The Transport Scot Pass Collect app

The Transport Scot Pass Collect app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. It’s easy to use, just follow the instructions. It’s also safe, secure and free to download.

You may be able to use the app to:

• Collect free bus travel if you are under 22
• Collect your ferry vouchers if you live in Orkney or Shetland

The app downloads your bus pass or ferry vouchers onto your National Entitlement Card (NEC). You might also know this as your saltirecard, bus pass or Young Scot card.

The app doesn’t show, keep or share any personal data. This means that you can use it yourself and use it to help other people too. There is no limit to the number of times the app can be used.

You can use the app with smartphones and some tablets.

For the app to work, the smartphone or tablet must have the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature. Most smartphones have this as it is commonly used to make contactless payments.

You can use the app on iPhones with iOS version 6 or later, or on other phones with Android version 6 or later.

The app may work on newer Android tablets with Near Field Communication (NFC), but will not work on iPads as only the most recent Android tablets have the NFC feature and it isn’t available on any iPads. 

Your phone or tablet needs to be connected to the internet by Wi-Fi or mobile connection. It also needs to have Near Field Communication (NFC) turned on. This is the same function you use for mobile contactless payments and is usually available on newer smartphones. The app will remind you about this once you have downloaded it and will provide a link to the settings where you can do this.

To download the app you will need to either be connected to Wi-Fi, or have 3G, 4G or 5G network connection with good mobile signal.

Download the Transport Scot Pass Collect app on the App Store or Google Play store

Download on the app store

Download on the Google Play Store

If you are aged between 16 and 21, already have an active NEC or Young Scot NEC, and haven’t applied for a new card since January 2022, you can download your free bus travel using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app.

Active cards are those received since 2016 – they’ll have a long number next to the ITSO logo and, if there’s a date of birth shown, it will be highlighted with a pink strip. Please note, any NECs which are dedicated matriculation cards aren’t compatible with the app.

Find out more about free bus travel for under 22s.

How to collect free bus travel

Watch this video from Young Scot for a useful step-by-step guide on how to use the app.

Remember that when you place your card at the back of your phone to collect your free bus travel – in the same way you would use contactless payment – it’s important to make sure you hold it in the right place.

This is different depending on whether you have an Android or iOS phone. The correct place is usually at the top for iOS and in the middle for Android, as shown below.

How to check what is on your card

The app can also be used by anyone to ‘read’ an NEC or Young Scot NEC to see what smart travel concession products/entitlements are stored on the card.

There are a few different products which might come up when you read your card. For under 22s free bus travel, you should look for one or both of the following:

• Bus Pass (Y)
• Bus Pass (Y 16+)

If you do not see one or both of the above when you read your card, you don’t have free bus travel on your card. You may have other products stored on your card, such as Bus ID (Y) which indicates this is a young person’s card – but it is not free bus travel. If you’re eligible, you can use the app to collect free bus travel on to your card. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a new NEC with free bus travel.

Do you live in Orkney or Shetland?

If you live in Orkney or Shetland and are aged 16 - 18 or are part of the concessionary volunteer scheme, you will also see ferry vouchers as well as your bus pass.

Get in touch

If the information on this page doesn’t answer any queries you have about the app, or if you have issues using it, please contact us by emailing concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot.

We are modernising the way ferry vouchers are used to bring your bus pass and ferry vouchers together on your saltirecard (which you might know as your National Entitlement Card), bus pass or your Young Scot card.

From Spring 2024, this applies to everyone who receives ferry vouchers in Orkney and Shetland.

Find out more about digital ferry vouchers and what is changing

How to collect ferry vouchers

You can use the app to collect your ferry vouchers onto your card, or someone else can use the app to do this for you.

Watch the video below to see how to do this, or follow the steps underneath.

Step by step instructions

Before you start, you’ll need to have your card handy and have the Transport Scot Pass Collect App downloaded. You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play store.

1. Open the app
2. If you see a message saying your phone’s NFC isn’t enabled, you need to switch this on. If you are an iPhone user, the app will direct you to your settings where you can do this. If you are an Android user, it will direct you to settings and then connected devices.
3. If you’re using the app for the first time you’ll see some information about the app. You can select Skip or swipe through to read more.
4. You’ll now see the home screen. Select Collect ferry vouchers.
5. The app will ask if you have your card. When you’re ready, select Yes.
6. The next couple of screens have tips on where you should place your card. Select Next, then when you’ve read all the tips and you’re ready, select Start.
7. Place your card on a flat surface and rest your phone on top, or slightly above your card. You may need to place you card nearer the middle or top part of your phone, depending on the type of phone you have. If the screen doesn’t change after about 10 seconds, move the phone or card to a new position. When the app has found your card, hold still whilst the app fully reads your card. If you’re having any trouble, you can select Cancel to start again.
8. You’re all done! The app has successfully read and downloaded your vouchers to your card. This means your vouchers are now ready to use.
9. Select Return to home screen. This will refresh the app and forget your card details, ready for another use.

If you select See what’s on my card from the home screen, you’ll be able to see that your ferry vouchers are now stored on your card. You can also check how many vouchers you have remaining, how many you’ve used, the date they were last used and the date that they are valid to.

How to check your ferry vouchers using

You can check how many vouchers you have left to use at any time with the app.

Open the app, and on the Home screen select What’s on my card?. Follow the steps on screen to read your card.

Remember, the app doesn’t store any of your or your card’s details, so you can check your card on someone else’s phone if they have the app downloaded, or help someone else check their card on yours.

Get in touch

For any questions about using the app to download your ferry vouchers onto your card, please contact us by:

phoning (freephone) 0800 328 5690 and then select option 2.

or email us at concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot.

Read the terms and conditions for the Transport Scot Pass Collect app.

Our concessionary travel and smart ticketing privacy policy outlines how we use, store and share the personal information we hold about you in connection with our national concessionary travel schemes.

The frequently asked questions and error messages below may be able to help you resolve your query. If you are still having trouble, you can get in touch using the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Frequently asked questions

Will my phone be able to use the app?

If your phone is able to download other apps it should be able to help you to get your vouchers. Your phone will need to have the Near Field Communication (NFC) function turned on. Most phones already have this turned on and the app will let you know if not.

If you have an older mobile phone that is not equipped with NFC, please use one of the other options for getting your ferry vouchers.

Will my information be safe when I use the app?

Yes. The app does not show, keep or share any personal data. You will not receive any emails as a result of using the app.

What if the app doesn’t work?

The app is well-tested so you shouldn’t have any problems but if you do have difficulties, the app will display a message to explain what the problem might be. Read the error message guidance below for more information.

Error messages

If you’ve successfully downloaded the app onto your phone but you’ve received an error message when using it, the message will provide details about what has gone wrong and tell you what to do next or who to contact. Check the error messages below to help.

It looks like you’re offline

Check you are connected to the internet. If you’re connected via mobile network, check you have a strong signal.

The Transport Scotland Collector is not supported on this device

This message usually appears if the phone or tablet you are using does not support Near Field Communication (NFC). This is the same function you use for mobile contactless payments and is usually available on newer smartphones. If your device does support NFC and you receive this message, please contact us using the details below.

The NFC (Near Field Communication) is disabled

If you have NFC, you may need to switch this on in your settings. NFC is commonly used and is the same service used for mobile contactless payment – you can check online or with your phone provider to see if your phone has this.

Card read but nothing to collect

If you are collecting free bus travel:

Please remember you need to be aged 16-21 and already have an active card. You can check your card is active (this means it was received after 2016) by looking for a long number next to the ITSO logo and if your date of birth is on it, it will be highlighted with a pink strip.

If you are collecting ferry vouchers:

You need to have an active card. You can check your card is active by looking for a ‘valid to' date. If the card has no date on it, this is because it is held by someone who is aged 60+ and it continues to be valid for as long as the user requires it.

If you got your card before 2016, it could be too old to be read by the app. You will need to order a replacement card by visiting getyournec.scot or contacting your local council if you would like to use the app.

If you have recently applied for a new card:

If you have recently applied for a new card within the last two weeks, this means your application is being processed and your new card will be with you soon.

Uh oh! Something went wrong, or we are busy

This message appears when there are too many people trying to collect travel entitlements at the same time. Please try again in a few minutes.

Remember to hold your card still at the back of your phone. It’s important to place the card in the correct position, which is different depending on whether you have an Android or iOS phone. This correct position is usually at the top for iOS and in the middle for Android.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is full

This message appears if you have lots of other travel tickets on your card. Please try again and if it still doesn’t work, please contact us using the details below.

Oops that didn’t work – we’re having trouble reading your card

This message usually appears if you have accidentally moved your card when holding it to the phone. Try again, putting your card on a table and holding your phone above it to help keep it steady. If you have a cover on your phone, please try removing this as well.

If it doesn’t work again after doing this, get in touch with us using the details below in case there is something wrong with your card.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is not supported by this app

This usually appears if you try and read a smartcard that is not a National Entitlement Card – for example, a ScotRail or Subway card.

There is no supported app for this NFC tag

This usually appears if you try and read an older version of a smartcard. If you are eligible to use the app and receive this message, you will need to apply for a new card. You can do this by visiting getyournec.scot or contacting your local council.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is expired

This usually appears when your card is no longer valid and means you will need to apply for a new card. If you need to apply for a new card, visit getyournec.scot or contact your local council.

Check your card is active. You should have received it after 2016.

If you are aged 16 to 21 then it should have a long number next to the ITSO logo and if your date of birth is on it, it will be highlighted with a pink strip.

If you have a disabled concessionary travel card, you can check your card is valid by looking for a ‘valid to' date.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is blocked

This usually appears when your card has already been replaced by a newer version. Please find your most recent card and use this instead.

If you cannot find the newer version, you will need to apply for a new card. You can do this by visiting getyournec.scot or contacting your local council.

Need help?

Help with using the app to get ferry vouchers

For any questions about using the app to download your ferry vouchers onto your card, please contact us by phoning (freephone) 0800 328 5690 and then select option 2.

Or you can email us at concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot

Orkney Islands Council

Telephone number: 01856 873535

Email address: ferryvouchers@orkney.gov.uk

Shetland Islands Council

Telephone number: 01595 744868

Email address: transport@shetland.gov.uk

Help applying for a new card

If you need to apply for a new card, visit getyournec.scot or contact your local council.

Help with using the app to get your under 22s bus pass

For any questions about using the app to collect free bus travel onto your NEC or Young Scot NEC, please contact us by emailing concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot.