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Benefits and Entitlements

If you're 60 or over or you have a disability, you might be eligible for public transport concessions – from discounts on your rail journeys to a free bus pass.

What transport concessions are available?

Can i get a free bus pass, can i get a discount on train travel, can i get a london freedom pass, what if i have difficulty using public transport, what if i'm unable to use public transport, more travel concessions questions.

There are several national public transport concessions available to older and disabled people. Some entitle you to discounts on your fares, while others allow you to travel for free.

Eligibility for these concessions depends on whether you have a disability or your age. 

Depending on your age and your circumstances, you might be able to get one of the following free bus passes, which allow you to travel free on local buses:

• an older person's bus pass
• a disabled person's bus pass

What age do I have to be to get an older person's bus pass?

You can get an older person's bus pass when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both women and men.

Apply for your older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

If you're 60 or over and live in London, then you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard.

Apply for your 60+ London Oyster photocard on the TFL website

How can I get a disabled person's bus pass?

There's no central provider of the disabled person's bus pass – to find out if you're eligible and how to apply, you need to get in touch with your local council.

Find your local council and apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Are there any other discounts if I'm an older person or I'm disabled?

It's a good idea to contact individual transport operators to see if they offer discounts.

For instance, National Express offers Coachcards. These are discount cards for older or disabled customers. You buy them for a set fee of £15.00 and they get you a third off the cost of your travel across the year.

Find out more and order a Coachcard on the National Express website

Depending on your age and circumstances, you might be entitled to one of the below railcards:

• a Senior Railcard
• a Disabled Person's Railcard

Both railcards are discount cards. You buy them for a set fee to last either 1 or 3 years and they get you a third off the cost of your train travel.

Can I get a Senior Railcard?

The Senior Railcard is available for anyone aged 60 or over to buy.

You can apply on the Senior Railcard website using a valid passport or UK driving licence as ID. Or, you can apply in person at most staffed railway stations.

Find out more about the Senior Railcard and apply online

Can I get a Disabled Person's Railcard?

The Disabled Person's Railcard is available to you if you meet one of the following criteria:

• you're registered as deaf or use a hearing aid
• you're registered as having a visual impairment
• you have epilepsy
• you receive a disability-related benefit, such as  Personal Independence Payment
• you receive War or Service Disablement pension
• you receive Attendance Allowance
• you receive Severe Disablement Allowance
• you receive War Pensioner's mobility supplement

Find out more about the Disabled Person's Railcard and apply online

Freedom Passes give London residents free travel in the city – including National Rail services, the Underground, buses, river services and trams – and free local bus journeys nationally.

If you live in London, you can apply for a Freedom Pass if one of the following applies to you:

• you've reached State Pension age
• you have a disability.

Find out more about Freedom Passes and apply on the London Councils website

National Rail has an interactive tool called Stations Made Easy, designed to help people find their way around stations and find more accessible routes, avoiding potential difficulties like stairs. This may be helpful if you have difficulty using public transport because of your health. 

Find out more and use the tool on the National Rail website

If you're disabled, you can't use public transport, or you don't have access to a car, you might also be able to use a community transport scheme – such as a social car, dial-a-ride, or taxicard scheme.

Shopmobility schemes help people shop in town centres by lending out wheelchairs and scooters. Some local councils also offer concessions on local public transport.

To find out what's available in your area, you can contact your local council or your local Age UK.

Find your local council on GOV.UK

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No, you can't use a free bus pass on National Express buses. To get senior concessions on National Express you need to buy a senior coachcard, which costs £15 a year.

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Yes, your bus pass will give you free travel on buses across England, including London. However, there may be specific rules about when you can travel for free, so check your local council's free bus pass guidance before travelling.

Find your local council's older person's bus pass guidance on GOV.UK

Want more information?

Apply for an older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

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Last updated: Apr 09 2024

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London Councils

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• Freedom Pass

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Older persons Freedom Pass

Eligibility

Find out if you are eligible for a pass

First time applications

Find out how to apply for a pass

Has your Freedom Pass expired?

Find out how to renew your Freedom Pass

Documents and photograph

For all freedom pass applications one proof of name and age, one proof of address, and one photograph are required., change of details, lost, stolen or damaged pass.

What to do if you need to replace your Freedom Pass?

• Tickets and passes

Travel pass for older people

Free travel for older people.

If you qualify for a state pension, you could be eligible for free travel across the country as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.

Do you qualify?

To get a travel pass for older people you must:

• live in Greater Manchester, (if you live outside Greater Manchester, apply for a pass in your own area but you cannot add tram and train travel within Greater Manchester to passes issued by other areas); and
• qualify for a state pension. It doesn't matter if you are taking your pension or still working.

The age you qualify for a state pension isn't the same for everyone. You may need to be up to 66 to qualify depending on when you were born. If you're not sure, check your state pension age .

Costs and benefits

The pass is free, and lasts for five years.

Within Greater Manchester:

• Travel for free on all buses within Greater Manchester between 9.30am and midnight, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.
• You can also choose to pay £10 to add tram and train to your pass, for a year’s unlimited off-peak travel on Metrolink and trains within Greater Manchester. You can then travel on Metrolink trams and in trains after 9.30am on Monday to Friday, and all day on weekends and public holidays.
• If you travel outside of these times you must pay the full adult fare.

Throughout England:

• Travel for free on all local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

How to use the pass

You must always remember to:

• touch in at the card reader when boarding buses
• touch in and touch out at a yellow smart reader on tram stops, for Metrolink
• touch in and out at train station ticket barriers, where they are in place

Please show your card, when asked, to any Transport for Greater Manchester or transport operator official during your journey.

Smart readers on tram stops now accept contactless cards and devices for travel. Please move your concessionary pass away from your payment cards when you use a smart reader.

For example, if you keep your pass in a wallet or purse, remove it before you touch-in and touch-out. This will make sure you’re not charged on a contactless card you didn’t intend to use.

Apply by post

Download an application form or get one from an Information and Ticket Office.

If you are eligible complete the relevant form and attach:

• A passport sized colour photograph of yourself
• Proof of age – a copy of either your birth certificate, medical card, passport or driving licence
• Proof of your address – a copy of either a utility bill, local council tax bill or a Department for Work and Pensions letter from within the last 12 months

You can take your form and proof to an Information and Ticket office (Travelshop) who can check it.

You can also post your documents to the address on the application form.

Your pass will be sent to you in the post within 10 working days.

Please do not send original documents .

Renew your pass

At least two weeks before your travel pass expires, we will send you a new pass, provided it has been in use.

If you use your card often then we will send you a new one two weeks before your travel pass runs out.

If you have not used your pass in the last 12 months, you will not be issued a new card and will need to contact us to request a new card after it’s expired. If you need a pass, please call our Concessionary Travel team on 0161 244 1000.

Please note: when using your pass, you must touch-in on buses and use the validators to touch-in and out on Metrolink or when using the trains.

If you don’t then your card will show as inactive.

Updating your address

You need to let us know if you change your address. There may be a £10 charge if a card is sent to an old address.

If you feel your appearance has changed since your last renewal, please send us a new photo. This can be done via post or can also be emailed to us.

If you no longer need your pass or have any other questions please call our Concessionary Travel team on 0161 244 1000.

If you need a replacement pass

It costs £10 to replace a lost, damaged or stolen pass.

To order a replacement pass you can:

• Call us on 0161 244 1000 to make a card payment (7am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm at weekends).
• Visit an Information and Ticket office (Travelshop) to order and pay for a replacement pass.

Travel included with Co-op Live tickets

Co-op Live ticket holders can travel on the tram and new city centre shuttle buses.

Say yellow to the Bee Network

Buses in Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester joined the Bee Network on 24 March.

New sponsor: Starling Bank Bikes

We’re delighted to welcome Starling Bank on board as the new sponsors of our bike hire scheme.

Manchester City Matchday Buses

We've teamed up with Manchester City to launch a large-scale bus trial helping fans from across Greater Manchester and nearby areas to travel to and from the Etihad Stadium on a matchday.

Rate your journey

We want to hear your views to help us deliver a better Bee Network for Greater Manchester.

Planned engineering works on Metrolink

Visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works could affect your journeys.

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Renew your older person's pass

You can renew your older person's pass if your current card is due to expire and you've received a letter or email from us.

If you have any pay as you go credit or have auto top up turned on, they will be transferred to your new card.

Before you start you will need:

• The last 8 digits of your current card
• Your email address, if you have one. It will only be used to contact you about your pass
• Your National Insurance number. This is not compulsory but will help us to locate your record

If your pass has already expired and you cannot renew online call us to renew it over the phone.

Customer Services - Ticketing Transport for West Midlands Telephone: 0345 303 6760 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 8am to 6pm Wednesdays, 10am to 6pm Saturdays, 9am to 1pm Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays

60+ or disabled

If you are over 60 or have a disability, you could be eligible for free bus travel to get around Scotland and your local area. You can access this via the National Entitlement Card, your pass to free bus travel in Scotland.

The National Entitlement Card scheme also allows for free travel for companions where required by eligible disabled people of any age (including children under 5).

How to apply

To apply for a National Entitlement Card, you should contact your local authority or Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for details of the application process in your area. There may be a different process if applying on age grounds as opposed to grounds of disability. Your local authority will be able to tell you if you need to complete an application form and what you need to do when you apply.

We are unable to send out forms as these should be obtained from your local authority/council office. It is not possible to download forms from the website or send these by email.

In order to make the application process as smooth as possible, you will need:

• a completed application form (not all local authorities require this, check with yours to confirm the process in your area)
• a recent passport type photograph
• proof of age or disability
• proof of your current address

Check the National Entitlement Card website for more information on proofs required to confirm your identity and address.

If applying on grounds of disability, check the eligibility section on the Transport Scotland website for more information on proofs required.

Objectives and benefits

The scheme provides free travel on registered local and long-distance bus services throughout Scotland, at any time of day for any number of journeys, for those aged 60 and over, as well as for eligible disabled people who live in Scotland.

Cardholders living in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles receive two free return ferry journeys each year to the Scottish mainland.

The key objectives of the concessionary travel scheme are to:

• allow older and disabled people, improved access to services, facilities and social networks, promoting social inclusion
• improve health by promoting a more active lifestyle for the elderly and disabled
• remove the restrictions of the previous local off-peak concessionary fare scheme which was limited in offering access to facilities
• promote a modal shift from private cars to public transport
• maintain a viable position for bus operators with a standard reimbursement rate
• provide opportunities for improvements to public transport, such as assisting development of multi-operator ticketing and the use of electronic ticket machine technology
• facilitate a more effective administration of the system by adopting a standard reimbursement rate and shifting operational responsibility from local authorities to Transport Scotland
• provide a stimulus to the introduction of smart ticketing

Where can I travel?

Almost everywhere in Scotland and as far as Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Your National Entitlement Card gives you free travel throughout Scotland on nearly all local registered and long-distance scheduled bus services. Only a few services, such as premium-fare night buses and City Sightseeing buses, do not accept the card.

So many of Scotland's major towns and cities are easily accessible with the National Entitlement Card. Use the Visit Scotland website to find out how you can reach some of the country's best attractions by bus.

Some local authorities offer other discounts on rail, tram or subway for their card-holders. Your card-issuing Local Authority can tell you more – a contact number can be found on the back of your card when you receive it.

Using your card

You can use your National Entitlement Card to get a ticket in advance or on the bus. Advance tickets must be collected in person.

When you get on the bus, look for the electronic ticket machine by the door to the driver's compartment. Place your card on the machine with your photograph facing up and tell the driver your stop. The driver will help you if you need assistance. If there isn't a ticket machine like this, just show the driver your card and tell them your stop.

Remember you can only use your most recently issued National Entitlement Card on the bus. Any other cards will not work and you will not be allowed free bus travel.

If the electronic ticket machine did not recognise your card it may have expired or be damaged. If this is the case, please contact your Local Authority immediately to arrange a new card. You should allow at least two weeks to receive your card. If this will take longer, your local council will tell you about this when you apply.

If the card appears to be valid but does not work on the machine, the driver will give you the option to pay the full fare and keep your card or hand over your card in exchange for a seven day temporary pass. The temporary pass will be valid for free travel for you but the companion element will not be available. You should then contact your Local Authority immediately to request a new card. You should allow at least two weeks to receive your card. If this will take longer, your local council will tell you about this when you apply.

Eligibility

Over 60s eligibility.

To be eligible for the NEC, you must be:

• Aged 60 or older
• A resident of Scotland

Disabled people eligibility

If you're a resident in Scotland and meet one of the following criteria, you're entitled to free bus travel with the National Entitlement Card:

• You receive a qualifying DWP benefit - Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance, or the  higher  rate of the mobility component or the  higher or middle  rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
• You receive a qualifying Social Security Scotland benefit - Pension Age Disability payment, Adult Disability Payment, or receive the higher rate of the mobility component or the higher or middle rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment.

When applying you will need to take along a copy of your benefit award letter from the DWP or Social Security Scotland confirming your eligibility.  The letter must be dated within the last 18 months and confirm the length of benefit entitlement. For details on getting your award letter, please contact the DWP or Social Security Scotland. 

• You live in a care/residential home or hospital and are eligible for Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment or the higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment. In many cases a DWP or Social Security Scotland benefit may be suspended whilst someone is in care or hospital – in that case you can provide a letter from the hospital/care home confirming that you are eligible for one of the above benefits, you live there, and receive 24 hour care.
• You are a Blue Badge holder . Take your Blue Badge, or your latest V11 vehicle licensing reminder from DVLA or DLA404 from the Department for Work and Pensions when you apply for your card. Please note that a valid Blue Badge issued outside Scotland, in the rest of the UK or by the authorities of another EU member state will be acceptable.
• You are profoundly or severely deaf . Take along a recent letter from your Audiologist, Hospital Consultant or Registered Society for the Deaf when you apply. The letter must show that you have bilateral hearing loss greater than or equal to 70dBHLs averaged over 1, 2 and 4KHz. If you have been deaf since birth, a letter from your GP confirming this is fine too.
• You have a sight impairment . If you are aged 16 and over you will need to provide a copy of  the Certificate of Vision (CVI) Scotland form.  As of 1 April 2018 the CVI Scotland form replaced the previous BP1 form.

If you are aged under 16 you should provide a letter from a VINCYP team member Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People . You can also provide a letter from a health professional such as an ophthalmologist or paediatrician which states that you ‘meet the criteria for visual impairment as defined by VINCYP'. In addition, parents / carers of children and young people under 16 with a visual impairment may be able to use letters from other registered societies or voluntary sector organisations supporting people with sight loss (where they are happy to provide such a letter).

• You have been told not to drive based on medical grounds . Take the DVLA confirmation letter as evidence when you apply showing that your licence has been revoked or your application has been refused on medical grounds. If you have epilepsy and been told not to drive because you have had a seizure in the last 12 months, you should use the NCT003 certificate. The NCT003 certificate is only valid where the applicant is 16yrs and over (the earliest date they can apply for a provisional licence). Collect the certificate from your Local Authority and ask your Hospital Consultant, GP or Epilepsy Specialist Nurse to sign. For other medical conditions where you have been told you would not be allowed to drive and if you were to apply for a licence, would be refused, you may be able to provide a recent letter from your GP or Hospital Consultant depending on your circumstances to confirm this. For further information, please check with your local authority.
• You have a mental health condition that is recognised under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and has lasted for more than a year. You must need to travel to health or social care appointments as part of treatment activities, care or a rehabilitation programme. Your ability to travel must also be impaired. Please contact your Local Authority for advice on how and where to apply using the NCT002 form.
• If you have a learning disability and you need to travel to see a Support Worker or get to appointments or activities you will need to get a NCT002a form. Read our guide on how to apply
• Please note: The BASRiS form will replace the DS1500 for Scotland's new forms of Disability Assistance
• Read Social Security Scotland’s guide on when to complete a BASRiS form
• You have a progressive degenerative condition . Conditions such as Parkinson's Disease that severely impede your mobility may entitle you to free bus travel. Ask your hospital consultant or other specialist medical professional who is responsible for providing any treatment and support (such as your Specialist Nurse), to provide a letter confirming that your diagnosed health condition is considered ‘progressive degenerative' and that it severely impedes your mobility and ability to carry out day to day activities. Any letter from a medical professional must clearly confirm these qualifying criteria otherwise it cannot be accepted.
• You have lost one or more limbs . If you have lost one or both legs, both arms or an arm and a leg you are entitled to free bus travel. Request a letter from your prosthetic clinic/centre, physiotherapist or rehabilitation centre for your application.
• You are an injured veteran with mobility problems. Provide a Veterans UK or Ministry of Defence letter certifying award of lump sum payment within Tariff levels 1-8 under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme , or provide a letter from Veterans UK or Ministry of Defence certifying award of a lump sum payment due to a permanent and substantial disability causing inability to walk or considerable difficulty in walking.
• You receive a War Pensioner Mobility Supplement. Please provide a letter from Veterans UK or Ministry of Defence confirming receipt of this benefit in your application.

The National Entitlement Card scheme also allows for free travel for one companion where required by an eligible disabled person of any age (including children under 5).

Companions can make travel much easier, helping you to get on and off buses, carrying shopping and communicating with the driver. You can stay free and mobile, while making full use of your NEC.

Companions can travel for free with all NEC holders that have the +1 logo on their card.

Your companion and journey can vary, but your companion can only travel for free when they are with you. You are not obliged to travel with a companion, but the entitlement is there for when you need it.

Please note that companions must be aged 5 or over .

Your companion is entitled to travel for free if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You live in a care/residential home or hospital and are eligible for Attendance Allowance, the higher or lower rate of the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment or the higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance. In many cases DWP benefit may be suspended whilst someone is in care or hospital – in that case you can provide a letter from the hospital/care home confirming that you are eligible for one of the above benefits, live there and receive 24 hour care.
• You live in a care/residential home or hospital and are eligible for the higher or middle rate of the care component of the Child Disability Payment or are eligible for the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of the Adult Disability payment or are eligible for the Pension Age Disability Payment. In many cases Social Security Scotland benefit may be suspended whilst someone is in care or hospital – in that case you can provide a letter from the hospital/care home confirming that you are eligible for one of the above benefits, you live there and receive 24 hour care.
• You receive the higher or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
• You receive the higher or lower rate of daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
• You receive Attendance Allowance
• You receive the Child Disability Payment – higher or middle rate of the care component.
• You receive Pension Age Disability Payment
• You receive Adult Disability Payment – standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component
• You are severely sight impaired (blind)
• You receive war pensions constant attendance allowance

If you receive one of the qualifying benefits you'll need a letter to confirm your eligibility. The letter must be dated within the last 18 months and confirm the length of benefit entitlement. For details on getting your letter, please contact the DWP or Social Security Scotland. If you live in a care or residential home or hospital and your qualifying benefit is suspended a letter from them is needed confirming that you are eligible for the benefit, you live there and receive 24 hour care.

If you are severely sight impaired (blind), please provide a copy of your registration certificate - CVI Scotland form if aged 16 or over.  If aged under 16, you must provide a letter from VINCYP/medical professional or other registered society or voluntary sector organisation stating that you have a severe sight impairment that has been confirmed by an ophthalmologist or paediatrician.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

If you are a disabled veteran, you could qualify for free travel with a National Entitlement Card.

You will qualify if you have received a lump sum benefit under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme within tariff levels 1 - 8 (inclusive) and the Secretary of State certifies that you have a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

You will need to produce a certification letter from Veterans UK. You will also qualify under the same criteria if your injuries do not hinder your mobility but the injury can be cross referenced to the descriptors within the AFCS Injuries Table as detailed below.

Getting and using your card

When you get your card.

Please check that the photograph and personal details on your new card are correct. If any are not, or if this card is for someone who is no longer at the address, telephone the number on the back of the card to report this. If your new card replaces an existing card,  you need to start using it immediately and destroy any old cards you have as these will not work on the ticketing machines.

Using the card

Your card has been issued to give you free bus travel throughout Scotland under the concessionary travel scheme. In some areas your card may get you discounts on other modes of transport depending on where you live.  For information and advice on local non-bus concessions you should phone the number on the back of your card. It is possible to book in advance with your National Entitlement Card but you may incur a booking fee. Some bus operators may waive the fee, check before you book.

This card has been issued to you and should only be used by the eligible person named on the card. It is for your safekeeping and it should not be given to anyone else. Transport Scotland has a fraud policy and any person(s) found to be misusing any aspect of the scheme may have their entitlement to free bus travel withdrawn and incidents of misuse may also be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

Cardholders also have a duty to report any changes of circumstances which may affect their entitlement, including changes of address, to the local authority. Check the back of your card for the right number.

You can use your card on any local or long-distance registered bus service throughout Scotland, excluding late night services where a premium fare is charged, tours or excursion services and group hire services.

Full details of the NEC terms and conditions

Travel using a National Entitlement Card is subject to the normal regulations and conditions of carriage of each transport operator. Your card gives you the same rights as a full-fare paying passenger.

Tickets for Concessionary Bus Travel

The National Concessionary Travel Scheme legislation does not require paper tickets to be issued to cardholders for concession journeys. The issuing of paper tickets to passengers is an operational decision at the discretion of the bus operator.

When a National Entitlement Card is placed on the ticket machine this will automatically record the boarding stage, to receive reimbursement for the journey the driver must accurately record the requested destination stage. Whilst this information forms the record of this journey, all concession claims undergo comprehensive audit compliance and analysis checks before any reimbursement is made.

Concerns of misuse of the Concessionary Travel Schemes should be reported to our 24-hour dedicated Freephone line 0800 328 5690. If you have any other questions about concessionary bus travel, please email us at [email protected]

Travel outwith Scotland

Your National Entitlement Card is valid for services that operate wholly within Scotland or northern England only, you can use it on services to and from Carlisle and on services to and from Berwick-upon-Tweed from anywhere in Scotland, however, your card is not valid for travel within these towns or anywhere else out with Scotland.

Please note, National Express services operating in Scotland unfortunately do not meet this criteria as they do not operate wholly within Scotland or Northern England, as such, they do not accept National Entitlement Cards on their services. National Express previously allowed concession cardholders to travel for free covering the costs themselves, however, in 2019 they made a business decision to remove this provision and Transport Scotland cannot influence their company operational decisions.

Lost, stolen and damaged cards

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged you should contact your Local Authority to request a replacement. This applies to all cardholders whether your card is issued on grounds of age or disability.

If you change address, phone the number on the back of your card to let your card issuer know. However, if you move to another Local Authority to live you must also let the new authority know.

For any questions please contact the number printed on the back of your card.

Renewing and replacing cards

Contact your Local Authority or Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Travel Card Unit if:

• your National Entitlement Card is lost, stolen or damaged
• the card did not work when you used the ticket machine
• you want to change your name, address or photo

Your National Entitlement Card may have an expiry date on the front. If you're 60 or over, your new card won’t have an expiry date on it and is valid for life, providing you continue to live in Scotland.

If you have a card on grounds of disability, it will have an expiry date - your local authority may be in touch 4-6 weeks before the card runs out. If you don't hear from them, or need assistance renewing your card, contact them directly. Please note that SPT no longer send out renewal forms to cardholders. You should provide an acceptable proof of eligibility document at least five weeks before the card expires to allow time for this to be processed and a new card to be issued.

If you apply to renew a card for Disabled Concessionary Travel before the expiry date, your previous card will stop working a few days after your new card is processed so please start using your new card as soon as it arrives and destroy your old card.

Concessionary travel contacts

Your local authority can provide further information on the eligibility criteria, offer advice on the application process and how to report lost or stolen cards and vouchers.

• Contact telephone numbers and links to local authority websites

General enquiries

For general information on the concessionary travel scheme for those aged 60 and over and disabled people, or if there's anything you're not sure about, contact:

Concessionary Travel and Smart and Integrated Ticketing, Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD.

Email: [email protected]   

Policy and legislation

Agreements with the bus industry.

Transport Scotland and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) agreed terms in January 2019 setting budgets and reimbursement rates to operators under the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People for 2019-2020.

Building on agreements reached in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018, the new agreement ensures bus operators continue to be fairly reimbursed for carrying passengers under the scheme and safeguards free bus travel for older and eligible disabled people living in Scotland.

Similar to the 2013 agreement, changes were required to the legislation underpinning the scheme. Amended legislation detailing changes to the budget and reimbursement rates to operators  came into force on 1 April 2019.

Under 5s Extension to Disabled Companion Concessionary NECs

Transport Scotland has extended the existing Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme to disabled children under 5.

The Scottish Parliament passed legislation, on 3 March 2021, that extends the existing National Concessionary Travel Scheme (NCTS) to eligible disabled children under the age of five, allowing free bus travel for them and an accompanying companion.

This new entitlement is available from 1 April 2021.

2019 Agreement with the Bus Industry

• Transport Scotland agreement letter to CPT
• CPT agreement letter to Transport Scotland
• The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019

Past agreements

2018 agreement with the bus industry.

• The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2018

2017 Agreement with the Bus Industry

• (Draft) The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2017

2015 Agreement with the Bus Industry

• CPT agreement response to Transport Scotland
• The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Amendment) Scotland Order 2015

2013 Agreement with the Bus Industry

• CPT response to Transport Scotland
• The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2013 from 1 April 2013

Background to the scheme

In 2004, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) and the Scottish Executive committed to an unrestricted scheme providing free bus travel for people living in Scotland aged 60 and over, as well as eligible disabled people. The process is documented in the agreement letter from the Scottish Executive and the response from the CPT.

• Scottish Executive agreement letter to CPT
• Agreement response from CPT

In 2005, a public consultation exercise followed these initial agreements. The consultation asked questions that covered topics such as proposed eligibility criteria and technical aspects of the scheme.

Following on from the consultation and stakeholder discussions, the Scottish Executive prepared two Scottish Statutory Instruments that underpinned the terms of the scheme. These were approved by the Scottish Parliament and came into force from 1 April 2006.

• SSI 2006/107 - The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Order 2006
• SSI 2006/117 - The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services) (Scotland) Order 2006

Changes to legislation for welfare reform

As part of the UK Government’s welfare benefit reforms Disability Living Allowance has been replaced by Personal Independence Payment. Receipt of certain components and rates of Disability Living Allowance are included in the eligibility criteria for the concessionary travel scheme.

To mitigate the effects of these reforms and ensure that eligible disabled people continue to have access to the scheme, the Scottish Government extended the scheme’s eligibility criteria to include recipients of Personal Independence Payment. The changes to the eligibility criteria are set out in legislation which came into force on 8 April 2013 and are described below:

• The extension of the eligibility criteria to include Personal Independence Payment maintains access to concessionary travel for eligible disabled people in Scotland.
• All recipients of Personal Independence Payment (or PIP) are eligible for concessionary travel and all recipients of the Daily Living component of PIP will be eligible to receive a companion card (enabling a companion to travel free with them).
• If when reassessed for PIP you find you are not eligible for that benefit, you are able to continue using your concessionary travel card until its expiry date.

Passenger feedback

Following an Audit Scotland review in 2010, Transport Scotland commissioned research in 2012 to gather feedback and develop an understanding of the views of older and disabled people who are eligible and have applied to access the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel scheme.

The research project, by Research Resource and ODS Consulting, took place over two years (2013-2014), with telephone surveys of over 3,000 representative NEC holders in each year to collect feedback, alongside a series of focus groups.

Card holders were asked about:

• their use of the NEC in daily travel
• the value they placed on the NEC
• their views on misuse or abuse of the scheme
• the difference the scheme made to their lives

The findings, documented below, are being used to inform and improve the scheme.

• In 2014, 99% of respondents stated that they were either very or fairly satisfied with the scheme overall. Satisfaction with bus travel generally was also high with over 9 in 10 respondents (93%) expressing satisfaction when travelling by bus.
• There was also evidence that the Scheme is encouraging modal shift, with 41% stating that they use the car less. It is also encouraging some cardholders to walk more to and from bus stops.
• 48% of respondents said they now make journeys that they would not previously have made.
• For respondents with a Disabled or Visual Impairment card, the provision of independence was a key benefit. Younger participants in particular, felt that having the card gave them the opportunity to get out and about without relying on parents or carers for support.
• The research confirmed the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme is greatly valued and works well for card holders for a number of reasons including financial savings, reducing isolation, engendering a sense of greater independence and increasing confidence in their own ability to travel.
• The research highlighted how cardholders perceive the scheme as having improved their mental and physical well-being.

For full feedback, you can read the reports below.

The findings from the year one research can be found on the Customer Feedback Research - Year One Report and from year two on the Customer Feedback Research - Year Two Report .

Concessionary travel privacy policy

This Privacy Policy outlines how we use, store and share the personal information we hold about you in connection with our national concessionary travel schemes.

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Getting on and loving it

If you're of state pensionable age and live within the West Midlands, you're entitled to an Older Person's Travel Pass, giving you free bus travel after 9:30am Monday - Friday, and all day on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Apply for your Older Person's Travel Pass here

Have a question?

Find out more about eligibility, lost cards and using the Older Person's Travel Pass

Millie & Kevin's story

Millie and Kevin are getting on and loving it; they use their Older's Person's Travel Pass to travel across the region for free and embrace the freedom it gives them every day.

Millie's Story

Kevin's Story

About the older person's travel pass.

As part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) are able to issue the Older Person's Travel Pass to eligible residents within the West Midlands county.

The scheme gives people of state pensionable age, or eligible people with a disability in England, free travel on local buses between the hours of 09:30 - 23:00 Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and on Bank Holidays.

Holders of passes bearing a TfWM logo are also entitled to free travel on the Midland Metro tram and on trains operating within the Network West Midlands area.

Each pass bears the English Rose graphic and the name of the issuing authority, in this case, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM).  

Individual authorities may specify enhancements to the scheme within their own local areas. Details of any enhancements offered will be available from the local authority who issued the pass. TfWM offer cards to those people living within the West Midlands county. 

How to apply for your pass: 

For people living within the West Midlands county, which covers Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, your pass will be issued by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). You can download an application from the   Network West Midlands website . 

If you live outside of the West Midlands county, your Older Person's Travel Pass will be issued by the authority who administers your local concessionary travel scheme. 

Ring and ride door-to-door transport

Our sister company, Ring and Ride is a door-to-door transport service for anyone who lives in the urban areas of the West Midlands who find it difficult or impossible to use normal public transport.

Customers can use the service for travel for the same purpose they would do on normal public transport such as commuting to and from work, visiting friends, shopping and leisure activities, to visit someone in hospital or for healthcare appointments. Please visit the  Ring and Ride website  for more information

Find out more information about free travel passes by going to our FAQ's section, just click below:

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Passenger descriptions

Our passenger descriptions are designed to help you choose the right ticket for yourself or your fellow travellers.

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged 2+. Adults under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel alone on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over or they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Infants 0-1 Inclusive

Children aged under the age of 2, must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied children will not be carried.

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Get 1/3 off train travel with a Senior Railcard

Buy now renew my railcard.

How much can I save?

People with a Senior Railcard  save on average £86 per year** , or  £5.26 per journey^ . If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

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How does using a Railcard work?

Get your Railcard

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Have your Railcard with you when you travel

Eligibility and terms of use

• Buy a Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
• Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
• Valid in London & SE after the morning Peak

Read full eligibility and usage terms

Need help getting or using your Railcard?

Need help? Can't figure out what card to buy? Or just have a question?

Can I use my Senior Railcard at any time of day?

Your Railcard is not valid during the morning peak period when travelling between two stations in the  Network Railcard area  of validity.  Check locally to confirm morning peak times as these do differ.  This restriction does not apply on public holidays.

How do I purchase my Railcard online?

Please click ‘’Buy Now’’ on the website homepage and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to provide a valid passport or UK driving licence or National Identity number to verify your date of birth online and a digital passport-style photo if you have selected ‘Digital’ under ‘Choose the type of Railcard you would like’ section.

If you have ordered a plastic Senior Railcard, please allow 5 working days for delivery. You can choose to pay for ‘Special Delivery’, but you will have to place your order before 15:45pm to guarantee that your Railcard is delivered within two days (Monday to Thursday) or three days (Friday to Sunday).

If you have ordered a digital Railcard, a download code will be sent to your registered email address, along with instructions on how to download your Railcard. 

You will not be able to travel on discounted tickets until you have your Railcard.

What is a digital Railcard?

Digital Railcards are stored within the Railcard app on your smart phone or tablet, meaning there’s no need to carry the physical card around with you. They can be stored on up to two devices and used quicker than plastic Railcards as they do not need to be sent in the post.

Click here for more information on managing your Railcard

Can I buy a Senior Railcard in advance of my 60th birthday?

If you order online then yes, you can order one up to 14 days in advance of your 60th birthday. Please note that you cannot buy Railcards in advance of your 60th birthday from rail stations.

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Apply for or renew your bus pass

Older person’s pass.

To apply, please use our online system. Alternatively you can download our travelcard application form. Send it to us with a current passport-sized photograph together with proof of age and address.

Proof of age can be:

• birth certificate
• driving licence
• entitlement to a pension.

Proof of address can be:

• utilities bill
• council tax bill

We accept photocopies. You will receive your new travelcard by post within two weeks of completing your application. Passes last between one and five years.

You can also use the online system to renew an existing older person’s pass.

Disabled pass

To qualify for a disabled travelcard you must:

• be blind or partially-sighted
• be profoundly or severely deaf
• be without speech
• be disabled or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk
• be without arms or have long-term loss of use of both arms
• have learning difficulties
• be unable to drive for medical reasons, not including drivers banned for drug or alcohol use

You will need evidence that you live in North Somerset (for example a utility bill), a passport-sized photograph and proof of eligibility.

To renew a disabled person’s pass, use our online system and select ‘I am applying to renew my disabled person pass’.

Apply for a pass

Use our online system to apply for a new bus pass.

Alternatively you can complete our Diamond travelcard application form.

Diamond travelcard eligibility guidance.pdf [42.5 KB]

Diamond travelcard application form.pdf [90.97 KB]

Renew your bus pass

If you would like to renew your older person’s bus pass please use our online system. You will need a renewal code to renew your bus pass online.

If you do not already have a renewal code, you can use our online system to generate your code. You will need the following information:

• Your current card number – this is the long number on the front of your bus pass
• Your date of birth
• Your postcode

Once you have completed the renewal process online, you will receive your replacement travelcard by post within two weeks of notifying us.

Please note that we no longer send reminders when a pass becomes due for renewal. In order to allow sufficient time for approval, renewal and posting out of new passes, we would recommend that applications for renewal are made at least one month before the current card is due to expire.

Lost or stolen passes

There is a charge of £15 to replace lost or stolen passes. Please email  [email protected]  or call the Diamond Travelcard enquiries team to arrange a replacement.

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Apply for a concessionary travel pass (NoWcard)

You are eligible for a NoWcard Concessionary travel pass if your sole or principal residence is in Lancashire (including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen) and:

• You are an older person (check NoWcard website for eligibility)
• are blind or partially sighted
• are profoundly or severely deaf
• are without speech
• have a long term disability or injury which seriously impairs the ability to walk
• are without the long term use of both arms
• have a significant degree of learning disability
• would be refused a driving licence on physical fitness grounds

Each NoWcard has a small microchip, which holds details of your concessionary fare. The ticket machine on the local bus service will read the NoWcard, check its validity and ensure that you are charged as applicable. The NoWcard will record each journey made on the bus services.

How to apply or renew

You will need to apply or renew your NoWcard on the  NoWcard website .

Apply for a NoWcard >

Renew your NoWcard >

Blog Home Office in the media

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/17/media-factsheet-evisas/

Media factsheet: eVisas  

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025. This process is already underway, and millions of people in the UK who applied for their visa through the EU Settlement Scheme or used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app already have an eVisa (digital proof of their immigration status). These changes bring significant benefits to customers, deliver excellent value, and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.     

An eVisa is an online record of a customer’s immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply. It can be viewed by logging into the online ‘View and prove your immigration status’ service using their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It is usually linked to a customer’s passport to facilitate straightforward international travel.  

Using a phased approach to implementing digital services, the intention is that by 2025 most customers will have a secure and seamless digital journey when they interact with the UK’s immigration system.    

Over time this will see physical and paper-based products and services replaced with accessible, straightforward online and digital services (such as the ‘view and prove’ service) and products such as the eVisa.    

The Home Office has launched a phased rollout of eVisas to biometric residence permit (BRP). Initially this is to BRP holders by email invitation only, being sent in phases. The service will open to all BRP holders from summer 2024. Customers with BRPs do not need to do anything unless they receive an email, and don’t need to contact the Home Office if they do not receive an email immediately because the service will open to all in the summer.   

The latest information on eVisas is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .  Holders of other physical immigration documents, including (for those who hold indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain) passports containing vignette visa stickers or ink stamps, and biometric residence cards (BRCs), can also find information there on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. It is free, and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.    

Customers who already have an eVisa, including anyone granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, do not need to do anything. This is also the case if a customer holds both a physical document, such as a BRP, and an eVisa. Customers who are not sure if they already have a UKVI account and eVisa can either check here on GOV.UK or refer to their original grant email or letter.   

Further information and future updates, including details of the support available, is available at www.gov.uk/evisa . This will be updated throughout 2024.  

An eVisa partner pack comprising further information and factsheets for stakeholders is also available here to download.     

What is an eVisa?  

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.    

It removes the need for physical documents such as the biometric residence permit (BRP), ink stamps or vignette visa stickers in passports, or the biometric residence card (BRC).     

It explains the immigration status of the holder, including the conditions of the immigration permission such as any limitations on their right to work.   

Customers can view their eVisa by logging into the view and prove service using their UKVI account and share relevant information about their status securely with third parties, such as employers or private service providers such as letting agencies.  

What are the benefits of eVisas?  

eVisas bring significant benefits, deliver excellent value and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.  

They will also bring significant benefits to customers who hold an immigration status in the UK:  

• An eVisa cannot be lost, stolen or damaged.  
• Customers can prove their rights instantly, accurately and securely to anyone who requests it while sharing only necessary information.  
• With an eVisa, fewer customers will need to leave their passport with the Home Office while awaiting a decision. eVisas also mean that customers do not need to collect documents like BRPs or wait for these documents to be sent to them.  
• With a UKVI account, customers can easily keep the Home Office updated with any changes in their details or documentation. For example, customers can tell us about changes to their name and nationality, travel document (such as passport), email, telephone and postal address contact details.  
• Customers can access many UK government services and benefits without needing to present proof of immigration status. This is because selected government departments and authorities including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales, can securely access immigration status information automatically through system to system checks. Immigration data is held securely, and government will never sell customer data. Further information on how the Home Office handles customer data can be found here on GOV.UK .  

It is also simpler for those who need to check someone’s UK immigration status (such as employers and landlords), to use online services, rather than having to maintain awareness of, and look through, different types of physical immigration documents, some of which may be in bad condition, or even fraudulent. As more and more customers create UKVI accounts, checkers can increasingly conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK  

When are eVisas launching?   

Although millions of customers already have and use eVisas, including everyone granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, throughout 2024 customers who currently use physical immigration documents to prove their status and rights in the UK, will be asked to take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.   

This process launched in April 2024, with BRP holders emailed directly with instructions on how to create UKVI account to access their eVisa. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime.  

As we rollout the online process for BRP holders to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa we will send emails to BRP holders when they are able to take action. BRP holders who have not yet received email instructions but have been made aware of the process by friends, family or online forums may find the process does not yet work for them. There is no need to contact the Home Office in this case as the online process will be open for all BRP holders in summer 2024 at www.gov.uk/evisa .  

Holders of other physical immigration documents, such as a passport containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers, or BRCs can take steps to acquire an eVisa now, and further instructions are available at www.gov.uk/evisa .   

Will this impact British citizens?  

British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held an immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, do not need to do anything. British citizens who do not have a British passport because they are dual nationals (excluding Irish passport holders) may need to take action in future regarding how they prove their right of abode. Updates on this will be provided in due course.    

Will the Home Office be communicating about eVisas?   

A comprehensive range of communications activity on the implementation of eVisas is underway and will be delivered throughout 2024.   

This includes a range of direct emails which will be sent, in phases, to BRP holders with instructions on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. We are also proactively engaging with a wide range of targeted stakeholders to engage those impacted by the move to eVisas, and have developed a range of partner pack content (see above) to equip them to communicate widely about eVisa changes.   

We will also be using official communication channels, including videos and regularly updated content on gov.uk to communicate these changes.   

What is a UKVI account? How is it different to an eVisa?    

A UKVI account is a secure way for customers to log into online services such as view and prove, whereas an eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.   

Using their UKVI account, customers can view their eVisa and share the relevant information via the online view and prove service, by generating a share code, which provides time-limited access to the relevant data. A person can have a UKVI account but no eVisa, for example, where the application for permission to stay in the UK was refused or expired.   

A customer can also update personal details such as address and contact details in their UKVI account. This service is free, unlike updating physical immigration documents for which customers may be charged. This service is available at: www.update-your-UK-Visas-and-immigration-account-details .  

The UKVI account is currently created automatically for everyone who uses the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check mobile App’ to make an immigration application.    

Customers who already hold a physical document will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa and to be able to use the full range of online services.   

As physical documents that evidence immigration status expire, the view and prove service, accessed via the UKVI account, will be the way people can view and prove their immigration status and associated rights in the UK.  

Can you still use a physical document if it expires, and you don’t get an eVisa?    

The expiry of a physical document, for example, a BRP card, does not affect a customer’s immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025. Customers will have to use our online services to prove their rights in the UK and to do so they will need to create a UKVI account.   

What do customers need to do if they hold a BRP that expires at the end of 2024?  

Customers who have a BRP and are living in the UK will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa unless their immigration leave expires before 31 December 2024. From April 2024, BRP holders are being emailed directly with instructions on how to do this. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime. BRP holders should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for the latest information.  

For now, customers should continue to use their BRP as they have previously and visit www.gov.uk/evisa for updates. This includes taking their BRP with them when they travel internationally.     

The expiry of their BRP card does not affect their immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025.   

Customers who already have an eVisa (a digital immigration status) as well as a BRP, will not need to create a UKVI account, as they already have one. Customers can find out if they already have a UKVI account by checking the email or letter that they were given when they were granted immigration status in the UK or go to www.gov.uk/evisa for further information.   

Should customers whose BRP expires on 31 Dec 2024 before their immigration leave is due to expire, apply now to renew their BRP?    

No, customers should not apply to renew their BRP, as all BRPs issued to customers who hold immigration leave beyond 2024, including renewals, are due to expire on 31 Dec 2024 and will be replaced by the eVisa.    

What should customers do if they’ve lost their BRP?   

If a customer has lost their valid BRP then they should apply for a replacement in the usual way. As with all BRPs, if their leave extends beyond the end of 2024, their replacement BRP will expire on 31 December 2024, and they will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa to prove their rights.    

Once you have received your replacement then you should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for details of how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.   

If a customer has a BRP but it expires before the end of 2024 what do, they need to do?    

If a customer’s BRP expires before 31 Dec 2024 then their immigration leave may also expire at that point. If it does, and if they plan to remain in the UK then they should make a visa renewal application in the usual way.    

Will a BRP holder be able to use an expired BRP to generate a share code after it has expired but while they still have immigration leave?      

How a customer proves their status will change from 2025 and they should take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa before their BRP expires.   

Information on what steps a BRP holder will need to take to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .    

We would encourage all BRP holders to create an account and access their eVisa as soon as it is possible for them to do so.  Where individuals have not created an account before their BRP expires at the end of 2024, we will put in place mechanisms to ensure they are still able to prove their rights while they create an account. Holders of expired BRPs will still be able to use these to create an account.  

BRP holders should take steps to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa before it expires to prevent any unnecessary delays in proving their rights.   

What do legacy paper document holders need to do to evidence their rights in the UK – and what do they need to do to get an eVisa?    

Customers who have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain and prove their rights using a passport containing an ink stamp or vignette visa sticker or use another type of legacy paper document should make a ‘No Time Limit’ application.  

As part of the application process customers may need to travel to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centre (known as a UKVCAS) to provide a photograph, and in some cases provide fingerprints.   

Once an application has been processed successful No Time Limit applicants will be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP), which can then be used to prove the customer's rights and to create a UKVI account.  

By the end of 2024 No Time Limit applicants will receive an eVisa, rather than a BRP. Further updates on this change will be available in due course.

It is free to make a No Time Limit application, and information on how to do so is available at http://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/replace-visa-brp  

Why do holders of legacy documents such as passports containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers need to get an eVisa?    

The border and immigration system is becoming ‘digital by default’, a change that will enhance the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency. This move also reflects a broader societal move towards a digital approach.    

The phasing out of legacy documents, such as passports containing ink stamps or a vignette visa sticker, is a key part of this process, but will bring a range of benefits to customers. This includes the fact that an eVisa cannot be lost or damaged, like a vignette, and there is no need for a potentially costly replacement.   

Customers who replace their legacy document with an eVisa will benefit from the automated access that public bodies, including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales will securely have to their immigration status, which will streamline access to key services.    

Creating a UKVI account to access an eVisa will also help to prevent unnecessary delays when travelling internationally (if travelling on the document linked to the UKVI account).    

If legacy document holders do not acquire an eVisa by 2025, then they may experience challenges and delays in proving their rights and when travelling internationally.    

What do eVisas mean for international travel?   

Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally. Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any travel document on which they intend to travel using the Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service at www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details .‘ if this is not already linked to their account.   

During 2024, the Home Office is taking steps to allow carriers, including transport operators such as airlines, ferry, and international train operators, to securely and automatically access the immigration status of passengers travelling on their services when they present their travel document which is linked to their UKVI account.   

This will automate the existing routine checks completed whenever a passenger presents their travel document when travelling internationally. This will provide a more convenient customer journey, and enhanced border security.   

While the UK government is delivering a digital border and immigration system including plans to trial contactless entry using facial recognition only, there are no current plans to replace physical passports with digital equivalents.  

Will all international carriers have automatic access to immigration details? Or will it just be airlines?    

From later this year, carriers operating across air, rail & sea will be able to securely access passenger immigration information. Further updates will be provided in due course.  

Is there help and support for vulnerable groups?   

We are developing our digital products and services for use by all, including vulnerable users.     

Customers can contact the UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre, which provides telephone and email support to those using the online immigration status services.    

This includes supporting users through the online journey by:    

• helping them to access or recover their account.  
• helping them to update their personal details.   
• sharing status on behalf of individuals if they are unable to do so themselves.

The UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre will also be able to assist users who are experiencing technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, enable individuals’ status to be verified through alternative means.  

Individuals can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited access to their account, so that they can assist with creating a UKVI account, completing details to access an eVisa, and with any immigration application. Where a person is unable to manage their own affairs due to, for example, age or disability, a ‘proxy’, who is authorised, can create and manage the account on behalf of the person.  

Our Assisted Digital service is also available to provide individual support by phone and email to individuals who require assistance with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account.    

Additionally, we work collaboratively with a range of third-party stakeholders on the move to eVisas. Many of these organisations offer support to individuals requiring assistance in creating a UKVI account and accessing their eVisa.    

We are exploring options to provide additional eVisa support and will provide further updates in due course.   

What support is there for those who are digitally excluded?   

Assisted Digital is a free service provided by UKVI to support customers in the UK who are digitally excluded to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. Customers are classified as being digitally excluded if they have access needs or if they have low or no digital skills.     

Access needs can include any disability that requires support to use online services, a lack of device or a lack of internet access.   

Will children be impacted by the move to eVisas?   

In the case of children, the expectation is that their parent or guardian will have access to their UKVI account and use the online services on their behalf, as they would have looked after and used a BRP/C on the child’s behalf. They can subsequently transfer ownership of the account and access to the online services when the child reaches majority.   

Parents and guardians can create a UKVI account for their children at the same time they create an account for themselves.   

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Money latest: The 'German classic' that's a healthier and cheaper alternative to crisps

Crisps are on the menu as we see where you can make healthier choices for the best value. Elsewhere, the boss of Sainsbury's has insisted customers like self-checkouts - do you agree? Leave your thoughts in the box below.

Friday 26 April 2024 19:45, UK

• New research reveals cost of having children
• Sainsbury's boss insists customers like self-checkouts
• FTSE 100 hits another record high
• Halifax hikes mortgage rates - as entire market moves upwards

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• Money Problem : I have a mortgage offer - will it change now rates are rising?
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Ask a question or make a comment

The family home where Captain Sir Tom Moore walked 100 laps to raise nearly £40m for the NHS during the first COVID lockdown is up for sale for £2.25m.

The Grade II-listed Old Rectory is described as a "magnificent seven-bedroom property" by estate agents Fine & Country.

In a video tour of the house, a sculpture of Captain Tom with his walking frame can be seen in the hallway, while a photo of the fundraising hero being knighted by the Queen is on a wall in the separate coach house building.

Introducing the property, an estate agent says in the tour video: "I'm sure you'll recognise this iconic and very famous driveway behind me as it was home to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore who walked 100 laps of his garden, raising over £37m for NHS charities."

It comes less than three months after the demolition of an unauthorised spa pool block in the grounds of the property in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

Speaking at an appeal hearing over that spa, Scott Stemp, representing Captain Tom's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband, said the foundation named after the fundraising hero "is to be closed down" following a Charity Commission probe launched amid concerns about its management.

For the full story, click here ...

"Status symbol" pets are being given up by owners who get scared as they grow up, an animal charity has said, with the cost of living possibly paying a part in a rise in separations.

The Exotic Pet Refuge, which homes parrots, monkeys, snakes and alligators among others, says it receives referrals across the country, including from zoos and the RSPCA.

"They're a status symbol. People will say, 'OK, I'll have an alligator or a 10ft boa constrictor'," co-owner Pam Mansfield told the BBC.

"But when the animal gets big, they will get too frightened to handle them, and then the pet has to go."

She added people who want to get rid of the pets sometimes call zoos for help, which then call on her charity.

In some cases, owners don't have licences to own dangerous animals, she says, blaming a "lack of understanding" for what she says is a rise in the number of exotic animals needing to be rehomed.

She says people "just don't have the space" for some snakes, for example, with some growing to as much as 12ft and needing their own room.

The cost of living crisis has also forced owners to give their pets away, she says.

Her charity has also been affected by those increased costs, with the electricity bill rising to £10,000 a month at their highest, to fund things like heated pools for alligators.

Private car parks are accused of "confusing drivers" after introducing a new code of conduct - despite "doing all they can" to prevent an official government version.

The code of practice launched by two industry bodies - British Parking Association and the International Parking Community - includes a ten-minute grace period for motorists to leave a car park after the parking period they paid for ends.

It also features requirements for consistent signage, a single set of rules for operators on private land and an "appeals charter".

Private parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.

That comes after a government-backed code of conduct was withdrawn in June 2022, after a legal challenges by parking companies.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "We're flabbergasted that the BPA and the IPC have suddenly announced plans to introduce their own private parking code after doing all they can over the last five years to prevent the official government code created by an act of Parliament coming into force.

"While there are clearly some positive elements to what the private parking industry is proposing, it conveniently avoids some of the biggest issues around caps on penalty charges and debt recovery fees which badly need to be addressed to prevent drivers being taken advantage of."

BPA chief executive Andrew Pester said: "This is a crucial milestone as we work closely with government, consumer bodies and others to deliver fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists."

IPC chief executive Will Hurley said: "The single code will benefit all compliant motorists and will present clear consequences for those who decide to break the rules."

Sky News has learnt the owner of Superdry's flagship store is weighing up a legal challenge to a rescue plan launched by the struggling fashion retailer.

M&G, the London-listed asset manager, has engaged lawyers from Hogan Lovells to scrutinise the restructuring plan.

The move by M&G, which owns the fashion retailer's 32,000 square foot Oxford Street store, will not necessarily result in a formal legal challenge - but sources say it's possible.

Read City editor Mark Kleinman 's story here...

NatWest says its mortgage lending nearly halved at the start of the year as it retreated from parts of the market when competition among lenders stepped up.

New mortgage lending totalled £5.2bn in the first three months of 2024, the banking group has revealed, down from £9.9bn the previous year.

The group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Coutts, also reported an operating pre-tax profit of £1.3bn for the first quarter, down 27% from £1.8bn the previous year.

An unexplained flow of British luxury cars into states neighbouring Russia continued into February, new data shows.

About £26m worth of British cars were exported to Azerbaijan, making the former Soviet country the 17th biggest destination for UK cars - bigger than long-established export markets such as Ireland, Portugal and Qatar.

Azerbaijan's ascent has coincided almost to the month with the imposition of sanctions on the export of cars to Russia.

Read the rest of economics and data editor Ed Conway 's analysis here...

Rishi Sunak has hailed the arrival of pay day with a reminder his government's additional National Insurance tax cut kicks in this month for the first time.

At last month's budget, the chancellor announced NI will be cut by a further 2p - so some workers will pay 8% of their earnings instead of the 12% if was before autumn.

The prime minister has repeated his claim this will be worth £900 for someone on the average UK salary.

While this additional cut - on top of the previous 2p cut in January - does equate to £900 for those on average full-time earnings of £35,000, there are two key issues with Mr Sunak's claim:

• Once the effect of all income tax changes since 2021 are taken into account, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reports an average earner will benefit from a tax cut of £340 - far less than £900;
• Moreover, anyone earning less than £26,000 or between £55,000-£131,000 will ultimately be worse off.

In short, this is because NI cuts are more than offset by other tax rises.

We explain below how this is the case...

Tax thresholds

This is partly down to tax thresholds - the amount you are allowed to earn before you start paying tax (and national insurance) and before you start paying the higher rate of tax - will remain frozen. 

This means people end up paying more tax than they otherwise would, when their pay rises with inflation but the thresholds don't keep up. 

This phenomenon is known as "fiscal drag" and it's often called a stealth tax because it's not as noticeable immediately in your pay packet.

That low threshold of £12,570 has been in place since April 2021. 

The Office for Budget Responsibility says if it had increased with inflation it would be set at £15,220 for 2024/25.

If that were the case, workers could earn an extra £2,650 tax-free each year.

Less give, more take

Sky News analysis shows someone on £16,000 a year will pay £607 more in total - equivalent to more than three months of average household spending on food. 

Their income level means national insurance savings are limited but they are paying 20% in income tax on an additional £2,650 of earnings.

In its analysis , the IFS states: "In aggregate the NICs cuts just serve to give back a portion of the money that is being taken away through other income tax and NICs changes - in particular, multi-year freezes to tax thresholds at a time of high inflation."

Overall, according to the institute, for every £1 given back to workers by the National Insurance cuts, £1.30 will have been taken away due to threshold changes between 2021 and 2024.

This rises to £1.90 in 2027.

The UK could face a shortage of cava due to a drought in the sparkling wine's Spanish heartlands.

The Penedes area of Catalonia is dealing with its worst drought on record, with vineyards across the region so parched the roots of 30-year-old vines have died.

It's left shrivelled red and green grapes languishing under intense sun, fuelled by fossil-fuel driven climate change.

Cava is an increasingly popular drink in the UK, with 17.8 million bottles sold in 2023 - an increase of 5% from the previous year, when Britons stocked up on 16.8 million bottles, according to the Cava Regulatory Board.

That makes the UK the fourth-biggest buyer, behind only the US, Belgium and Germany.

Workforce slashed

The problems have been compounded after Catalonia-based cava producer Freixenet announced it will temporarily lay off 615 workers, almost 80% of its workforce.

Under Spanish law, companies facing exceptional circumstances can lay off staff or reduce working hours.

This measure is expected to take effect from May and it is not known how long it will last.

Price rises

One industry source told retail publication The Grocer  that cava shortages would push up prices "certainly for next year" if there isn't enough supply.

This could last for years if the drought persists, they added.

Consumer expert Helen Dewdney told MailOnline the staff cuts at Freixenet can only mean one thing - price rises.

However, she added, supermarkets say they are not experiencing any issues right now.

Parents are being hammered by rising childcare costs, according to a new study that suggests they may spend more than £160,000 raising their child to the age of 18.

Research by Hargreaves Lansdown has found that parents with children pay £6,969 a year more than couples without.

Over 18 years and assuming an annual inflation rate of 3%, that amounts to a whopping £163,175, the investment platform said.

Its study also found that parents were less likely to have money left at the end of the month.

Single parents carry the biggest burden, with the research suggesting they have just £85 left on average compared to £365 for couples with children.

Hargreaves Lansdown also found just 23% of single parents reported having enough emergency savings to cover at least three months' worth of essential expenses, compared to 63% of couples with children.

Parents are also at a slight disadvantage when it comes to pensions, the research found, with only 43% of couples with children on track for a moderate retirement income, compared to 47% without. Only 17% of single parents have a decent projected pension fund.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at the firm, said "having children is one of the most expensive decisions a person can make".

She adds that as a result of having a child, "financial resilience suffers across the board", and added: "For single parents, life is even tougher, and they face far lower resilience on almost every measure.

"It means we need all the help we can get."

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

One of the top stories shaking up the markets this morning is that UK-based mining company Anglo American has rejected a major $38.8bn (£31bn) takeover bid.

Details of the attempted buyout by Australian rival BHP emerged yesterday  - sending Anglo American shares soaring.

The deal would have created the world's biggest copper mining company - with the news coming as the price of the metal hit record highs this week.

However, Anglo American has now dismissed the proposal as "opportunistic" and said BHP had undervalued the company.

Anglo's shares are slightly down by 0.8% this morning - suggesting investors may not have given up hopes that a deal could eventually be agreed.

However, overall the FTSE 100 is up around 0.4% this morning, buoyed by strong reported earnings from US tech giants Microsoft and Google owner Alphabet.

It's helped the index, of the London Stock Exchange's 100 most valuable companies, hit yet another intraday (during the day) record of 8,136 points this morning.

The winning streak comes after a week of all-time highs on the index - including a record close of 8,078 points yesterday. The score is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

Among the companies doing well this morning is NatWest - despite the bank reporting a fall in pre-tax profits of nearly 28% for the first quarter of the year.

Shares in the lender are up more than 3% after its results were better than expected by analysts.

On the currency markets, £1 buys $1.25 US or €1.16, almost on a par with yesterday.

Meanwhile, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has crept up slightly to $89 (£71).

Self-checkouts - they're like marmite, people seem to either love them or hate them.

But the boss of Sainsbury's has claimed that his customers do  enjoy using self-checkouts, despite criticism that that machines don't always provide the convenience promised.

Simon Roberts told The Telegraph that there are more of them in Sainsbury's stores "than a number of years ago" as shoppers like the "speedy checkout".

But despite this, he said there won't be a time when they'll replace cashiers completely.

"Over the last year, where we've put more self-checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there," he said.

His comments come after northern supermarket Booths ditched self-checkouts at all but two of its sites after customer feedback. 

Walmart and Costco in the US have also scaled back on the systems.

Let us know in the comments - do you love or hate self-checkouts?

We've all heard consumer advice that's repeated so often it almost becomes cliché. So, every Friday the Money team will get to the bottom of a different "fact" and decide whether it's a myth or must.

This week it is...

'Smart meters save you money'

For this one, we've enlisted the help of Dr Steve Buckley, also known as the Energy Doctor and head of data science at Loop...

So do smart meters help you save? 

"The short answer is both yes and no," Steve says.

"Installing a smart meter by itself won't magically reduce your energy consumption. But, by giving you easy access to your energy usage data, smart meters pave the way for savings that you couldn't achieve otherwise."

Before smart meters, most households only found out how much energy they had used when the bill arrived. 

By that stage it's too late to address wasteful usage, leading to what's known as "bill shock". 

"With a smart meter, you can see your usage and costs in real-time through an in-home display or an app provided by your supplier," Steve says. 

"This immediate feedback encourages you to use less energy. If you measure it, you can control it."

In 2022, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero found that homes with smart meters used about 3.4% less electricity and 3% less gas. 

"This might not seem like a lot, but it adds up to a saving of over £50 per household annually," Steve says.  

If all homes in the UK made similar cuts, that would amount to savings of around £1.5bn and a potential reduction in CO2 emissions by about 2.7m tonnes each year. 

"Good for individual households but also great for the planet," Steve says. 

Smart meters are often installed at no extra cost to the consumer - it's effectively free data for households. 

Limitations

Smart meters are more or less what you make of them - a simple, free tool that allows you to see headline figures. 

However, "without detailed analysis, it's tough to identify and eliminate" where you could be wasting money, Steve says. 

Apps like Utrack, Loop and Hugo Energy can help you work out where you might be losing money by offering a more detailed breakdown if connected to your smart meter. 

Those tools are often free, but you may need to register your card details as proof of address. 

The tools give a number of useful insights, including looking at consumption in other households of similar size or monitoring where chunks of your money are going, such as to a faulty boiler or the "phantom load" (energy wasted by devices left on unnecessarily).

Myth or must?

Although smart meters alone don't reduce energy bills, they are a vital tool to help energy efficiency and cost savings. 

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eVisa rollout begins with immigration documents replaced by 2025

Millions are being invited to switch from physical immigration documents to an eVisa – a key step in creating a modernised and digital border.

Photo: Getty Images

The next stage in the government’s plan to modernise the border and introduce a digital immigration system is under way, as the Home Office moves closer to the implementation of eVisas for nearly all visa holders living in the UK by 2025.

From today (17 April 2024), the Home Office will begin to send emails to all those with physical immigration documents, called biometric residence permits (BRPs), inviting them to create a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account to access their eVisa, a digital proof of their immigration status.

Invitations will be issued in phases before the process opens to all BRP holders in summer 2024.

eVisas are central to making the UK safer by reducing the risk of fraud, loss and abuse of physical documents, strengthening border security, and providing a more secure way to prove immigration status. This will pave the way for increased automation to deliver the government’s vision for a contactless border.

It is free and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.

Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, said:  

We’ve already taken really significant steps to digitally transform the border and immigration system, and this wider rollout of eVisas is a key part of that process.  Replacing physical immigration documents with eVisas will ensure firm control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthening border security and preventing abuse of the immigration system, while delivering cost savings for UK taxpayers.

eVisas bring substantial benefits to the UK public and to visa customers. They are secure, and, unlike a physical document, cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. They can be accessed anywhere and in real time, putting customers in control of their own data and allowing them to swiftly update the Home Office with new contact or passport details.

An eVisa is securely linked with the holder’s unique biometric information in the same way as a BRP or BRC , to protect against identity fraud.

People checking immigration status will be able to conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK. Selected public bodies are already able to access immigration status to determine eligibility for public services automatically through system to system checks.

eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of customers already using them across routes including the EU Settlement Scheme ( EUSS ). Most physical documents, such as biometric residence permits or cards (BRPs or BRCs), are being gradually phased out, with most BRPs expiring at the end of 2024.

This move to eVisas is in line with other countries which have replaced, or are planning to replace, their physical immigration documents with digital forms of immigration status.

Customers who already have an eVisa do not need to do anything as we make this change, but should continue to update their UKVI account with any changes to personal information, such as a new passport or contact details. Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally, until they expire.

Physical immigration documents will be gradually phased out by 2025, as we transition to a fully digital border and immigration system for new and existing customers. This will deliver enhanced security and cost savings for the UK public and greater convenience for customers and status checkers. 

Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any passport on which they intend to travel using the online Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details service on GOV.UK, if this is not already linked to their account, to avoid delays when travelling.

As part of the wider transformation of the UK border and immigration system, the government has already introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation ( ETA ) scheme. ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK for those wanting to visit but who do not need a visa. It gives the government greater ability to screen travellers in advance of travel and prevent those who pose a threat from coming here.

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