What is a Zip Oyster Card?
We have been using the Zip Oyster Photocard for several years and they are brilliant. Available for ages 5-10, 11-15 and 16-17 year olds, they offer free and discounted travel across London and beyond (including areas of Surrey, Essex and Kent).
Like all Oyster cards, Zip cards can be preloaded with credit for pay as you go and enable users to easily touch in and out anywhere where there’s an Oyster yellow card reader (you only have to touch in on buses and trams).
Applying for a Zip Oyster Card Online
A parent or guardian needs to apply for the Zip Oyster Photocard for under 18s and you do this by creating a free account in your own name on the TfL website here: Create an Oyster photocard account.
By entering your child’s date of birth, the system automatically recognises which card you’re applying for. You’ll need digital photos of each child you’re applying for and their passport details to verify their age.
It’s all very straight forward. Make sure you use a clear head and shoulders shot though as two out of three of my pics were rejected (possibly as they were too heavily cropped).
The communication, which is via texts and emails, about the progress of the application was great and the cards arrived 2-3 days after application.
Zip Oyster Photocards for 5-10 year olds & 11 -15 year olds
Zip Oyster cards for 5-10 year olds cost £10 on application and with it your child gets free travel on all London transport services (under-11s can travel free at any time on London buses and trams without a ticket/Oyster Card).
Benefits
- Free travel on Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail
- Free travel on most National Rail services* that accept pay as you go
- 50% off adult rate tickets on the Thames Clippers River Bus services
- Pay as you go at a child rate on the IFS Cloud Cable Car (formerly Emirates Air Line Cable Car)
For children aged 11-15 the card costs £15 and offers free and discounted travel.
Benefits
- Free travel on buses and trams
- Child rate pay as you go fares on Tube, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and Emirates Air Line
- 50% off most fares on National Rail services *
- 50% off adult rate tickets on the Thames Clippers River Bus services.
Topping up your Zip Oyster Photocard
You can top up your Zip Oyster Card ad hoc easily from your account once you’ve logged in by clicking the link shown.
However, there’s also the option to auto top up. This Tech Advisor article provides a useful step-by-step guide: https://www.techadvisor.com/how-to/internet/top-up-zip-oyster-3803620/
16+ Zip photocard
Young people aged 16 and 17 need a different Zip Oyster card and there is a £21 admin fee attached (even if you had a previous card). However, the savings will be big in the long-run, as it unlocks 50% off adult pay as you go fares on the bus, Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line * and most National Rail services in London, and if you live in London, you get free travel on buses and trams.
Find out more and apply here: 16+ Zip Oyster Photocard
Surrey LINK bus card
Under 21s travelling in Surrey, are also eligible for a Surrey LINK bus card. This provides holders with half price adult single and return fares. Find out more and apply for a Surrey LINK bus card.
Enjoy your travels!
* check website for exclusions
* (excluding between West Drayton and Reading)
6 Comments
How do you get zip card for 12 year old without passport
Hi there Emily,
This is from section 4 of this document: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/11-15-zip-oyster-photocard-terms-and-conditions.pdf
If you don’t have a valid machine-readable passport, you will be prompted to download a
verification letter. You will need to take it to a Post Office in London along with the required
proofs of identity and eligibility and/or to pay the administration fee by credit/debit card or
cash. Cheques are not accepted.
Am from east London and I would like to get a travel card
Just apply online (link in article) 🙂
Hi My name is shashank solanki i am from London and i want make zip card
Hi there Shashank,
If you go here: https://photocard.tfl.gov.uk/ and follow the instructions you can set up an account and order a Zip card.