Young Scot card: free bus travel and how to apply

What the card is

The Young Scot card is a National Entitlement Card, or NEC, for young people. Children aged 5 to 10 can get an NEC for free bus travel. The Young Scot version is for ages 11 to 25 and adds discounts and proof of age.

Who can get it

• Free bus travel: anyone aged 5 to 21 who lives in Scotland.
• Young Scot card: anyone aged 11 to 25 who lives in Scotland.
• Rail discount: aged 16 to 18, or 19 to 25 and volunteering full-time.

Young Scot says you need to live in Scotland for at least six months of the year.

What it costs

The card is free. Bus travel on it is free for under 22s. Transport Scotland says replacing a lost, stolen or damaged card is also free.

How to apply

You can apply in three ways.

1. Online at getyournec.scot, using a mygov.scot account.
2. Through your council, at a library or council office. Councils accept a wider range of documents than the online form.
3. Through school, in some areas, where the school office handles it.

If your child is under 16, a parent or guardian must apply for them.

What you need

For an online application you need:

• a recent digital head-and-shoulders photo
• proof of identity, such as a passport, driving licence or a Yoti account
• proof of address, such as a council tax bill or bank statement

For a child under 16, you also need the child's full birth or adoption certificate showing your name. Young Scot says abbreviated birth certificates are not accepted. Children under 11 do not need a photo.

Asylum seekers and refugees aged 5 to 21 can get free bus travel. They apply through their council using an Application Registration Card.

How long it takes

Allow up to ten working days after your application is approved. Until the card arrives, you pay the normal fare.

What free bus travel covers

The card covers nearly all local and long-distance scheduled buses in Scotland. Some cross-border routes are included as far as Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

It does not cover:

• premium-fare night buses
• tours and excursions
• group hire coaches
• most ferries and all trains

Island residents can travel free as foot passengers on inter-island ferries in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. Young island residents can also get vouchers for free return ferry trips to the mainland.

Other benefits

• A third off most rail fares in Scotland for 16 to 18 year olds, and half-price season tickets.
• A PASS hologram, so the card works as proof of age.
• Discounts and rewards through Young Scot.
• Some schools use the card for school meals.

Lost, stolen or damaged cards

Report it and ask for a replacement through getyournec.scot or your council. A new card can take up to two weeks, and you pay full fares until it arrives. If a damaged card cannot be scanned, you will be asked to pay the full fare.

Quick answers

Is the Young Scot card free?

Yes. The card is free and bus travel on it is free for under 22s. Transport Scotland says replacement cards are free too.

Who can get free bus travel in Scotland?

Anyone aged 5 to 21 who lives in Scotland. You need a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot card to use it.

How long does a Young Scot card take to arrive?

Allow up to ten working days after your application is approved. Replacement cards can take up to two weeks.

Can I apply for my child's card online?

Yes. A parent or guardian applies for under 16s at getyournec.scot. You need the child's full birth certificate and proof of address.

Does the Young Scot card cover trains?

Trains are not free. At 16 to 18, the card gives a third off most rail fares in Scotland and half-price season tickets.