Minister Humphreys announces applications are now open for the New Free Travel Scheme Extension. From 29th July, the Free Travel Scheme is being extended to people who have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability, and to drivers who have a licence and are medically certified as not fit to drive for a period of 12 months or longer.
The Free Travel Scheme, sometimes referred to as Free Travel Pass, is available to:
- everyone who is 66 or over and legally living permanently in the State
- certain people who are under 66 and legally living permanently in the State. If you are under 66, you must meet certain conditions to qualify
The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on all public transport owned by the State. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas, with some exceptions.
Free travel is also available on some services operated by private bus and ferry transport operators. If you would like to find out if a transport operator accepts Free Travel Cards, the full list is available here or you can contact the department to check.
When you use your Free Travel Card, you must follow the rules that apply to the type of transport you are using.
You cannot use your existing Free Travel Card for free travel within Northern Ireland. Find out more about how to avail of free travel within Northern Ireland.
If you qualify for the Free Travel Scheme, a Free Travel Companion Card may be available in some cases. This card allows a companion to travel with you for free. No one else can use your Free Travel Card, it is for you only.
Your Public Services Card (PSC) will display one of the following codes in the top left-hand corner to identify if you can avail of free travel with a spouse, partner, cohabitant or companion:
- FT-P - only you can avail of free travel
- FT+S - your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free
- FT+C - a companion who is over 16 can travel with you for free
If you have a Free Travel Card but are unable to travel alone due to a medical condition, you can apply for a Free Travel Companion Card using the:
Everyone who is 66 or over and legally living permanently in the State, can use the Free Travel Scheme.
The department will automatically send you a Free Travel Card if you:
- are aged 66 or over
- are getting a social welfare pension
- have confirmed your identity through the SAFE registration process, and
- your Public Services Card (PSC) has not expired
If you are not SAFE registered, the department will ask you to do so. Once this has been completed, the department will send you your Free Travel Card.
If your PSC has expired, you must renew it to avail of the Free Travel Scheme. You can do so online at MyWelfare.ie or at your local PSC Centre.
If you are under 66, you may be entitled to use the Free Travel Scheme if you are legally living permanently in the State and you:
- are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension
- are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
- are aged over 17 and under 66, and medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months (effective from 29th July 2024)
- have been getting Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
- are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance
- are getting a social security invalidity payment (or similar payment) from another EU member state or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months
or
If you are under 66, have confirmed your identity through the SAFE registration process and your Public Services Card (PSC) has not expired, you will automatically get a Free Travel Card if you receive:
If you are not SAFE registered, you will be asked to do so before the department sends you your Free Travel Card.
If your PSC has expired, you must renew it to avail of the Free Travel Scheme. You can do so online at MyWelfare.ie or at your local PSC Centre.
From 29 July 2024, the Free Travel Scheme is being extended to include those aged over 17 and under age 66, and:
- have never been medically fit to drive due to a disability
or
- are medically certified as unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months.
An application form for this extension to the Free Travel for people medically certified unfit to drive (FTM) can be downloaded here.
As part of the application process, you will need to be certified by your doctor as being medically unfit to drive for a period of at least 12 months.
You may be entitled to the Free Travel Scheme if you are a widow, widower or a surviving civil partner and you are 60 or over. In this case your late spouse or civil partner must have held a Free Travel Card, and you must be getting one of the following payments:
Note: you may be receiving a similar social security pension or benefit from an EU member state or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement.
To avail of free travel within Northern Ireland you must:
- be 66 or over
- have a Free Travel Card, and
- obtain a Senior SmartPass Card
Application forms (FTNI1) for Senior SmartPass Cards are available from your local:
The completed application form must be brought to your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office in person (not posted or emailed). You must also bring the following documents with your application form to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office:
- a recent passport standard colour photograph
- evidence of your identity (driving licence/passport/any other form of photo ID, if available)
- evidence of address (a recent utility bill, for example electricity/gas/phone/waste charges bill or a bank/building society/credit union statement) and
- current Free Travel Card
Your application will be forwarded to the authorities in Northern Ireland who will send your Senior SmartPass card and instructions for use, directly to your home address. It may take up to six weeks to process your application.
If your Senior SmartPass Card has expired, contact the SmartPass office directly at:
- Email: smartpass@translink.co.uk
- Phone: 0044 2890759129
Make sure to provide your name, address and PPS number and the SmartPass Office will send a renewal form directly to you.
If your Senior SmartPass Card has been lost, stolen, damaged or if you have changed your name, you can apply for a replacement card using the FTNI2 application form.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed that all transport operators in the Free Travel Scheme are allowing customers with a PSC Free Travel Card to continue to avail of free travel even if the card has expired. Free travel passholders with expired PSC and Free Travel Cards are advised to renew their cards at their earliest convenience.
More information about renewing your Public Services Card (PSC) is available here.
To apply for the Free Travel Scheme, please download the relevant application form. You can also get these application forms from your local:
Return your completed application form along with your supporting documents to the Free Travel Section.
Application Form: Free Travel Scheme (FT1). Edition: November 2023. Do not use this form if you are applying for Free Travel for people medically certified unfit to drive (see appropriate FTM form below).
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Free Travel for people medically certified unfit to drive (FTM)
April 2024
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Application Form: Over 70 Companion Free Travel Card (FT O/70)
Edition: July 25
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Application Form: Under 70 Companion Free Travel Card (FT U/70)
Edition: November 2023
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Application Form: Replacement SmartPass card (FTNI 2)
Edition: June 2022
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More information about how to use your Free Travel Card is available here.
Free Travel Section
Address:
Social Welfare Services, Department of Social Protection, College Road, Sligo, Co. Sligo, F91 T384
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.