11-15 Zip Oyster photocards

Children aged 11-15 can get free and discounted travel on all our transport services with a Zip Oyster photocard.

Who is it for?

Children aged over 10 years and 11 months, and under 16 on 31 August can get an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard.

If your child was 15 on 31 August, they can still apply for and use an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard, even though they'll use it when they're 16.

How to apply

A parent or guardian must apply for an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard.

When you apply, you agree that the Zip Oyster photocard holder will comply with our Young Person's Behaviour Code. If they don't, we can withdraw their photocard.

11-15 Zip Oyster photocard terms and conditions I live in a London borough

To apply for a 11-15+ Zip Oyster photocard, create or sign in to your photocard web account. (You must use a different email address from any contactless and Oyster account for a standard adult Oyster card.)

You will also need:

A clear, unaltered colour digital photo of your child which is a .jpg, .bmp or .gif file and less than 6MB
Details from your child's valid, machine-readable passport to verify their age and identity. All machine-readable passports are accepted, including non-UK passports
A colour image of the details page from your child's valid, machine-readable passport that is in .png or .jpg format and less than 6MB. This must clearly show the child's photo, name, date of birth and passport number
A debit or credit card to pay the £15 administration fee

We'll email you if we have to reject your photo or passport image. You will need to upload another to finish your application for your Zip Oyster photocard.

If your child doesn't have a valid, machine-readable passport, start your application online and you'll be prompted to download and print a letter to take to the Post Office to complete it.

At the Post Office you'll need:

Proof of your child's age and identity, such as a birth certificate
Proof of your address, such as a residential utility bill or bank statement dated with the last three months
A debit or credit card or cash to pay the £15 administration fee

Once your photo, passport image and/or your Post Office letter have been accepted, your 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard will usually arrive within two weeks.

I live outside London (or outside the UK)

To apply for a 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard, create or sign in to your photocard web account. (You must use a different email address from any contactless and Oyster account for a standard adult Oyster card.)

You will also need:

A clear, unaltered colour digital photo of your child which is a .jpg, .bmp or .gif file and less than 6MB
Details from your child's valid, machine-readable passport to verify their age and identity. All machine-readable passports are accepted, including non-UK passports
A colour image of the details page from your child's valid, machine-readable passport that is in .png or .jpg format and less than 6MB. This must clearly show the child's photo, name, date of birth and passport number
A debit or credit card to pay the £15 administration fee

We'll email you if we have to reject your photo or passport image. You will need to upload another to finish your application for your Zip Oyster photocard.

If your child does not have a valid machine-readable passport, you can collect your photocard from a TfL Visitor Centre.

Apply at least 28 days before your preferred collection date and select a Visitor Centre that is open. Visitor Centre locations and opening times are shown in the application, or call Customer Services 0343 222 1234 (charges may apply) for advice
When collecting your card at a Visitor Centre, you'll need to provide proof of your child's age. This should be either your child's passport, ID card from a European Economic Area country or birth certificate. No other documents are accepted

Once your photo and passport image have been accepted, your 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard will usually arrive within two weeks.

Need more help with your application?

If you have any problems applying online or proving your age or address at a Post Office, call us on 0343 222 1234 Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00 (charges may apply). Then, select option 1.

Benefits

Free travel on buses and trams
Child rate pay as you go fares on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (excluding between West Drayton and Reading) and IFS Cloud Cable Car
50% off most fares on National Rail services
50% off adult rate tickets on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers River Bus services

How to use

Once you get your 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard, you can use it straight away.

Make sure you touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on yellow card readers. You only need to touch in on buses and trams. Find out more about touching in and out.

Use your photocard web account to manage your card or report it lost.

Expiry

11-15 Zip Oyster photocards expire on 30 September in the year after your child's 16th birthday.

A parent or guardian can then apply for a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard.

Any remaining pay as you go credit from a 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard will not be transferred to a new 16+ Zip Oyster photocard. You will need to contact us to arrange a refund.

Young Visitor discount

If you don't live in London and you're visiting with children who don't have an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard, they can get discounted travel for up to 14 days with the Young Visitor discount.

Add the Young Visitor discount to an Oyster card to get:

50% off adult-rate pay as you go fares and daily caps on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and most National Rail services

The discount can be added to a standard Oyster card or Visitor Oyster card by a member of staff at:

Any Tube or London Overground station
Some Elizabeth line stations
Visitor Centres

The children must be with you when you ask for the Young Visitor discount.

You can add the Young Visitor discount at the following Elizabeth line stations:

Station	Monday-Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Ilford	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
Romford	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00
Ealing Broadway	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
West Ealing	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00
Hayes and Harlington	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
Southall	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00
West Drayton	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00
Abbey Wood	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
Custom House	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
Woolwich	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
Canary Wharf	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00
Paddington	10.00-15.00	10.00-17.00	10.00-17.00

Travelling with a discounted Day Travelcard

Children aged 5-15 can get a discounted Off-Peak Zones 1-6 or 1-9 Day Travelcard, when accompanied by an adult buying a discounted Off-Peak Zones 1-6 or 1-9 Day Travelcard at a ticket machine, using a valid:

Annual Gold Card
Network Railcard
Family and Friends Railcard
HM Forces Railcard

When using discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcards everyone must travel together.

To buy a discounted Off-Peak Day Travelcard at London Overground, Elizabeth line, National Rail Station ticket office or Visitor Centre, you must show your Railcard or Annual Gold Card to staff.