Even if you already have a National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC, you must apply for a new or replacement card to travel by bus for free. Parents, guardians or carers 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. However, if you’re aged between 16 and 21 and already have an active NEC or Young Scot NEC, you can download free bus travel onto your existing card using the Transport Scotland Pass Collect app. This means you may not need to apply for a new card to access your free bus travel. Freebus.scot provides information on the scheme and how to apply.
There are a number of different ways to apply, not just through the online portal:
You can find out more and watch Young Scot's video on how to use the app at freebus.scot
The app guides you through the process of downloading free bus travel onto their card, with simple step-by-step instructions. It will tell them when free bus travel has been successfully downloaded onto the card, and then they are ready to jump on the bus for free straight away.
The app can also be used by anyone to ‘read’ an NEC or Young Scot NEC to see what smart travel concession passes or other travel entitlements are stored on the card.