Transport for LondonUnder 11
Zip is the name for Oyster photocards for young people. If you already have one, you don't need to replace it, just use it until it expires.
Free travel for Under-5s
Accompanied children under 5 can travel free within Greater London at any time on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services.
What 5-10 year olds pay for travel
Buses and trams
Children aged 5-10 can travel free anywhere at any time without a ticket or Oyster photocard
Tube, DLR and London Overground
Up to four under-11s accompanying an adult can travel free anywhere at any time without a ticket or an Oyster photocard. The accompanying adult must hold a valid ticket, validated Oyster card, Freedom Pass or Veterans Concessionary Travel Scheme Oyster photocard.
National Rail
Children aged 5-10 pay child-rate fares on most National Rail services in London
If they have a valid 5-10 Oyster photocard they can:
- Pay as they go at child-rate on most National Rail services
- Travel free on selected National Rail services
- Get unlimited off-peak travel in Zones 1-9 for £1 when using their Oyster card to pay as they go
- Buy a Travelcard season ticket (They can also use a National Rail Child photocard for this purpose if their Travelcard season ticket was bought from a National Rail station and issued on paper)
See where 5-10 year olds can travel free on National Rail services (PDF 67KB)
5-10 year olds can also get the following benefits on National Rail services without a 5-10 Oyster photocard:
- free travel on some National Rail services if they are accompanied by an adult or
- they can buy an Off-Peak Day Travelcard for Zones 1-6 for £1 when accompanied by holders of the following:
- Annual Travelcard Gold Card holders
- Network Railcard
- Family and Friends Railcard
- HM Forces Railcard
- They can buy child-rate cash single and return tickets, and Day Travelcards
River services
5-10 year olds travel at child rate on river boats. If they have a 5-10 Oyster photocard they can use their pay as you go credit to pay for single journeys on Thames Clippers.
They can also get 1/3 off river boat fares if they have a valid Travelcard season ticket on their Oyster photocard
If the child is under 11 but looks older
They will need to get a 5-10 Oyster photocard to be able to travel free on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services in London.
Who is eligible for a 5-10 Oyster photocard?
You can apply for a 5-10 Oyster photocard if your child is more than four years and 11 months but less than 10 years and 11 months.
New 5-10 Oyster photocards are being introduced in January 2010. Find out more.
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 5-10 Oyster photocards must be made at a Post Office. You need:
- A completed application form
- Your child's valid Passport, ID card (from a European Economic Association country) or birth certificate
- A passport-sized photograph of your child
You should submit your child's application at least two weeks before you need the Oyster photocard. There is no fee to pay for your child's first Oyster photocard or if you are replacing their Child or Under-14 Oyster photocard with a 5-10 Oyster photocard. If you apply through the Post Office and your child already has an existing 5-10 Oyster photocard, the application will be rejected.
Your Oyster photocard will be sent to the address you provide on your application. If your Oyster photocard doesn't arrive 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 5-10 Oyster photocard online. You need to allow three weeks for this 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
You will need to pick up your 5-10 Oyster photocard when you arrive in London.
It can be collected from any Travel Information Centre. You will need to show proof of your child's 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 applications
- This £5 fee will automatically be deducted from your credit/debit card account even if the application is subsequently rejected because the photograph is unsuitable. If the application is successful, the £5 will be added to your child's Oyster photocard to pay as you go. A refund of this credit can be made on application to the Oyster ticketing and Refunds office, 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD or by calling 0845 330 9876*
- Your child's Oyster 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
- The applicant or the child whose name is on the photocard must present the child's original passport, ID card (from European Economic Area country) or birth certificate with the date of birth given in the application when collecting the Oyster photocard
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
PIN number and expiry dates
You will be given a PIN number for your child's new 5-10 Oyster photocard when you apply. You will need this if you have a query about your child's card if it is lost or stolen. Once you have received your child's photocard you can change the Oyster photocard PIN online by creating a photocard account and using the 'Change PIN' option.
Your child's 5-10 Oyster photocard will expire the day before their 11th birthday. To continue to get free travel on buses and trams and child-rate travel on Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services, your child will need to apply for an 11-15 Oyster photocard. They can do this up to a month before they turn 11.
Contact us
Duplicate cards - 0845 331 9872*- If your child's Oyster 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 child's Oyster photocard is worn and more than two years old, you can get a duplicate free of charge by calling 0845 331 9872*
* Calls from BT landlines will be charged with a minimum
fee of 5.9p and then up to 4p per minute. Mobile and other
network costs may vary (current at December 2009).
Call the Oyster help line on 0845 330 9876* if:
- If you have a query once your child's application has been submitted or want to track the progress of your application, please call the helpline on 0845 330 9876* or can text your application reference number to 07624 809325. You will receive a response from our SMS service. Standard network charges apply
- If appropriate, a refund of the unused value of any ticket product or money to pay as you go balance on the lost or stolen Oyster photocard can be made. You need to contact Oyster ticketing and Refunds, 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD or call 0845 330 9876*
* For BT residential customers, calls to the Oyster helpline
will cost no more than 3.5p per minute (current at
September 2009). The price on non-BT phone lines may be different.
