Transport for London11-15
If your child is:
- Over 10 years and 11 months
- And under 16 on 31 August before the start of the academic year
They can get:
- Free travel at any time on buses and trams
- Child fares on Tube, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services
Your child needs a valid Oyster photocard to get free travel on buses and trams, to get Travelcard season tickets and pay as you go at child rate.
A £10 administration fee is payable at the time of application.
Can my child get an 11 - 15 Zip Oyster photocard?
You can get an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard for your child if they are:
- Over 10 years and 11 months
- Under 16 on 31 August before the start of the academic year
Your child's Zip Oyster photocard is valid until 30 September, after the end of the academic year in which they turn 16.
How much does my child save with a 11-15 Oyster photocard?
Bus and tram
Travel free at any time on London's buses and trams showing this symbol. 
11-15 year-olds who do not have a valid Oyster photocard must pay the full adult cash fare on buses and trams until they get one.
Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail
- Pay child rates for 7 Day, monthly or longer period Travelcards and for pay as you go
Emirates Air Line
- Pay child rate pay as you go fares on the Emirates Air Line
- Show your 11-15 Oyster photocard to pay discounted child Boarding Pass fares
How do I apply for an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard for my child?
Yellow/blue 11-15 Oyster photocard replacements
If your child has a yellow/blue 11-15 Oyster photocard, you need to replace it by Wednesday 31 July 2013. If you don't replace your child's yellow/blue Oyster photocard, it may be stopped. You can get a replacement free of charge. Get a replacement.
The parent/guardian can apply online or at a Post Office in London.
Online
Apply online and your child's 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard will be posted to you.
You, the parent or guardian, need to apply on your child's behalf.
When you apply you'll need:
- An active, valid email address
- Your child's machine-readable passport number
- A digital photo of your child
- Debit or credit card to pay the £10 administration fee
If you can't complete all the application steps online you may be prompted to:
- Download and print off a verification letter
- Take the verification letter to the Post Office along with required documentation and pay the £10 administration fee
At a Post Office
You can get an under-16 Zip Oyster photocard application form from a Post Office in London. Fill in the form and make sure it has been signed by both you and your child.
The form should then be taken to the Post Office at least two weeks before you need the Oyster photocard, with:
- A full face passport-type photo of your child
- £10 for the administration fee (cheques are not accepted)
- Proof of age of the child, either:
- Passport
- ID card from a European Economic Area country
- Birth certificate
- Biometric residency permit
You must provide the original document - we don't accept photocopies.
We'll send the 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard to the address you provided.
If you provided an email address on your application, we will create a web account for you. Once created, we'll send you an email with instructions on how to log in and activate your web account. The web account can be used to order a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged Oyster photocard, change the photo on an Oyster photocard or order an Oyster photocard for another child.
I live outside London
UK customer
If you live in the UK, but outside London, you can order your child's 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard online and we will send the card to you, if we can verify your child's age. You, the parent/guardian, need to apply on your child's behalf.
When you apply, you'll need:
- An active, valid email address
- Your child's machine-readable passport number - you can still apply online without this
- A digital photo of your child
- Debit or credit card to pay the £10 administration fee
If we're able to verify your child's age online, we'll post the 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard to the address you have provided. It can take up to two weeks for delivery of the photocard.
If we're unable to verify your child's age online, you'll have to collect the photocard from a Travel Information Centre. You can select a Travel Information Centre to collect from in the application process. It can take up to four weeks for your application to be processed.
Non UK customers
If you're not based in the UK, you'll need to apply online.
We are unable to post Oyster photocards overseas, so you will be asked to select a Travel Information Centre to collect the photocard from (the parent/guardian applying must collect the photocard).
You have to apply at least four weeks before you want to collect the Oyster photocard. You can apply up to three months before the collection date.
To apply you'll need:
- An active, valid email address
- A colour, digital photo of the child
- Debit or credit card to pay the £10 fee
You will need to bring your confirmation email and proof of the applicants age when collecting an Oyster photocard from a Travel Information Centre. This can be either:
- Passport
- ID card from a European Economic Area country
- Birth certificate
- Driving licence (full or provisional)
We don't accept photocopies, please provide original documents.
Application status
If you want to check the status of your application, you can:
- Log into your web account
- Text your application reference number to 07624 809330. You will receive a response from our SMS service. Standard network charges apply and can vary considerably. Please check with your mobile provider
How does my child use their 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard?
Touching in and out
To avoid paying too much, make sure your child touches their card on the yellow card readers. It's a bit different for each type of transport.
Travelling without an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard
They don't need to bring their Zip Oyster photocard if:
- They're using a child-rate Day Travelcard
- They pay cash for single or return tickets
At all other times they need to have their Zip Oyster photocard.
Behaviour Code
You must stick to the rules in our 11-15 Behaviour Code, which you sign up to as part of the application process. If you don't, we can withdraw your travel concession and Oyster photocard.
Problems using an Oyster photocard
Your Oyster photocard will stop working if it has a negative pay as you go balance.
If your Oyster photocard does not have a negative balance and is not working, call our helpline on 0343 222 1234. We can only deal with queries from the 11-15 Oyster photocard holder or the parent/guardian who completed the application.
PIN number
The PIN number attached to the 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard is on the paper application form. It's the same last four numbers of the form's application reference number. If you apply online, you will be prompted to select the answer to a security question.
You will need this if you contact us with queries about the 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard and also if the card is going to be reported lost, stolen or damaged.
Once you've received your photocard, you can change your PIN online by creating a photocard account and using the 'Change PIN' option.
Expiry date
Your child's 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard will expire on 30 September following the end of the academic year in which they turn 16. The expiry date will be shown on the front of the photocard. To continue getting discounted travel, you can apply for a 16+ Oyster photocard on their behalf up to one month before their 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard expires.
Applying for a new card
If you order a new or a replacement card, the existing photocard will stop working shortly after the new photocard has been issued.
The replacement photocard should arrive before the existing photocard is stopped. If it doesn't, the 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard holder will need to buy tickets until it arrives. We will not refund the cost of these tickets.
Changing the photo on your child's Zip Oyster photocard
The photo on your child's Oyster photocard must be a true likeness. If they are no longer recognisable from their photo, then you need to update it. It costs £10 to update the photo online.
