Children and students

Zip Oyster logo Free and discounted travel is available for under-18s. An Oyster photocard may be required and these are available free.

On this page

Zip: Oyster photocard for under-18s
Under-5s
5 to 10-year-olds
11 to 15-year-olds
16+
Behaviour Code
Earn Your Travel Back
Publications

Discounted travel is also available to students over 18.

Oyster photocard applications: Royal Mail industrial action

Due to industrial action by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in parts of Royal Mail's distribution network, there have been some delays in TfL receiving application forms for the Zip and 18+ Student Oyster photocard schemes and in Oyster photocards being delivered to customers.

We have drafted in extra staff to work during evenings and at weekends to ensure applications are processed as soon as possible after we receive them. However some applicants may find that their photocards take longer to arrive than the times indicated.

Until further notice, holders of existing Oyster photocards should present their card to bus drivers for visual inspection to continue to travel free. They can also use their existing photocards to travel free on trams.

Thank you for your patience.

Zip: Oyster photocard for under-18s

Zip is the name for Oyster photocards for young people that allows them to travel free or at a discounted rate.

All under-16s can travel free on buses and trams and at child-rate on Tube, DLR and London Overground services, if they have an Oyster photocard.

Under-5s

Children under five can travel free at any time on buses, Tube, trams, DLR, and London Overground services as long as they are accompanied by an adult who has a valid ticket, is using Oyster to pay as they go, has a Freedom Pass or has a Veterans Concessionary Oyster photocard.

5 to 10-year-olds

Children aged 5 to 10 years can travel free at any time on buses, Tube, trams, DLR and London Overground services at any time.

On buses and trams:

Unaccompanied 5 to 10-year-olds can travel free at any time. They do not need a ticket or photocard to do so

On Tube, DLR and London Overground services:

A maximum of four 5 to 10-year-olds can travel free when accompanied by an adult who has a valid ticket, is using Oyster to pay as they go, has a Freedom Pass or has a Veterans Concessionary Oyster photocard.
If they are travelling unaccompanied, 5 to 10-year-olds will need a 5-10 Oyster photocard to travel free at any time.

Find out more about 5-10 Oyster photocard.

11 to 15-year-olds

Children aged 11 to 15 years can get an 11-15 Oyster photocard to travel free on buses and trams and at child-rate on Tube, DLR and London Overground services.

Find out more about the 11-15 Oyster photocard.

16+

All 16 to 17-year-olds can travel at child-rate on bus, Tube, tram, DLR and London Overground services with a 16+ Oyster photocard.

Those 16 to 18-year-olds who live in a London borough and are still in quallifying full-time education can also apply to get free travel on buses and trams.

Find out more about the 16+ Oyster photocard.

Behaviour Code

If you fail to follow TfL's Behaviour Code, or if you commit a crime on London's public transport network or premises, it will result in one of the following:

If you are using a 16+ Oyster photocard on one of our services, your Oyster photocard and your travel concession may be withdrawn
If you are using an 11-15, 14-15, Under-14 or Child Oyster photocard on one of our services, your free travel concession may be withdrawn

This code is in place to ensure everyone travels safely with due respect for fellow passengers, staff and property.

The Behaviour Code states that:

When on London's public transport network or premises, you should always act sensibly and treat others as you would like to be treated

Your travel concession and Oyster photocard may be withdrawn if we believe that you have behaved in an antisocial way.

If we withdraw or suspend your entitlement to free travel, or are considering doing so, due to a failure to comply with the Behaviour Code, we will write to your parent or guardian.

Antisocial behaviour

Antisocial behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

Putting your safety or the safety of others at risk
Use of offensive or threatening language
Behaving offensively, bullying or threatening others
Smoking
Playing music out loud
Damaging or defacing an Oyster photocard
Letting anyone else use your Oyster photocard
Committing any crime on, or in connection with, London's public transport network, in particular, but not limited to:
- Physical or verbal assault
- Unlawfully carrying a weapon
- Criminal damage or trespass on London's public transport network or premises
- Theft, robbery or burglary
- Misusing controlled drugs
Breaching:
- London Regional Transport Railways, DLR, Tramlink or National Railways Byelaws
- Any provision of regulation 6 or 7 of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990
- Transport for London's Conditions of Carriage

Earn Your Travel Back

From September a new initiative called 'Earn Your Travel Back' will provide young people (aged 11-19 years old) who have had their travel concession and/or Zip Oyster photocard removed for a breach of our Behaviour Code, the opportunity to earn it back early by volunteering in their local community.

We will contact the young person's parent or carer to tell them their travel concession has been withdrawn and provide details on how to apply for the initiative should they be eligible and wish to participate.

Young people who participate in one day (six hours) of volunteering can earn back their concession as follows:

11-15 scheme - free travel concession
16+ scheme -Zip Oyster photocard with either the free or half-rate travel concession (whichever they are eligible for)

Any young person who has had their free travel concession withdrawn as a result of criminal behaviour will not be eligible for Earn Your Travel Back and those who have already taken part in Earn Your Travel Back for a previous withdrawal will not be able to participate again.

Publications

You can also order free large print copies of Travel discounts for children, teenagers and students.