5-10

Does my child need an Oyster photocard?

Your child needs a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard to travel free on Tube, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail routes

• If travelling without an adult, or
• If they look older than 10

A £10 administration fee is payable at the time of application.

Your child doesn't need an Oyster photocard

• To travel free on buses and trams
• To buy child-rate cash singles, returns and Day Travelcards
• If travelling with an adult who has a valid ticket, Freedom Pass or Veterans photocard or who is using pay as you go (up to four children per adult)

• Terms and conditions of 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard

Getting a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard

• I live in London
• I live outside London
• Application status
  

I live in a London borough

You can apply online or at the Post Office.

Online
If you are the parent or guardian of an applicant who lives in a London borough, and we can verify your child's age online your child's 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard will be posted to you. 

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 card to pay the £10 administration fee 

• Apply online

If we are unable to verifiy your child's age online, you will need to download and print off a verification letter. You will need to take it to the Post Office along with proof of your child's age to complete the application.

At the Post Office
You can get an Under 16 Zip Oyster photocard application form from any Post Office in London.  Fill in your form and take it to the Post Office at least two weeks before your child needs the Oyster photocard.

Take with you:

• A full face passport-type photo of your child
• £10 to pay the administration fee (cash,credit/debit cards 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 as we don't accept photocopies.

We'll send the 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard to the address you have provided.

If you provided an email address on your application, we will create a web account for you once we have processed your application. We will send you an email advising you how to log in and activate your account. You can use the web account to order a replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged card 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 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard online and we will send the card to you, provided we can verify your child's age.

You (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
• A digital photo
• Debit or credit card to pay the non-refundable £10 administration fee

If we are able to verify your details and your child's age online, we'll post the 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard to the address you have provided. Please allow two weeks for delivery.

If we are unable to verify your child's age online, you'll have to collect the photocard from a Travel Information Centre. You'll be able to select a Travel Information Centre during the application process. You must allow four weeks for your application to be processed.

• Apply online

Non UK customers
If you don't live in the UK, you'll need to apply online.

We're unable to post Oyster photocards overseas, so you'll need to select a Travel Information Centre to collect your child's photocard from.

You must apply at least four weeks before the date that you want to collect the Oyster photocard. If you are travelling to London within the next four weeks, then you will be unable to apply for an Oyster photocard. You can apply a maximum of three months prior to the collection date of the card from the Travel Information Centre.

To apply you'll need:

• An active, valid email address
• A digital photoof your child
• Debit or credit card to pay the £10 fee

When you collect your child's photocard from a Travel Information Centre, you need to bring your confirmation email and proof of identity for your child. This can be either:

• Valid passport
• ID card from a European Economic Area country
• Birth certificate

• Apply online

Application status

• Check online if you have a 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 phone provider

How do I use a 5-10 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.

• Find out more about touching in and out.

Travelling without a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard

They don't need to have their card if they're:

• Using buses and trams
• Travelling with an adult on Tube, DLR and London Overground services
• Using a child-rate Day Travelcard
• Paying cash for single or return tickets

At all other times they need to have their Zip Oyster photocard.

Cardholders must always touch in on the yellow reader on buses and trams and additionally touch out when using other services, such as the Tube and National Rail services.

Problems using an Oyster photocard

We can only deal with queries from the parent/guardian who completed the application.

If the Oyster photocard does not work, please call our helpline on 0343 222 1234.

PIN number

The PIN number attached to the 5-10 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'll need this if you contact us with queries about the 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard and also if the card is going to be reported lost, stolen or damaged.

Changing your PIN online

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 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard will expire the day before their 11th birthday. The card expiry date will be shown on the front of the photocard.

To continue to get free travel on buses and trams and child-rate travel on Tube, DLR, and London Overground services, you will need to apply for an 11-15 Oyster photocard. You can do this up to a month before they turn 11.

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 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard holder will need to buy tickets (where required) until it arrives. We will not refund the cost of these tickets.

Changing the photo

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.

Lost, stolen or damaged cards

• Find out what to do if your 5-10 Oyster photocard is lost, stolen or stops working