Student Transportation Card in Türkiye
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, 2026Guide contents
A 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.
Confirm your eligibility
- 1
Student status
You must be enrolled at a university, school, or language institute in Türkiye, subject to the categories recognized by the local transportation authority.
- 2
Proof of student status
You will usually need a document proving your status, such as a student certificate (Öğrenci Belgesi) or language-institute certificate (TÖMER Belgesi).
- 3
Students over 25 or 26
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
Documents you may need
- Identity or residence card: A Turkish identity card or residence card (Kimlik / Kimlik Kartı). Some cities may not require bringing the residence card.
- Student certificate: An Öğrenci Belgesi from the university or school, or an electronic copy from e‑Devlet if available.
- Language-institute certificate: A TÖMER Belgesi if you are applying as a language student and the local transportation authority recognizes this category.
- Personal photograph: A recent personal photograph meeting the issuing authority’s specifications.
- Possible additional documents: Proof of address, a social-security registration document, or another document may be requested depending on your age and city.
Apply online
- 1
Open the official transportation platform
Use your city transportation authority’s official website or app, such as the İstanbulkart platform in Istanbul, and avoid unauthorized intermediaries.
- 2
Create an account
Create a new account and enter the requested identity and address information accurately.
- 3
Upload the documents
Upload the student certificate, personal photograph, and any additional evidence requested by the system.
- 4
Pay the issuance fee
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.
- 5
Track collection or delivery
Wait for a collection notice or card-delivery details, depending on the service available in your city.
Apply in person
- 1
Find an authorized issuance center
Visit a transportation-card issuance center in your city, such as a center operated by Istanbul’s transportation authority or the equivalent local body.
- 2
Submit the documents
Submit the student certificate, photograph, identification, and any additional documents requested by the center.
- 3
Pay the fee
Pay the issuance fee using a method accepted by the center and keep the receipt.
- 4
Collect the card
The card may be issued the same day or within a few days, and sometimes immediately. Processing time varies by city and demand.
Activate and top up the card
- 1
Activate the card if required
After collection, you may need to activate the card using a top-up machine or your city’s official transportation app.
- 2
Make the first top-up
Add credit through the city’s official app or the top-up machines at metro and tram stations, according to locally available options.
- 3
Check monthly student plans
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 and maintain eligibility
- 1
Use the student fare
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.
- 2
Renew or update student status
The authority may require you to update your student status or renew the card annually using a recent student certificate.
- 3
Private university or school
Confirm that your educational institution is registered and accepted by the local transportation system before applying.
Verified on August 17, 2026
Additional tips
- Check your city transportation authority’s official website before every application or renewal; there is no single rule for every Turkish city.
- Applying in a city other than your study city may be possible if you have a student certificate and proof of residence when required, while explaining your tourism or internship status if asked. Check this in advance, as not every city allows it.
- Keep a recent electronic copy of your student certificate on your phone.
- Ask the international student office; some universities help students with transportation-card procedures.
- Do not share your personal card with anyone else, and follow the local transportation authority’s terms of use.
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