at any of the above conditions you can apply for the Free Travel Scheme by using the FT1 application form.

If you are a widow, widower or a surviving civil partner

You may be entitled to the Free Travel Scheme if you are a widow, widower or a surviving civil partner and you are 60 or over. In this case your late spouse or civil partner must have held a Free Travel Card, and you must be getting one of the following payments:

• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment
• an ordinary Garda Widow’s Pension
• a Death Benefit Pension (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)

Note: you may be receiving a similar social security pension or benefit from an EU member state or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement.

Northern Ireland

To avail of free travel within Northern Ireland you must:

• be 66 or over
• have a Free Travel Card, and
• obtain a Senior SmartPass Card

Application forms (FTNI1) for Senior SmartPass Cards are available from your local:

• Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office
• Citizens Information Centre

The completed application form must be brought to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office in person (not posted or emailed). You must also bring the following documents with your application form to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office:

• a recent passport standard colour photograph
• evidence of your identity (driving licence/passport/any other form of photo ID, if available)
• evidence of address (a recent utility bill, for example electricity/gas/phone/waste charges bill or a bank/building society/credit union statement) and
• current Free Travel Card

Your application will be forwarded to the authorities in Northern Ireland who will send your Senior SmartPass card and instructions for use, directly to your home address. It may take up to six weeks to process your application.

How to renew your Senior SmartPass Card for travel within Northern Ireland only

If your senior smartpass card has expired.

If your Senior SmartPass Card has expired, contact the SmartPass office directly at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 0044 2890759129

Make sure to provide your name, address and PPS number and the SmartPass Office will send a renewal form directly to you.

If your Senior SmartPass Card has been lost, stolen, damaged or if you have changed your name

If your Senior SmartPass Card has been lost, stolen, damaged or if you have changed your name, you can apply for a replacement card using the FTNI2 application form.

Expired PSC and Free Travel Cards

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed that all transport operators in the Free Travel Scheme are allowing customers with a PSC Free Travel Card to continue to avail of free travel even if the card has expired. Free travel passholders with expired PSC and Free Travel Cards are advised to renew their cards at their earliest convenience.

More information about renewing your Public Services Card (PSC) is available here.

To apply for the Free Travel Scheme, please download an FT1 application form. You can also get an FT1 application form from your local:

Return your completed application form along with your supporting documents to the Free Travel Section.

Application Forms

Application Form: Free Travel Scheme (FT1)

Edition: November 2023

Application Form: Over 70 Companion Free Travel Card (FT O/70)

Application Form: Under 70 Companion Free Travel Card (FT U/70)

Application Form: Replacement SmartPass card (FTNI 2)

Edition: June 2022

More information about how to use your Free Travel Card is available here.

Free Travel Section

Operational guidelines.

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.

• Operational Guidelines: Free Travel Scheme
• Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues
• Social Protection

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Free travel in Ireland

What is the free travel scheme, how to use free travel, where can i use free travel, how to qualify for free travel, how to apply for free travel, where to apply for free travel, senior smartpass for travelling in northern ireland.

The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on public transport and some private bus and ferry services.

Everyone aged 66 and over, living permanently in Ireland, can get the Free Travel Scheme.

People with disabilities and carers aged under 66 may also qualify for Free Travel.

If you qualify for Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may travel with you for free if you meet certain criteria (see ‘Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants’ below).

If you can’t travel alone for medical reasons, you may get Free Travel for a companion. This allows a person aged over 16 to travel with you for free.

Changes to the Free Travel Scheme in 2024

From July 2024, you will qualify for the Free Travel Scheme if you have:

• Never been able to drive due to a disability
• A driving licence and are medically certified as ‘not fit to drive’ for 12 months or longer.

If you qualify for Free Travel, your Public Services Card (PSC) will have FT (for Free Travel) in the top left-hand corner. The letter following it shows who can travel for free with you:

• FT-P - you can travel for free
• FT+S - your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free
• FT+C - you can have a person (over 16) travel with you for free

You must show or scan your Public Services Card to the travel operator when you are travelling on public transport. Find out more about 'How to use your public services card for free travel' .

Paper travel passes are no longer being issued but you can still use your paper pass, if it is valid.

You can use your Free Travel on most Iarnród Éireann , Bus Éireann , Dublin Bus , DART and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services (pdf) .

Free travel is also available on Dublin Bus Nitelink , Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI (Transport for Ireland) Local Link services .

Free travel does not include some special services such as Dublin Bus AIRLINK services .

You can find a full list of services where you can use Free Travel (pdf) on gov.ie.

There are no restrictions on the times you can use your Free Travel.

Living on the Aran Islands or Tory Island

If you are permanently living on any of the Aran Islands, you may get up to 12 single (or 6 return) air trips each year between the islands and Galway City.

People who live permanently on Tory Island (Co. Donegal) are entitled to 8 (or 4 return) free journeys on the seasonal helicopter service operating between the island and Falcarragh on the mainland.

If your public services card includes free travel for a companion, spouse, partner or cohabitant, they can also travel with you for free on the above services.

Going to Northern Ireland

You may also travel free of charge on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland. But to travel free in Northern Ireland, you must have a Senior Smart Pass – see ‘Senior SmartPass for travelling in Northern Ireland’ below.

To get Free Travel you must be living in Ireland and meet one of the following conditions:

• You are aged 66 or over
• You are getting Disability Allowance , Blind Pension , Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension
• You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
• You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
• You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance
• You are getting a social security invalidity payment (or similar payment) from a country covered by EU regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months

Widow or widower or a surviving civil partner

If you are a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner aged 60 or over, living in Ireland and your late spouse or civil partner had Free Travel, you can get Free Travel, if you are getting one of the following payments:

• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Contributory) Pension
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
• A similar social security pension or benefit from a country covered by EU regulations or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement
• You are getting an ordinary Garda widow's pension

Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants

If you are entitled to Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may be able to travel with you for free.

Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant cannot travel with you for free, if you are under age 66 and getting Free Travel because you are:

• Getting Carer's Allowance
• The nominated carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance

Your PSC card must have FT-S on it to allow your partner travel with you. To add your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to your Free Travel - see ‘How to apply for Free Travel’ below.

If you can’t travel alone

If you are unable to travel alone , you can have a person, over 16 years of age, travel with you for free. Your PSC card must have FT-C on it. To add a companion to your Free Travel, see ‘How to apply for Free Travel’ below.

Free travel companion card for children

A child with a visual impairment can get Free Travel for a companion if they are under 18 and they either:

• Satisfy the blindness condition for a Blind Pension, or
• Are registered with Vision Ireland or the National League of the Blind of Ireland

The person they travel with (companion) must be age 16 or over.

Work and Free Travel

You can keep your Free Travel for 5 years, if you moved from one of the following disability payments to work:

• Disability Allowance
• Invalidity Pension
• Partial Capacity Benefit (from Invalidity Pension)
• Disablement Benefit paid along with Incapacity Supplement

You can also keep your Free Travel for 5 years if you transferred from Disability Allowance or Invalidity Pension to a Community Employment , SOLAS or a Back to Work scheme.

If you are aged 66 or over and are getting a State pension, your Public Services Card (PSC) will be issued showing that you have Free Travel automatically.

If you are under 66, you will get Free Travel automatically issued on your PSC if you get one of the following payments:

• Blind Pension
• Carer’s Allowance

If you are married or in a civil partnership, your PSC will be issued with FT-S on it. If you are cohabiting, you must fill in Part 1 and 2 of the Free Travel application form FT1 (pdf) .

If you are not getting one of the payments above but you are eligible for Free Travel, you must fill in the Free Travel application form FT1(pdf) and send to the Free Travel Section in the Department of Social Protection.

If you can’t travel alone and need a companion

If you are unable to travel alone, you can apply for Free Travel for a Companion, using either of the following forms:

• Over 70 Companion pass form (pdf)
• Under 70 Companion pass form (pdf)

You can get an application form for Free Travel from the Department of Social Protection. The form is also available at your local post office and Citizens Information Centre .

Lost or damaged Free Travel pass or PSC

There are currently 2 types of Free Travel Pass:

• A paper Free Travel Pass
• A Public Services Card with Free Travel (with F-T written in the top left-hand corner)

Paper passes are no longer being issued so if you need a replacement for a lost or damaged paper pass, you must undergo SAFE registration and get a Public Services Card .

If your Public Services Card Free Travel is lost, stolen or damaged, you should telephone 0818 837 000 to request a replacement card.

Free Travel

Social Welfare Services College Road Sligo Ireland

If you are 66 or over and have Free Travel, you can travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a Senior SmartPass card.

If you are 66 or over and have Free Travel, you do not need to meet the residency condition in Northern Ireland to apply for a Senior SmartPass card.

How to apply for a Senior SmartPass

To get a Senior SmartPass, you must fill in an application form (FTNI1). You can get this form from your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. It is not possible to get this form online .

You should not use a photocopy of the form as each form is barcoded. The application form must be filled in with black ink only and returned in person (not posted) to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

You must bring each of the following items with your application form to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office:

• Your Irish Free Travel pass/Public Services Card
• Proof of your address, (for example, a gas, electricity, phone bill or bank statement)
• Proof of your identity, (for example, your driving licence, passport or another form of photo identification)
• A recent passport standard colour photograph

It may take up to 6 weeks to process your application. There is further information on the extension of the Free Travel Scheme .

Travelling with a partner or companion

A spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or companion cannot travel with you for free on public transport within Northern Ireland.

However, your Irish Free Travel allows your spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or companion to travel for free on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland. For example, a cross-border train journey that starts in Ireland and ends in Northern Ireland or vice versa.

Renewing and replacing a Senior SmartPass

Your Senior SmartPass will expire after 5 years.

• If you have electronically used your card within the last 2 years, you will get a new card automatically in the post from Translink when your card expires.
• If you have not used your card in the last 2 years, you will be sent a renewal application form to fill in. The renewal form is not the same as a first-time application and you do not need to supply a photograph.
• If you have never used your card, you will not hear from Translink at all. If you wish to get it renewed, you must contact Translink by email at [email protected] , or telephone 00 44 289 075 9129 or 028 90 66 66 30 and they will send you a renewal application.

If you lose or need to replace your Senior SmartPass for travel in Northern Ireland, you can fill in form (FTNI 2) (pdf) .

Brexit and the Senior SmartPass

On 31 January 2020 the UK exited the EU . Senior SmartPass holders can continue to travel in Northern Ireland on the bus and train.

Related documents

• Tax-free purchases for non-EU travellers The Retail Export Scheme, allows visitors to Ireland (from outside the European Union) to buy goods in Ireland to take home with them and benefit from tax relief. 2865.8616
• Customs regulations for travellers to Ireland Find out about the important rules in place regarding customs regulations for people travelling to Ireland. 2636.0298
• Travelling from Ireland for healthcare in Europe Introduction to the options for Irish residents who wish to access healthcare in other countries in Europe. 2559.0562

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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• Free Travel Pass

Contact Information

The Free Travel Scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and all queries about the scheme should be directed to the Department by emailing [email protected] or calling 071 915 7100.

More details on the Free Travel Scheme can be found on their website.

About the Free Travel Pass 

The Free Travel Pass allows holders to travel free of charge on public transport services in Ireland including Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, Luas, TFI Local Link and Kilkenny Services operated by City Direct. The Free Travel Pass is also accepted by many commercial bus services.

You can find a full list of all operators and routes where the Free Travel Pass is accepted on gov.ie .

If you are using a PSC Free Travel Card, please hold the card to the validator until you hear a beep or see the green light.

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Age for free Translink public transport could be raised

• Published 1 June 2023
• comments Comments

A public consultation will be held on whether to raise the age at which people qualify for free public transport in Northern Ireland.

The public will be asked whether they believe it should stay at 60 or be raised to 65 or the current state-pension age of 66.

Views will also be sought on extending eligibility for free travel to disabled people who currently only qualify for half-price fares.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks.

It is being run by the Department for Infrastructure, which is in charge of public transport.

The department said eligibility for the free travel SmartPass had not changed since 2008 and it wanted to assess current views.

A spokesperson said: "Changes being considered include raising the age of eligibility for concessionary fares to either 65 or state pension age.

"This change, which would apply to existing users and new applicants, would bring Northern Ireland into line with England and the Republic of Ireland."

Other options include:

• limiting SmartPass use to off-peak travel
• bus-only free travel
• introduction of application, renewal and replacement fees
• companion passes for disabled people unable to travel alone

Loneliness tool

The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland, Eddie Lynch, told the BBC's Talkback programme that extended eligibility is a "very worrying" prospect.

He said the latest development would be of great concern to many older people, who "place great value" on their transport pass.

"If you speak to an older person you will hear them say that this policy is really one of the best things that Stormont ever did," he said.

"You can see how widely it is used."

The benefits of the current system, according to Mr Lynch, include keeping older people active for longer with greater independence.

"It's a tool for combating loneliness and isolation... it's a way that many people rely on to get to health appointments," he said.

Mr Lynch said he would question the cost savings that are being proposed, adding it was being based on "the fact that people's behaviour will stay the same".

He argued that without free travel, older people would not engage with public transport.

"They will not just pay the fare... they'll become less active and that's a problem not just for older people, but for society."

Translink have encouraged people to share their views on the consultation.

"The scheme has been very successful offering many benefits to all those who use their Smartpass," a spokesperson added.

"We will await the outcome and direction from the Department for Infrastructure regarding any changes that may be required to the scheme."

'No decisions have been made'

The department said the cost of the concessionary fare scheme had risen significantly in recent years.

It cost £39m in the last financial year and it is estimated that it will rise to £44.6m in 2023-24 and more than £52m by 2030.

The department spokesperson said: "We are looking at all options to ensure the scheme will continue to promote social inclusion, without impacting the delivery of public transport services or other services the department provides.

"No decisions have been made yet. We are keen to hear from the public, representative groups and others on how the proposed changes might affect them."

There is no minister running the department as a result of the collapse of the Stormont executive last year.

Related Topics

• Northern Ireland

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• Published 3 December 2018

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Half Fare SmartPass - Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

To be eligible to apply for this half fare concessionary travel pass you must be getting the standard or enhanced mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). If you get the daily living component only, you do not qualify for a SmartPass under this eligibility category.

Age and residence

To be eligible, you must also:

• be  aged between 16 and 59
• have been permanently resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of three months

How to apply

You can get an application form by:

• calling in person from any manned Translink bus or rail station
• by phoning 028 9066 6630 (applicants who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630) and asking for a form to be sent to you
• by emailing  [email protected]  and asking for a form to be sent to you (provide name and full address with postcode)

Guidance notes are available at this link:

• Half Fare Smartpass application guidance note

You will never be contacted asking for any bank account details when you're applying for or renewing a SmartPass. 

Renewing your Half Fare SmartPass

SmartPasses are only valid for five years. Check the expiry date on the front of your SmartPass to see when it will run out, as it cannot be used to get free travel after this date.

Around three months before each SmartPass expires, pass holders should get a letter explaining how to get a new pass.

If you want further information about renewing your SmartPass, contact Translink:

• phone: 028 9066 6630 (applicants who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630)

If your PIP entitlement ends

If you are no longer getting the mobility component of PIP then you are no longer entitled to half fare concessionary travel. 

You must contact Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares .

Once DfI is aware that you no longer qualify for concessionary travel, your SmartPass will be cancelled. 

Lost or stolen SmartPass

If your SmartPass is lost or stolen, you should report it to Translink as soon as possible to make sure the card is cancelled and avoid the likelihood of fraudulent use. 

If anyone else tries to use a stolen pass, Translink staff will be alerted.  

Unauthorised use of a SmartPass may result in prosecution.

To get your replacement SmartPass, you should either go to your local Translink bus or rail station, or:

• phone: 028 9066 6630
• email:  [email protected]

Faulty or damaged SmartPass

If your SmartPass is faulty or damaged, you can get a free replacement. 

Go to a Translink bus or rail station and exchange your SmartPass at the ticket office for a ‘Faulty SmartPass Receipt’ ticket. This will provide you with free travel on buses and trains for a seven-day period, during which time a new free replacement pass will be issued. 

Or you can also get a free replacement pass by contacting Translink: 

The ‘Faulty SmartPass Receipt’ ticket is only available at a Translink train or bus station when exchanged for the faulty or damaged pass. 

Using a SmartPass

You should note that:

• Half Fare SmartPasses are issued for the sole purpose of proving eligibility for concessionary travel on eligible scheduled services operated by Translink and other participating operators
• a valid working SmartPass must be shown on every journey to get discounted travel or else the full adult fare will be charged for the journey
• Half Fare SmartPasses are valid only on scheduled bus and rail journeys made in Northern Ireland - they are not valid on cross-border journeys, or on journeys within the Republic of Ireland
• Half Fare SmartPasses are not transferable, nor are any tickets issued with them
• use of the Half Fare SmartPass is subject to the full conditions of carriage of the transport operator
• the SmartPass remains the property of the Department for Infrastructure and may be withdrawn at any time
• after you have boarded the vehicle and asked for your ticket, you should check the ticket to make sure that the details of your journey are right - if the details are not right, you should tell the driver/ conductor immediately
• it is the responsibility of Half Fare SmartPass holders to keep their SmartPass in good working condition

The Concessionary Fares Scheme privacy notice is available  on the DfI website .

You can find further information about how to use your Half Fare SmartPass at this link:

• Half Fare SmartPass user guide

Glider services

You can use your Half Fare SmartPass on all Glider services.

Some changes have been made to make it easier for Half Fare SmartPass users to travel on Glider:

• Half Fare SmartPass users are able to travel free of charge on the new service
• SmartPass users do not need to use Glider ticket vending machines but must tap their card on a validator at the Glider halts before boarding the Glider 

The free concession for Half Fare SmartPass users is a temporary reasonable adjustment until an accessible solution is available.  It applies only to Glider services. 

For all other Translink services, including Metro and Glider feeder services, Ulsterbus, and Northern Ireland Railways, Half Fare SmartPass users will continue to get a half fare concession on the price of a single ticket. 

Contact information

If you have any queries, contact Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares .

More useful links

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to [email protected] 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 Email  [email protected]

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750  Email  [email protected]

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912  Email [email protected]

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to [email protected] or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service .

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service .

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit .

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the  Coronavirus (COVID-19) section , then for queries about:

• Restrictions or regulations —  contact the Department of Health
• Travel advice (including self-isolation) —  contact the Department of Health
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the  Department of Health  or  Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email [email protected] and for queries about your certificate, email [email protected] .

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email [email protected]

Application and payment queries can be emailed to  [email protected]

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency .

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email  [email protected]

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email  [email protected] .

For queries about:

• Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea  
• Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

For queries about your identity check, email [email protected] .

For queries or advice about passports, contact  HM Passport Office .

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email  [email protected]

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the  Northern Ireland Pension Centre .

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section .

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads .

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service .

For queries or advice about rates, email [email protected]

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact  Smartpass - Translink .

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly .  We don't have access to information about you.

A U-Pass BC gives students access to bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain services within Metro Vancouver, as well as discounts on West Coast Express.

All eligible students pay for their U-Pass BC as part of their student fees. By having everyone contribute to the program, the cost per student is significantly lower.

Load your U-Pass BC onto your Compass Card

Link your card and request your U-Pass BC each month before you travel.

Through a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and TransLink, the U-Pass BC program is open to all public, post-secondary schools across Metro Vancouver. Participation is determined by student referendum at each eligible institution.

List of participating post-secondary institutions

Ten post-secondary institutions in Metro Vancouver currently participate in the program:

University of British Columbia

Simon Fraser University

Capilano University

Langara College

Emily Carr University of Art & Design

Vancouver Community College

Douglas College

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology

What are the objectives of the U-Pass BC Program?

The objectives of the U-Pass BC Program are to:

Provide lower-cost travel for students

Encourage students to make transit part of their lifestyle by including travel with the U-Pass BC Program for entertainment, recreation, and other non-school related trips

Reduce single-occupancy vehicles, traffic congestion, and greenhouse gases

Begin to create a sustainable transit program that provides students with a low-cost transit fare and a level of transit service that meets this demand

Create a new U-Pass BC Code of Ethics that allows students to continue to enjoy the benefits of the U-Pass BC Program

Are private institutions eligible to participate in the U-Pass BC Program?

Only public, post-secondary schools within the Metro Vancouver region, as determined by the Ministry of Advanced Education, are eligible to join the U-Pass BC Program in Metro Vancouver. Privately-funded, post-secondary schools are not eligible to join the U-Pass BC Program at this time.

Will my U-Pass BC loaded on a Compass Card provide me with unlimited transit across the Province?

No. A U-Pass BC loaded on a Compass Card is only valid on TransLink services in Metro Vancouver.

Am I eligible for the U-Pass BC Program?

Normally, most students attending one of the participating, public post-secondary institutions are eligible for the Program. While eligibility criteria for the Program is established by the Province of British Columbia, a student’s eligibility is determined by each post-secondary institution based on that criteria. Please be advised that eligibility may be temporarily modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on your eligibility status for the U-Pass BC Program, please contact your post-secondary institution U-Pass BC Program representative.

Can I get an exemption from participating in the U-Pass BC Program?

Overall, the benefit of a significantly-discounted transit pass provided through the Program is partly dependent on the ability of student associations to charge a mandatory fee to participate in the Program. Students approve their participation in the Program through a referendum held by their student association.

However, the Program does allow for a limited number of exemptions to be set by each post-secondary institution and their respective student association.

For more information on your eligibility for, or exemption from, the Program, please contact your post-secondary institution or student association U-Pass BC Program representative.

What is the current U-Pass BC Fee?

The monthly U-Pass BC fees for eligible students are set at:

$41.00 from Jan 1 2020 to Apr 30 2020

$42.50 from May 1 2020 to Apr 30 2021

$43.35 from May 1 2021 to Apr 30 2022

$44.20 from May 1 2022 to Apr 30 2023

$45.10 from May 1 2023 to Apr 30 2024

$46.00 from May 1 2024 to Apr 30 2025

How do I pay for my U-Pass BC?

U-Pass BC Fees are collected by your post-secondary institution as part of your student fees.

How do I use my U-Pass BC to travel on transit?

You will load your U-Pass BC onto an Adult Compass Card. Visit upassbc.translink.ca to learn more.