Tejal Somvanshi
Transport for London (TfL) is urging parents and guardians to apply for Zip Oyster photocards ahead of the new school year to ensure children can travel affordably across London’s transport network.
The Zip Oyster cards, available for children aged 5-10, 11-15, and 16+, provide substantial savings on daily travel costs. For younger children aged 5-10, the cards allow completely free travel on buses, Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and most National Rail services in London. Children aged 11-15 receive free bus and tram travel plus 50% off Tube and rail journeys, while the 16+ cards offer discounted travel for eligible young people.
Parents should note that TfL introduced small increases to concession Oyster photocard charges on July 22, 2025 – the first rise in a decade. The application fee for 5-10 Zip cards is now £11, while 11-15 cards cost £16, and 16+ cards are £21. Despite these increases, the fees remain below inflation rates over the past ten years.
An important detail many parents overlook is that any remaining pay-as-you-go credit on expired Zip photocards doesn’t automatically transfer to new cards. Families must contact TfL Customer Services to arrange a refund of unused credit.
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Due to a cyber security incident earlier this year, TfL and train operators are currently accepting expired 5-10 and 11-15 Zip photocards until December 31, 2024, where they would normally be valid. This gives families caught in the application backlog extra time to obtain new cards. Normal service has now resumed for all photocard applications.
TfL deploys enforcement officers across the network to help keep young people safe while traveling. The transport body also supports London schools through its “Travel for Life” education programme, which encourages active, responsible, and safe travel habits.
The programme works alongside infrastructure improvements like School Streets – where temporary restrictions on motorized traffic are placed around schools during drop-off and pick-up times – protected cycling lanes, and widened pavements to create safer routes for children walking or cycling to school.
Parents are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible to avoid delays before term begins. Applications can be made via the TfL website at tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel, where families can also find detailed information about eligibility and benefits by age group.With rising transportation costs and growing environmental concerns, the Zip Oyster photocard scheme helps families save money while encouraging sustainable travel habits for young Londoners.
