60+ SmartPass and Senior (65+) SmartPass
To apply for a 60+ SmartPass you must be aged between 60 and 64 and permanently resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of three months. To apply for a Senior (65+) SmartPass you must be aged 65+ and permanently resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of three months.
How to apply
You can get an application form:
- by calling in person at any manned Translink bus or rail station
- by phoning 028 9066 6630 (applicants who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630) and asking for a form to be posted to you
- by emailing smartpass@translink.co.uk and asking for a form to be posted to you (provide your name and full address with postcode)
You will never be contacted asking for any bank account details when you're applying for or renewing a SmartPass.
60+ SmartPass applications
Applications may be made no earlier than six weeks before your 60th birthday.
Applications can take four to six weeks to process.
Senior (65+) SmartPass applications
Applications may be made up to four weeks before your 65th birthday, but the SmartPass will only start working on your birthday.
Applications are processed as soon as possible but can take four to six weeks, and your new pass will be posted to you directly.
Proof of age and residency
After filling out your form you must take it, in person, to your nearest Translink bus or rail station along with a countersigned passport-sized photograph and a choice of the following documents to prove your age and residency.
Proof of age:
- driving licence (non-UK driving licences must contain your date of birth)
- passport (non-UK passports must contain your date of birth)
- birth certificate (if name on birth certificate differs from name on application form, then you must provide official documents to support any name change)
- Northern Ireland Electoral ID Card
Proof of residency:
- driving licence (non-UK driving licences must contain your address)
- recent (no more than three months old) utility bill (an electricity, gas or landline telephone bill, but not a mobile phone bill)
- recent (no more than three months old) bank or building society statement
- Northern Ireland Electoral ID Card
60+ SmartPass holders who will turn 65 shortly
Your 60+ SmartPass is programmed to run out at the end of the calendar month in which you become 65.
If you have applied for a Senior (65+) SmartPass, it will not be sent to you until near the end of the month in which you become 65.
As free all Ireland and cross-border travel is only available to holders of a Senior (65+) SmartPass, you may have to wait up to three weeks following your 65th birthday before you can make use of this benefit.
Renewing your Senior (65+) SmartPass
SmartPasses are only valid for five years. Check the expiry date on the front of your SmartPass to see when it will run out, as it cannot be used to get free travel after this date.
Around three months before each SmartPass expires, pass holders will get a letter explaining how to get a new pass.
If you want further information about renewing your SmartPass, phone Translink on:
- 028 9066 6630 (applicants who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus can use the textphone number 18001 028 9066 6630)
Lost or stolen SmartPass
If your SmartPass is lost or stolen, you should report it to Translink as soon as possible to make sure the card is cancelled and avoid the likelihood of fraudulent use.
If anyone else tries to use a stolen pass, Translink staff will be alerted.
Unauthorised use of a SmartPass may result in prosecution.
To get your replacement SmartPass, you should either go to your local Translink bus or rail station, or:
- phone: 028 9066 6630
- email: smartpass@translink.co.uk
Faulty or damaged SmartPass
If your SmartPass is faulty or damaged, you can get a free replacement.
Go to a Translink bus or rail station and exchange your SmartPass at the ticket office for a ‘Faulty SmartPass Receipt’ ticket. This will provide you with free travel on buses and trains for a seven-day period, during which time a new free replacement pass will be issued.
Or you can also get a free replacement pass by contacting Translink:
- phone: 028 9066 6630
- email: smartpass@translink.co.uk
The ‘Faulty SmartPass Receipt’ ticket is only available at a Translink train or bus station when exchanged for the faulty or damaged pass.
Using a SmartPass
You can use your 60+ SmartPass and Senior (65+) SmartPass on all Translink scheduled services within Northern Ireland.
Senior (65+) SmartPasses are valid on cross border bus and rail services, and can also be used for free public transport journeys taken entirely within the Republic of Ireland on services run by participating operators. You can find details on the participating operators on Free travel in Ireland.
In cases of doubt, SmartPass holders are advised to contact operators in Republic of Ireland ahead of travel to establish whether they offer free travel as part of the All Ireland Free Travel Scheme and to find out how passes are verified for travel.
Your SmartPass is also valid on eligible scheduled services operated by other participating operators within the concessionary fares scheme. Details on these operators are available by contacting the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares team.
Free travel is also available on the Rathlin Island ferry service under the Rathlin Island Ferry Discounted Fares Scheme and Strangford Lough ferry service on showing your SmartPass.
Members of the Rural Community Transport Partnerships can travel free of charge on Dial-a -Lift Scheme services through the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme (ARTS) on showing a valid 60+ or Senior SmartPass. Further information can be found on the Community transport and shopmobility page.
You can also view a leaflet at these links showing you how to use your 60+ SmartPass or Senior (65+) Citizen SmartPass:
The Concessionary Fares Scheme privacy notice is available on the DfI website.
Glider services
You can use your 60+ SmartPass or Senior (65+) SmartPass on all Glider services.
SmartPass users do not need to use Glider ticket vending machines but must tap their card on a validator at the Glider halts before boarding the Glider.
Contact information
If you have any queries, contact Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Concessionary Fares.