How to get and use a discounted student public-transport card in Turkish cities, including the documents typically required and how to top it up.
Reviewed · August 17, 2026A student transportation card gives students in Türkiye discounted fares on public transport such as buses, metro services, and trams. The card, issuing authority, and conditions vary by city.
Check the official transport authority in your city before applying; fees, prices, discounts, age limits, documents, and monthly offers change continuously and vary between cities.
You must be enrolled at a university, school, or language institute in Türkiye, subject to the categories recognized by the local transportation authority.
You will usually need a document proving your status, such as a student certificate (Öğrenci Belgesi) or language-institute certificate (TÖMER Belgesi).
Some cities may apply additional conditions to students above a certain age, often 25 or 26, such as obtaining a Sosyal Güvenlik Kayıt Belgesi from e-Devlet and submitting it to the card center. Do not assume this rule or document is required in your city before checking officially.
Verified on August 17, 2026
Use your city transportation authority’s official website or app, such as the İstanbulkart platform in Istanbul, and avoid unauthorized intermediaries.
Create a new account and enter the requested identity and address information accurately.
Upload the student certificate, personal photograph, and any additional evidence requested by the system.
Pay the fees shown on the platform. Fees have historically ranged roughly between 30 and 50 lira, but this is not a current price and should not be relied on.
Wait for a collection notice or card-delivery details, depending on the service available in your city.
Visit a transportation-card issuance center in your city, such as a center operated by Istanbul’s transportation authority or the equivalent local body.
Submit the student certificate, photograph, identification, and any additional documents requested by the center.
Pay the issuance fee using a method accepted by the center and keep the receipt.
The card may be issued the same day or within a few days, and sometimes immediately. Processing time varies by city and demand.
After collection, you may need to activate the card using a top-up machine or your city’s official transportation app.
Add credit through the city’s official app or the top-up machines at metro and tram stations, according to locally available options.
Student packages (Abonman) may be available, such as a historical package of 50 trips per month for roughly 400 lira; these figures change and are not a current price or package.
Use the card on the public transport services that support it. The discount may reach up to 50% of the regular ticket price, but the percentage varies by city, service, and current tariff.
The authority may require you to update your student status or renew the card annually using a recent student certificate.
Confirm that your educational institution is registered and accepted by the local transportation system before applying.
Verified on August 17, 2026
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