Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel

All 5 to 21-year-olds living in Scotland are eligible to benefit from free bus travel. The scheme will embed more sustainable travel behaviours from a young age, open doors to new opportunities and help to meet Scotland's target of net zero emissions by 2045. 

Children and young people who are 5 to 21 years old will need a new or replacement National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) to travel free by bus. 

Parents or carers of 5 to 15-year-olds must apply on their behalf. Children under 5 years old already travel for free on the bus and don't need a card.

When you receive your new card it will look exactly the same as your previous Young Scot card but it will have the transport application encoded onto the card.

Full details of the scheme can be found on the Free Bus.Scot website including Frequently Asked Questions.

Regardless of the route you use to apply, you will need to supply:

• Proof of your identity (name and age)
• Proof of residency
• A photograph (if you are over 11 years of age)

To find out what documents can be used to provide proof, please visit NEC Proofs Required.

Parental or carers consent will be required to add travel to the card of any 5 to 15-year-old inclusive.

Young people from 11 years old must supply a photograph with their application. This is because, as well as travel, they are eligible to have a Young Scot NEC that includes the Young Scot, EYCA, and PASS logos and provides access to some other Discounts and Rewards. 

Children between 5 and 10 years old will not have a photograph attached to their National Entitlement Card.

There are several ways for 5 to 21-year-olds to get a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot NEC to access free bus travel.

See the options available to each age group:

• Children aged 5 to 10
• Children aged 11 to 15
• Young people aged 16 to 21