The free travel scheme is set to extend later this year.
The move was confirmed in Budget 2025, with The Free Travel Scheme Companion Pass being extended to all people aged over 70.
This expansion will come into effect from 1 September 2025.
The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on public transport and some private bus and ferry services.
Everyone aged 66 and over, living permanently in Ireland, can get the Free Travel Scheme, but it is now being extended to include additional people.
People with disabilities and carers aged under 66 may also qualify for Free Travel.
If you qualify for Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may travel for free when in your company, if you meet certain criteria.
HOW TO USE
If you qualify for Free Travel, your Public Services Card (PSC) will have FT (for Free Travel) in the top left-hand corner. The letter following it shows who can travel for free with you:
- FT-P – you can travel for free
- FT+S – your spouse, partner or cohabitant can travel with you for free
- FT+C – you can have a person (over 16) travel with you for free
You must show or scan your Public Services Card to the travel operator when you are travelling on public transport. Find out more about ‘How to use your public services card for free travel’.
Paper travel passes are no longer being issued but you can still use your paper pass, if it is valid.
WHERE CAN I USE FREE TRAVEL?
You can use your Free Travel on most Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, DART and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services (pdf).
Free travel is also available on Dublin Bus Nitelink, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI (Transport for Ireland) Local Link services.
Free travel does not include some special services such as Dublin Bus AIRLINK services.
You can find a full list of services where you can use Free Travel on gov.ie. There are no restrictions on the times you can use your Free Travel.
HOW TO QUALIFY
To get Free Travel you must be living in Ireland and meet one of the following conditions:
- You are aged 66 or over
- You are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer’s Allowance or an Invalidity Pension
- You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
- You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen’s Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
- You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative’s Allowance
- You are getting a social security invalidity payment (or similar payment) from a country covered by EU regulations or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months
- You are aged over 17 and under 66, and are medically certified as never been medically fit to drive due to a disability or as unfit to drive for at least 12 months
WIDOW OR WIDOWER OR A SURVIVING CIVIL PARTNER
If you are a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner aged 60 or over, living in Ireland and your late spouse or civil partner had Free Travel, you can get Free Travel, if you are getting one of the following payments:
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Partner’s Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
- A similar social security pension or benefit from a country covered by EU regulations or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement
- You are getting an ordinary Garda widow’s pension
Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants
If you are entitled to Free Travel and you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, your partner may be able to travel with you for free.
Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant cannot travel with you for free, if you are under age 66 and getting Free Travel because you are:
- Getting Carer’s Allowance
- The nominated carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relatives Allowance
- Medically certified as never been medically fit to drive due to a disability or as unfit to drive for at least 12 months
Your PSC card must have FT-S on it to allow your partner travel with you. To add your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to your Free Travel.
You can find more info here.
