Transport for London11 to 15-year-olds
Zip is the new name for Oyster photocards for young people. All 11 to 15-year-olds must now carry their Oyster photocard with them to travel free on buses and trams.
You must touch in on the yellow 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 the Tube, DLR and London Overground.
If you already have an Oyster photocard, you don't need to replace it; just use it until it expires.
Who needs an 11-15 photocard?
You will need a photocard to travel free on buses and trams and to travel at child-rate on the Tube, DLR and London Overground. You will also need this photocard if you are aged 11-15 and want to use Oyster to pay as you go or you want £1 capped pay as you go travel for the whole day in Zones 1 to 6, or for off-peak travel in Zones 1-9, or to buy 7 Day, monthly or longer-period Travelcards.
A photocard is not needed for single or return tickets bought with cash for the Tube, DLR or London Overground or One or 3 Day Travelcards.
If you apply for a 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.
Those 11-15-year-olds without a valid Oyster photocard must pay the full adult cash fare until they get one. For help or advice, please call the Oyster helpline on:
Tel: 0845 330 9876 (open daily between 08:00-20:00).
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.
Download the Travel discounts for children, teenagers and students leaflet (PDF 550 KB)
If you live in London:
- You should submit your application at least two weeks before you need the Oyster photocard. Application forms are available from Post Offices in Greater London and just beyond the boundary that are served by London buses, the Tube and London Overground networks
- All applications must be made at a Post Office
- You will need a:
- Completed application form
- Valid passport, ID card (from a European Economic Association country) or birth certificate
- Passport-sized photograph -
Alternatively, you can request an Oyster photocard application form to be sent to you or call our helpline on 0845 330 9876*
-
Your Oyster photocard will be sent to the address you provide on your application
If you live outside London
You can apply for a Non-resident 11-15 Oyster photocard online. This takes three weeks to be processed and is the quickest and easiest method.
You will need to:
- Supply a digital passport-type photo
- Pay £5 by debit/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
If you prefer, or if you cannot supply a digital photo or pay by credit/debit card, you can apply by post. You will need to ask for an 11-15 Oyster photocard application form to be sent to you and remember to ask for a visitor form. Postal applications take four weeks to be processed.
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.
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 discount travel you can apply for a 16+ Oyster photocard up to one month before your 11-15, 14-15, or Child Oyster photocard expires.
General information
- If your photocard has been lost or stolen, you will need to apply for a duplicate and pay a non-refundable fee of £10. You cannot apply at a Post Office and must apply online or phone 0845 331 9872*. If you 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*
- If your photocard does not work, please call our helpline on 0845 330 9876*
- If you have a query once your application has been submitted or you want to track the progress of your application, please call the helpline on 0845 330 9876*.
You can also text your application reference number to 07624 809325. You will receive a response from our SMS service (standard network charges apply) - If you do not follow TfL's Behaviour Code or commit a crime on one of our vehicles, your free travel concession may be withdrawn
- You can download the leaflet on Free travel on buses and trams with an 11-15 Oyster photocard (PDF 415KB)
* For BT residential customers, calls to the Oyster helpline will cost no more than 3.5p per minute, (current at August 2008). The price on non-BT phone lines may be different
