Young Persons' Free Bus Travel

Eligibility for the Free Under 22 Free Travel

If you are 5–21 years old and live in Scotland then you are eligible for free bus travel from 31 January 2022, no matter your nationality.

Even if you already have a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot National Entitlement Card, you must apply for a new or replacement card to travel by bus for free.

Parents or guardians must provide approval for children aged between 5-15 to access the scheme by applying on their behalf. Young people aged 16-21 should apply themselves. Children under 5 years old already travel for free on commercial bus services and do not need a card.

Young people will be able to access free bus travel on registered bus services across Scotland including a very limited number of local cross-border services from the south of Scotland into northern England.

Young people aged between 5 and 21 years old will need to have a National Entitlement Card or a Young Scot National Entitlement Card to access the free travel.

For more information on the Free Bus Travel for under 22 please visit Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel | Transport Scotland

How to apply - Argyll and Bute school pupils

New Card / Replacements / Junior NEC to NEC upgrade

Parent / Carer process for Under 16s

• Under 16s - Apply via Argyll and Bute Council - with a photo of the child (photo only for children aged 11+)
• Under 16s - Apply via getyournec.scot 

Pupil process for Over 16s

• Over 16s - Apply via Argyll and Bute Council - with a photo
• Over 16s - Apply via getyournec.scot

How to Apply - Children and Young People not in an Argyll and Bute school

New Applicants – young people not in school

• online using the GetYourNec - new applicants
• email NECTEAM@argyll-bute.gov.uk for a Young Scot application form Please provide the following details - Name, address, Date of Birth and confirm NOT AT AN ARGYLL AND BUTE SCHOOL - Anyone who does attend school needs to contact their school office.
• call 01546 604142 for a Young Scot application form to be issued (please only use this contact number if you are not at school in Argyll and Bute)

If you are applying online, please check the list below of what you need before you start your online application.

When using a paper Young Scot application, please provide one document from the approved list of acceptable proofs to support your application.  If you do not have photographic ID you will need to have a referee countersign your application. 

Please take the completed paper application and proof to your local customer service point who will verify your application and return your original documents.

Replacement Cards – young people not in school

Online using GetYourNec - replacement cards 

Email NECTEAM@argyll-bute.gov.uk (Young Scot cards only) providing the following details:

• full name
• address
• date of birth

Please also confirm that you do not attend an Argyll and Bute School.

What you need to apply online

Before you apply online at GetYourNec this is what you’ll need - you won’t be able to save and resume your application, so please get this information ready before you start. 

Parent applying on behalf of your child aged under 16? 

To apply you will need:

• a device with a camera or webcam (laptop/tablet/phone).
• to sign in using your mygovscot myaccount (Click Register if you don’t have one).
• parent proof of identity (passport, driving licence, Young Scot card, Biometric Residence Permit or use your Yoti account)
• parent proof of address (such as Council Tax bill or bank statement)
• proof of your child's identity (eg. birth certificate (if under 11 only), passport, Biometric Residence Permit or Young Scot card)
• proof of your child's address (only if they live at a different address from you)
• child's birth or adoption certificate (listing both your name and your child) 

A full list of accepted proof of address and photograph guidelines is available here

Note: abbreviated birth certificates will NOT be accepted

• a recent digital image of the child (if aged 11+) showing your head and shoulders.

Applying for a National Entitlement Card for yourself aged 16+? 

To apply you will need:

• a device with a camera or webcam (laptop/tablet/phone).
• to sign in using your mygovscot myaccount (Click Register if you don’t have one).
• a recent digital photo showing your head and shoulders.
• proof of identity (passport, driving licence, Young Scot card, Biometric Residence Permit or use your Yoti account)
• proof of address (such as Council Tax bill or bank statement) 

A full list of accepted proof of address and photograph guidelines is available here

If you do not have these documents, or are unsure if the council will accept them  

• If you / your child is at school - please apply through your child's school
• If you have left school -  please apply by emailing NECTEAM@argyll-bute.gov.uk  or calling 01546 604142 for an application form

App available for existing card holders over 16

If you are aged between 16 -21 and already have an active NEC or Young Scot NEC, you can download free bus travel onto your existing card using the Transport Scot Pass Collect App.  This means you may not need to apply for a new card to access your free bus travel.  Before downloading the app, check out this guidance.    

• Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel | Transport Scotland

More Information on the Under 22 Free Bus Travel

More information about the Under 22 Free Bus Travel Scheme please visit Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel | Transport Scotland or getyournec.scot

I applied online and have not received my card

For applications made using online getyournec.scot, you can check the status of your application by logging into: Get Your NEC Login

If you have any queries about your application, please contact the getyournec.scot Customer Service Team

Please do not contact your Local Authority, Transport Scotland or Young Scot about getyournec.scot applications, as they will be unable to assist.

Please direct any and all queries to the getyournec.scot Customer Service Team

Can I recycle my old NEC/ Young Scot NEC?

Yes you can.  If you are getting a new card and would like your old one to be recycled, please send it to:

Transport Scotland Card Recycling
Buchanan House
58 Port Dundas Road
Glasgow G4 0HF