Free Travel in Ireland
Information
Everyone aged 66 and over living permanently in the State is entitled to the Free Travel Scheme. Some people under 66 are also entitled. If you qualify for free travel, you are issued with a pass that you must carry with you when using public transport. In some cases, a free companion pass may be available to allow a person to accompany the free travel pass holder. Free travel passes are non-transferrable and can only be used by the named person.
Free travel is available on all State public transport (bus, rail and Dublin's LUAS service). Free travel is also available on a limited number of services that are operated by private bus transport companies. Private bus transport operators that have opted in to the Free Travel Scheme accept free travel passes. You should contact the Department of Social Protection to check whether your private bus operator accepts free travel passes - see 'Where to apply' below.
Spouses, civil partners, cohabitants and companions
If you have a Free Travel Pass and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, you are entitled to a Free Travel Pass which allows your partner to accompany you free of charge when travelling. (This does not apply to people under age 66 who are getting Carer's Allowance or who are nominated carers for people getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from the Department of Social Protection).
In addition, some people who are unable to use the pass because they are unable to travel alone may get a Companion Free Travel Pass. This allows the holder to be accompanied by any person over 16 years of age, free of charge.
Senior SmartPass for travelling in Northern Ireland
The All Ireland Free Travel Scheme allows a Free Travel passholder (those aged 66 and older) to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a Senior Smartpass card. Similarly, Northern Ireland Senior Smartpass holders are entitled to travel for free on services in Ireland using their existing Senior Smartpass. If your Free Travel Pass allows you to be accompanied by a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant or companion they may continue to travel with you for free on cross-border journeys but they cannot accompany you for free on public transport within Northern Ireland.
Free Travel Pass holders wishing to avail of the All Ireland Free Travel scheme within Northern Ireland must first obtain a Senior SmartPass card. To get a Senior SmartPass card you must fill in an application form (FTNI1). (It is not possible to get this form online, to get a form you must contact your Social Welfare Local Office).
The application form must be filled in with black ink only and returned in person (not posted) to your local social welfare office. You must bring the following items with your application form to your local social welfare office:
- Your current Free Travel Pass and
- Evidence of your address, (for example, a gas, electricity, phone bill or bank statement) and
- Evidence of your identity, (for example, your drivers licence, passport or another form of photo identification) and
- A recent passport standard colour photograph.
It may take up to six weeks to process your application. There is further information on the extension of the Free Travel Scheme.
You should continue to use your current Free Travel Pass for travel in this State.
Renewing a Senior SmartPass
Your Senior SmartPass will expire after 5 years.
- If you have electronically used your card within the last 2 years you will get a new card automatically in the post from Translink when your card expires.
- If you have not used your card in the last 2 years you will be sent a renewal application form to fill out. (The renewal form is not the same as a first-time application and you do not need to supply a photograph.)
- If you have never used your card you will not hear from Translink at all. If you wish to get it renewed, you must contact Translink who will send you a renewal application.
Rules
You may be entitled to free travel if you are permanently living in the State and:
- You are aged 66 or over
- You are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension from the Department of Social Protection.
- You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
- You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
- You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance from the Department
- You 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
- You are a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner aged 60 or over whose late spouse/civil partner held a free travel pass and who is getting one of the following payments: State Pension (Transition), Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, One-Parent Family Payment, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme or a similar social security pension/benefit from an EU member state or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, or an ordinary Garda widow's pension.
Where free travel can be used
Free travel is available on Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Dart and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services. You may also travel free of charge on certain cross-border services between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
If you are permanently living on any of the Aran Islands, you may get up to 12 single (or 6 return) air trips each year between the islands and the mainland. People who live permanently on Tory Island (Co. Donegal) are entitled to a 8 (or 4 return) free journeys on the seasonal helicopter service operating between the island and the mainland.
There are no restrictions on the times at which you can use your Free Travel Pass. Therefore, there is no need for unrestricted passes, permitting free travel at peak times.
If you lose your Free Travel Pass
If you lose your Free Travel Pass or if it is stolen, you should fill in form FT27 (pdf) for a replacement Free Travel Pass. Part of this form must be filled in by a Garda at your local Garda Station.
How to apply
If you are aged 66 or over and are getting a social welfare pension, the Free Travel Pass will issue automatically. If you are under age 66, you will get a Free Travel Pass automatically when you are awarded an Invalidity Pension, a Blind Pension, Disability Allowance or Carer’s Allowance. In all other circumstances, you must apply for free travel by completing a Free Travel application form FT1 (pdf).
You can also obtain this form and other additional information from the Department of Social Protection - see 'Where to apply' below. The form is also available at your local post office.
If you are married or in a civil partnership and either of you apply for a Free Travel Pass or are issued one automatically, the appropriate type of pass (to allow your spouse or civil partner to accompany you free of charge) will be issued. If you are cohabiting, you must apply for this type of pass by completing PART 2 of the above application form. If you already have a Free Travel Pass (single status), you should return it with the application form.
People living in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway or Waterford must exchange the Free Travel Pass for a photo pass at the CIE office in the city - see 'Where to apply' below.
Where to apply
Free Travel Section
Freepost
Social Welfare Services
College Road
Sligo
Ireland
Tel:(071) 915 7100
Locall:1890 500 000
Homepage: http://www.welfare.ie/
Dublin Bus
59 Upper O'Connell Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel:(01) 872 0000
Bus Eireann - Cork
Travel Centre
Bus Station
Parnell Place
Cork
Ireland
Tel:(021) 450 8188
Bus Eireann - Limerick
Travel Centre
Colbert Station
Limerick
Ireland
Tel:(061) 31 3333
Bus Eireann - Waterford
Travel Centre
Bus Station
The Quay
Waterford
Ireland
Tel:(051) 87 9000
Bus Eireann - Galway
Travel Centre
Ceannt Station
Galway
Ireland
Tel:(091) 56 2000
You can email the Free Travel section using the secure Free Travel enquiry form.
Language
Related Documents
- Income supports for older people
Find out about the range of payments available, and link to a broader checklist of entitlements for older people. - Bus services in Ireland
Public bus transport services in Ireland offer services on a wide range of routes throughout the country. Information on routes, timetables and fares. - Blind Pension
The Blind Pension is a means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people normally living in Ireland. Find out more about this social welfare payment and how to apply.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.