Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel

All young people and children aged 5-21 years can apply for a card to access the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme.

The scheme was introduced in January 2022 with the main objective of making public transport more affordable and accessible to Scotland’s young people. Access to free bus travel can improve opportunities in various areas, such as education, leisure, and work. Free bus travel also enables young people to travel more sustainably.

You can visit the Free Bus website to find out more about the benefits of this scheme.

If you are under 22 years old and live in Scotland you are eligible for free bus travel.

You need to apply for a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC to access free bus travel. Most cards issued before the scheme started in January 2022 will not give you access to free bus travel. However, if you are over 16 and have a card issued prior to the scheme launch, you may be able to use the Transport Scot Pass Collect App to download your free bus travel to your existing card.

Children aged under 5 years do not need a card as they already travel for free on commercial bus services across Scotland.

People seeking Asylum and refugees

As with all other 5-21 years olds living in Scotland, people seeking asylum and refugees of this age can apply for a National Entitlement Card (NEC) to access free bus travel.

When you apply in person, officials can vouch for the applicant (or a parent acting on their behalf) by considering other information and evidence which cannot be used in the online application process.

The Application Registration Card (ARC), issued by the Home Office, can be used to apply for a NEC through your local council alongside other information and evidence.

The ARC is not accepted as proof of identity or for online applications. This is because, under the UK Proof of Age Scheme (PASS), it cannot be used to establish evidence of identification online and there is no online equivalent to the help provided offline to support applications.

Find out which documents you can use to apply.

Ferry vouchers

The scheme does not include ferry travel for all young people living on Scottish islands.

However, if you are aged 16-18 (or a 19-25 full-time volunteer) and you live on an island you may be eligible for ferry vouchers through the non-legislative scheme. Check if you are eligible before travelling.

Already have a disabled persons’ NEC.

If you already have a disabled persons’ card, it is your choice whether you want to keep this or change to the Young Persons’ free bus travel scheme. Some local council areas provide discounted travel on rail, tram, or subway with a Disabled Persons’ NEC, but you are likely to have to renew that card more often. Currently, a Disabled Persons’ NEC is valid for up to three years. Further information can be found on our website.

Please note, if you have a Disabled Companion NEC, which allows a companion to travel for free with you, then you should not change to the Young Person’s scheme as this scheme does not allow anyone to travel with you for free.

There are different ways you can apply. These are:

• online at getyournec.scot
• through your local council
• through parentsportal.scot if your child’s school uses it
• using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app if you are 16 or over

Under 16s

If you are aged 5–15 years old, you need a parent, guardian, or carer to apply on your behalf. This means they can agree for you to have access to free bus travel and continue to exercise responsibility over your safety and wellbeing.

There is an option for adults who are applying on your behalf to opt out of this scheme if they do not want you having access to free bus travel.

If you live between different addresses, parents, guardians, or carers should decide who applies on your behalf as you can only have one card.

For children turning 5 soon, applications can be made as early as two weeks before their fifth birthday.

Children aged 5 to 11 will get a bus pass without a photo. This will expire when they turn 12, but they can get a new bus pass with a photo from age 11.

In some local council areas, schools are coordinating applications on behalf of their pupils. Schools will contact parents, carers, guardians, and pupils directly if this is the case.

16 or over

If you are 16-21 years old, you should apply for your own card. If you require additional support with your application, please contact your local council.

Applying online

You can apply online at getyournec.scot using a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera or webcam.

You may find it useful to download or look out the documents you will need. If you don’t have scanned copies of your documents, you can take photos of your proofs during the application process.

When applying online at getyournec.scot, you can save your progress and return to your incomplete application later.

If you don’t have proofs such as a passport or driving licence, you can apply directly through your local council.

If you need more help, the following videos walk you through the online application process:

• Watch a video on how to apply for a card for your child
• Watch a video on how to request a replacement card

You should allow up to ten working days (two calendar weeks) from the date your application was submitted for it to be reviewed. Once approved, the card will be dispatched within two working days. You can check the status of your online application by logging into the NEC portal on getyournec.scot.

If your details are incorrect once your card arrives, you can update these at getyournec.scot.

Biometric scans

During the application process, getyournec.scot checks proofs. A face scan is used to make sure that the person submitting the application is the same person as on the identity proofs supplied. It’s a way of replicating the in-person application process. Biometric scans are only used when applying online, not when making in-person applications.

Reviewing the application process

We continually review the application process to make it as straightforward as we can. However, we must also make sure that we meet child safety requirements, and comply with identity verification standards, protocols and PASS standards.

Applying through your local council

To apply in person, please contact your local council.

Your local council will accept a wider range of documents than online applications, and will be able to tell you about the other ways to apply which are available in your area.

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 your details are incorrect once your card arrives, please contact your local council.

Applying using parentsportal.scot

Some local authorities use Parent’s Portal as an easy way for parents, guardians, and carers to apply for the child’s free bus travel. To apply using this method, your child must be enrolled in school and your local authority should already use Parent’s Portal.

Visit Parent’s Portal to find out if this is available in your local council area and child’s school.

Transport Scot Pass Collect app

If you are aged between 16 and 21 and have an active NEC or Young Scot NEC, you can download your free bus travel using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app. Please note, you must use your own card to collect your travel pass.

If you are aged 5-15, a parent, guardian, or carer must apply for free bus travel on your behalf either online or through your local council. As a minor, the travel pass will not be available to you via the Pass Collect App.

To find out more about how the Transport Scot Pass Collect App works, visit the Free Bus website’s Transport Scot Pass Collect App page.

If you have further questions on using the app, visit the Free Bus website’s FAQ section.

Download on the App Store.

Download on the Google Play Store.

How to replace or renew my card

You can replace or renew your National Entitlement Card through your local council or online at getyournec.scot. Replacements are free of charge.

Remember, when your new card is issued, your old card will automatically be set to stop working and you can dispose of it.

If you would like to safely dispose your old card, you can send it to:

Transport Scotland
George House
2nd Floor
36 North Hanover Street
Glasgow, G1 2AD

Help with applying, replacing and renewing my card

Which card should I get?

If you’re aged 11 or older, it’s your choice whether you apply for the Young Scot NEC or a standard NEC. Remember that Young Scot offers discounts, rewards, membership and is PASS accredited, meaning you can use a Young Scot NEC as proof of age.

Read more about which card is right for you.

Why do I need to provide proofs to apply for free bus travel?

We need to be able to check and verify who you are and whether you are eligible for the scheme, so we ask for proof of person (your name and age) and proof of residence (where you live).

For children aged 5-15 years old, we also need to carry out some extra checks for child safety reasons. We need to be able to verify who the person making the application is, who the child is, and know that they are authorised to act on behalf of that child.

When doing this, we need to make sure we comply with identity verification standards and protocols, and with standards required by the UK National Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS). Young Scot NECs carry the PASS logo and can be used as proof of age.

Why has my application has been rejected?

If your application has been rejected, you should be told why and given advice on how to submit a successful application by the channel through which you applied.

Check to see that your details are all correct and your photo meets all the requirements. If that doesn’t work, get in touch with your local council.

I don’t read English. How do I apply for free bus travel?

Please contact your local council to find out more and get support.

Using your card is really easy. When you get on the bus, tell the bus driver where you are going then tap your card on the electronic card reader and the smart technology will do the rest. Read some top tips on planning your bus journey and what to expect at freebus.scot.

Free bus travel cannot be loaded on to an app therefore you must always have your card with you whenever you want to take the bus – otherwise you’ll have to pay for your trip. Parents, carers, and guardians, this means you too! Don’t forget your child’s card when they are travelling with you.

Top tips to remember:

• It’s your card only – your friends can’t borrow it

• Take good care of your card – if you forget it or it gets damaged and doesn’t work, you’ll need to pay the fare until you get a replacement card
• If your card has a photo, make sure it is up to date and it looks like you
• Always keep in touch with you family and friends to let them know where you are – it’s important to stay safe

• You should cooperate with the driver and treat them and other passengers with respect, making sure you are the only person that can hear your music, you pick up all your litter and keep your feet off the seats.
• You need to report any changes of circumstances which may affect your entitlement, including changes of address, to your local council. Check the back of your card for the right number.

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. All bus operators have conditions of carriage which set out who can travel on their services and they may require younger children to be accompanied by an adult.

If you misuse the free bus travel scheme (such as letting someone else use your card), then you could have free bus travel removed from your card. 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 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Read the scheme terms and conditions.

Where can I travel?

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, tours/excursions and group hire services) do not accept the card. So you can travel almost everywhere in Scotland and as far as Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Contact the bus company before you travel if you have any questions.

Paper Tickets

The National Concessionary Travel Scheme legislation does not require paper tickets to be issued to cardholders for concession journeys so you might not receive a paper ticket when you travel. The issuing of paper tickets to passengers is an operational decision at the discretion of the bus operator.

Booking in advance

Some services allow you to book tickets and/or seats in advance. It is possible to book in advance with a National Entitlement Card but you may incur a booking fee which will not be covered by your card. Remember to check with the bus operator if your tickets need to be collected before you make your journey.

Using a Young Scot card

You can also use a Young Scot card to save money on both in-person and online discounts and as proof of age. Find out more at Young Scot’s website.

Card not working

There may be occasions where the driver will advise that your card is not working. This could be caused by a number of reasons, such as your card is damaged, expired, or hotlisted.

You can contact your local council to request a replacement or visit getyournec.scot to apply for a new card online.

After you’ve applied for a new card or requested a replacement, your old card will stop working. As soon as your new card arrives you should start using it and destroy your old card.

Replacements are free of charge, but you will need to pay any fares until the replacement arrives.

For any other issues with your card, please contact concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot

If you have a question about Young Scot services, contact info@young.scot

There’s lots to think about as you travel on the bus. Read some top tips for travelling safely at freebus.scot

Top tips for parents and guardians

Letting your young person use free nationwide bus travel may feel daunting. It’s a big responsibility and it can be difficult to know they’re safe. This is why we’re encouraging all parents and guardians to have conversations with their children about being safe and confident when travelling.

• It’s never easy to start a serious conversation, so try to make it relevant for you. It can be helpful to break up discussions into bite-sized chats over a period of time. That gives you both a bit of space to process what you’ve spoken about and avoids anyone feeling like they’ve been lectured.
• Have a chat about what they might expect to see while they are out, how to interact with the driver and other passengers, and how to use their card – especially if they are new to bus travel.
• Getting your child used to using bus from a young age can build their confidence and independence.

Training for drivers

We worked closely with Barnardo’s Scotland to provide simple and clear guidance for bus drivers on protecting children and young people and keeping them safe from harm. This covers a huge range of issues and provides helpful advice for drivers on how to report issues if they arise.

Access the training for drivers.

Martin Crewe, Director for Barnardo’s Scotland said:

"Barnardo’s Scotland is proud to have worked with Transport Scotland to create a bespoke training package on child safeguarding for bus drivers across Scotland.

Through training in general safeguarding and the signs of exploitation, we have helped to give bus drivers the confidence to recognise risks to young passengers’ safety and provided them with the knowledge of what to do and who to speak to if they have any concerns.”

Visit Barnardo’s Scotland for more information on their work and support.

National Entitlement Card (NEC) and Young Scot NEC must be in good working order

• You (or parents, guardians, or carers of cardholders aged between 5-15 years old) must ensure that your card is kept in a good condition and presented to the bus ticket machine or other transport ticketing equipment in good working order i.e. undamaged in any way.
• If your card is damaged so that it cannot be scanned on the bus ticket machine (or other transport ticketing equipment) you will be required to pay the full fare for your journey. You (or parents/guardians of cardholders aged 5-15 years old) will have to ensure that the appropriate bus fare or other transport ticket can be paid in full by cash or other alternative payment methods.
• If your card is damaged it is your responsibility (or parents/guardians of young people aged between 5-15 years old) to request a replacement card from your local authority or online to allow access to free bus travel and any other transport discounts.
• If you need a new or replacement card then please visit our Free Bus site for information on how to do this.

NEC and Young Scot NEC – not transferable

• Those eligible to access the young persons’ free bus travel scheme will be provided with a card that is unique to them. Please carry your card with you when you are travelling.
• Cards should be kept safe and must only be used by the named cardholder to access free bus travel.
• Cards must not be used by or given to any other person for their use.
• Transport operators may refuse free travel to anyone where the image on the card doesn’t match the person presenting it.
• Transport Scotland has a fraud policy and any person(s) found to be misusing any aspect of the scheme (including allowing a card to be used by someone else) may have their entitlement to free bus travel suspended. Incidents of misuse may also be reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
• Cardholders (and parents/guardians of cardholders aged 5-15 years old) have a duty to report any changes of circumstances which may affect entitlement, including changes of address, to their local authority.

General information

• 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.
• The Young Scot NEC is part of the accredited proof of age card scheme PASS. This means that the Young Scot NEC can be used as proof of age.
• The photo on your card needs to be kept up to date to use it to prove your age for age restricted products or services. Your card must not be used by any other person.

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.

App Terms and Conditions

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

Policy and legislation

Legislation was approved by the Scottish Parliament in March 2021 enabling the introduction of a new statutory scheme to allow 5-18 year olds resident in Scotland to access free bus travel through the National Entitlement Card (NEC) and the Young Scot branded NEC (Young Scot card).

Following a further commitment made by the Scottish Government, legislation to allow the scheme to be extended to include those aged under 22 was approved by the Scottish Parliament in autumn 2021.

Read more about the scheme legislation and Impact Assessments.

Get help with applying or replacing your card

Online

• Get help with Get Your NEC
• Get help with Young Scot
• Get help with Parent’s Portal

Local council

Find contact details for your local council.

Bus operators

If you have any questions about individual bus routes, services, or journeys please contact the bus operator directly.

Help with the Transport Scot Pass Collect app

For any questions about our app please email concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot or write to us at:

Concessionary Travel and Integrated Ticketing Unit at Transport Scotland

George House

36 North Hanover Street

Glasgow

G1 2AD.

About the free bus travel scheme

Transport Scotland is responsible for the policy and some aspects of the delivery of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme including the reimbursement of bus operators. The scheme is delivered through the National Entitlement Card (NEC). The Improvement Service is the accountable body for the NEC Scheme. It also operates and manages getyournec.scot and parentsportal.scot.

The National Entitlement Card Programme Office supports the Scheme’s operational management and delivery under a Service Level Agreement with the Improvement Service. This includes support to all Scottish local authorities for the NEC application process, including for card issue, renewals and replacements. 

For general information on the scheme, or if there's anything you're not sure about, please email concessionarytravel@transport.gov.scot or write to us at:

Concessionary Travel and Integrated Ticketing Unit at Transport Scotland
George House
36 North Hanover Street
Glasgow
G1 2AD.