11-15

Zip is the name for Oyster photocards for young people. All 11 to 15-year-olds must carry their Oyster photocard with them to travel free on buses and trams.

You must touch in on the yellow card reader as you board a bus or at the tram stop before boarding. Failure to do this may result in a penalty fare or the withdrawal of free travel concession.

You can travel free at any time across the entire London bus network and tram system, including sections outside Greater London using your 11-15 Oyster photocard. You can also travel at child-rate on Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services within London.

If you already have an Oyster photocard, you don't need to replace it, just use it until it expires.

Reminder: using Oyster photocards on buses and trams

You must touch your Oyster photocard on a yellow card reader when you board a bus or at a tram stop before you get on a tram. Make sure you get a green light, which shows your card is valid. If you get a red light, touch your photocard on the yellow reader again. If it is still not accepted, speak to a bus driver or member of staff.

If your Oyster photocard has been stopped, has expired or has insufficient pay as you go credit, you may be asked to pay the cash fare.

Who needs an 11-15 photocard?

You need an Oyster photocard to:

Travel free on buses and trams
Use Oyster to pay as you go at child rate on Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services within London.
Make unlimited pay as you go journeys after 09.30 in Zones 1-9 for just £1
Buy child-rate 7 Day, monthly or longer-period Travelcards.

A photocard is not needed for single or return tickets bought with cash for the Tube, DLR, London Overground or National Rail or Day Travelcards. 11-15 year-olds without a valid Oyster photocard must pay the full adult cash fare on buses and trams until they get one, unless they have a child-rate Day Travelcard.

When you apply for an Oyster photocard, you will need to provide personal data such as name, address and date of birth.

Learn more about how we use your personal information.

Who is eligible for one?

You can apply for an 11-15 Oyster photocard if you are more than 10 years and 11 months and were under 16 on 31 August prior to the start of the academic year. Your Oyster photocard will be valid until 30 September after the end of the academic year in which you turn 16.

If you live in London:

The easiest and quickest way to apply is to get an application form from a Post Office in greater London and areas just beyond the boundary that are served by the London bus and Tube networks.

Alternatively, you can ask for an Oyster photocard application form to be sent to you or call our helpline on 0845 330 9876*

All applications for 11-15 Oyster photocards must be made at a Post Office. You need a:

Completed application form
Valid passport, ID card (from a European Economic Association country) or birth certificate
Passport-sized photograph

Your application should be submitted at least two weeks before the Oyster card is needed. There is no charge for your first Oyster photocard, or for replacing an under 14 Oyster photocard with an 11-15 Oyster photocard. If you apply through the Post Office and already have an existing 11-15, 14-15 or Child Oyster photocard, your application will be rejected.

Your Oyster photocard will be sent to the address you provide on your application. If it has not arrived within two weeks, please call 0845 330 9876, quoting your application reference number.

If you live outside London

You can apply for a Non-resident 11-15 Oyster photocard online. Please allow three weeks for your application to be processed.

You will need to:

Supply a digital passport-type photo
Pay £5 by debit or credit card. This will be loaded on your photocard as credit to pay as you go and can be refunded if you do not use it

Collecting your Oyster photocard

You will need to pick up your 11-15 Oyster photocard when you arrive in London.

It can be collected from any Travel Information Centre. You will need to show proof of your date of birth in the form of a valid Passport, ID card (from a European Economic Association country) or birth certificate.

You must do this within two weeks of the collection date you choose when ordering.

Points to note for non-resident applicants:

The £5 fee will automatically be deducted from your parent/guardian's credit/debit card account even if your application is subsequently rejected because the photograph is unsuitable. If your application is successful the £5 will be added to your Oyster photocard as credit to pay as you go
Your photocard will only be available at the Travel Information Centre nominated by you, from the expected collection date you specify in your application, for a maximum period of 14 days, after which it will no longer be available for collection
You or your parent/guardian must present your original passport, ID card (from European Economic Area country) or birth certificate with the date of birth given in your application when collecting your Oyster photocard

PIN number and expiry dates

You will be given a PIN number for your photocard. You will need this if you have a query about your card or if it is lost or stolen.

Once you have received your photocard you can change your PIN online by creating a photocard account and using the 'Change PIN' option.

Your 11-15 Oyster photocard will expire on 30 September following the end of the academic year in which you turn 16.

To continue getting discounted travel you can apply for a 16+ Oyster photocard up to one month before your 11-15, 14-15, or Child Oyster photocard expires.

Using your Oyster photocard

You must touch in on the yellow card reader as you board a bus or at the tram stop. When using Tube, DLR, London Overground or National Rail services, you must touch in on the yellow card reader at the start and touch out at the end of your journey. If you do not, you may be liable for a penalty fare and your and travel concession may be withdrawn.

If you do not follow TfL's Behaviour Code or if you commit a crime on one of our vehicles, your free travel concession may be withdrawn.

Contact us

Duplicate cards - 0845 331 9872*

If your photocard has been lost or stolen, you will need to re-apply to get a duplicate. You will need to pay a non-refundable fee of £10. You must apply online or phone 0845 331 9872*. You cannot apply via the Post Office.
If required, you can change your photo as part of the lost/stolen/damaged online process
If your Oyster photocard is worn and more than two years old, you can get a duplicate free of charge by calling 0845 331 9872.
If you obtain a duplicate of a lost, stolen or damaged Oyster photocard, the original photocard will be stopped and will no longer work.

Call the Oyster help line on 0845 330 9876* if:

Your child's photocard doesn't work
You have a query once your application has been submitted or you want to track its progress. Alternatively, you can text your application reference number to 07624 809325. You will receive a response from our SMS service. Standard network charges apply
Your have unused tickets or money to pay as you go on your Oyster card. You can apply for a refund by contacting Refunds, 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD or by calling 0845 330 9876*

* For BT residential customers, calls to the Oyster helpline will cost no more than 3.5p per minute (current at December 2009). The price on non-BT phone lines may be different.