Young Adult and Student Card

You can get 50% off adult public transport fares with the Young Adult or Student Leap Card.

The Young Adult Leap Card is available for all 19 to 25 year olds.

The Student Leap Card is only available for students in full time education who are either 16 -18 years of age or 26 years and above. Eligibility criteria are set out in more detail below.

You must apply for your card online

Young Adult
You will be asked to provide the following:

  • your date of birth;
  • a photo of your passport or driving licence to prove your age;
  • A €5 refundable deposit, plus a minimum of €5 travel credit.

Your card will be posted to your nominated home address.

If you have a Young Adult card that was purchased before the 11/01/2024, it will continue to be valid until your 24th birthday. After your 24th birthday, you can apply for a new card which will then be valid until your 26th birthday.

Student
You will be asked to provide the following:

  • your date of birth;
  • A €5 refundable deposit, plus a minimum of €5 travel credit.

You will need to collect your card at a Student Leap Card agent. When you collect your card you will need to show your Student ID and a valid proof of age ID. If you’ve already applied for your card you can check on the order status, here.

*Once you receive your card, you must register it online here

Click here to apply for the Young Adult Card and/or the Student Card

Half price fares apply to single journeys on the TFI network, including:

  • Bus Éireann;
  • Dublin Bus;
  • Iarnród Éireann (including DART);
  • Go-Ahead Ireland;
  • Luas;
  • TFI Local Link services;
  • Kilkenny City bus;
  • Route 139 (JJ Kavanagh and Sons);
  • Route 197 (Go-Ahead Ireland);
  • Route 817 (Bernard Kavanagh & Sons);
  • A range of commercial bus operators – Click here for participating commercial bus operators.

You must pay a €5 refundable deposit and add a minimum of €5 travel credit when purchasing the card.

Before applying for a Young Adult Leap Card, make sure you have:

  • A valid Passport, Drivers Licence or Learner Permit, other non-standard documents may be accepted, view the full list here;
  • The ability to enable your camera permissions;
  • The card applicant is present;
  • You have payment card details ready.

A live selfie is required during the application process to validate the applicant’s likeness against the ID document. This will be the photo used on the card. Once the application is verified we’ll send your card by post, usually within 5 working days.

Students must be able to verify they meet the criteria below:

  • Students must be in full time third level education;
  • Students must have a minimum of 16 hours of lectures/class time per week and be enrolled in the course for a minimum of 6 months;
  • Full time international students who meet the criteria above are also entitled to apply for the Student Leap Card whilst in Ireland.
  • Students enrolled as trainee Accountants (ACCA, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland), trainee Solicitors registered with the Law Society, full time SOLAS trainees/students and full time PLC students are also eligible;
  • Students of online courses are not eligible to apply for the Student Leap Card, unless they meet the criteria above;
  • Students may be required to produce further evidence of eligibility (i.e. letter from college/ institution)

If you are aged 16-18 and in full-time third level education, you now have a choice of either the Student Leap Card or Child (16-18) Leap Card. Usually, you can get the cheapest fares with the Child 16-18 Leap Card but some commercial bus operators may offer cheaper Student rates, you should check the participating operators to see what card best suits you.

Below is a comparison between the Student Leap Card and Child (16-18) Leap Card:

Child (16 – 18) Leap Card Student Leap Card
Available to all 16–18-year-olds Available to third level Students (16-18 or 26+) in full time education, including further education and training.
This card gives the Child fare on eligible public transport services, including:

·        Dublin Bus;

·        Go-Ahead Ireland;

·        Luas;

·        Bus Éireann;

·        TFI Local Link;

·        DART; and

·        Commuter Rail.

This card gives the Student fare on public transport services, including:

·        Dublin Bus;

·        Go-Ahead Ireland;

·        Luas;

·        Bus Éireann;

·        TFI Local Link;

·        DART; and

·        Commuter Rail.

This card also gives 50% off fares on participating commercial bus operators.

Card expires on your 19th birthday Card expires at the start of the following academic year (September).
Card is posted to your address following online application. Card must be collected at a participating Student Leap Card agent within 14 days of online application.

 

However if you have completed the remote verification process with Trinity SU and have paid the postage fee, you do not need to attend the agent again, your Student Leap Card will be posted to you

When collecting your Student Card, you must provide your Student ID as well as a valid proof of age ID.

Most people will be eligible for one card, however you may apply for both student and child leap cards depending on your age and travel needs.

Student Leap Cards must be ordered online. You must then go to one of the following Student Leap Agents to verify you are an eligible student and collect your card. If you cannot locate a Student Leap Card agent near you, please click here for further options.

TFI Leap Student- agents-V5 Map

ATU (Donegal) Students’ Union

ATU Donegal SU, Letterkenny,

Co. Donegal, F92 FC93

Service available to ATU Donegal students only

ATU (Galway) Students’ Union

ATU Galway City, Old Dublin Road,

Co. Galway, H91 T8NW

DCU (Glasnevin) Students’ Union

The Hub, Glasnevin,

Dublin 9, D09 PH2K

DCU (St.Patrick’s) Students’ Union

Drumcondra, Dublin 9, D09 Y0A3

Dublin Bus

59 Upper O’Connell street,

Dublin 1, D01 RX04

Dundalk IT Students’ Union

Dublin Road, Marshes Upper,

Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 K584

Griffith College Dublin Students’ Union

South Circular Road,

Dublin 8, D08V04N

Insync Naas

Canal Stores, Basin Street, Naas,

Co. Kildare, W91 F668

Maynooth University Students’ Union

North Campus, Maynooth University,

Co. Kildare, W23 W6R7

MTU (Cork) Students’ Union

Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown,

Cork, T12 P928

Service available to MTU students only

MTU (Tralee) Students’ Union

Clash, Tralee,

Co. Kerry, V92 CX88

SETU (Carlow) Students’ Union

Barrow Building, SETU Carlow campus,

Kilkenny Road, Carlow, R93 V960

SETU (Waterford) Students’ Union

Cork Road, Co. Waterford, X91 VY9N

TMB Galway

2 Commerce House, New Dock Street,

Galway, H91 H998

Trinity College Students’ Union

House 6, Trinity College Student Union,

Dublin 2, D02 FD37

TUD Grangegorman Students’ Union

TUD Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 N6R2

TUS (Athlone) Students’ Union

TUS Student Union, Athlone,

Co. Westmeath, N37 HD68

TUS (Limerick) Students’ Union

TUS Student Union, Moylish Campus,

Co.Limerick, V94 PNY7

UCC (Cork) Students’ Union

Student Union, 54 College Road,

Cork, T12 K8AF

UCD Campus Bookshop

Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 R7R0

UL (Limerick) Students’ Union

Student Union, Castletroy,

Co. Limerick, V94 T9PX

University of Galway Students’ Union

Áras Na Macléinn, University Road,

Galway, H91 RTR6

ATU Sligo Student Union

Atlantic Technological University Sligo, Ash Lane,

Sligo, F91 YW50

DFEI (Dun Laoghaire)

Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, Cumberland Street,

Co Dublin, A96 EP44