What is a Freedom Pass and at what age can you get it?

This includes London Underground, Overground, buses and trams, as well as some TfL Rail and National Rail services.

If you were aged 60 or over on the 6th of April 2010 then you automatically qualify for a Freedom Pass. However, as the pension age has moved to 66, the eligibility age for a Freedom Pass has increased to be in line with that. 

The quickest way to check if you’re eligible is to enter your date of birth on the Freedom Pass website.

If you live in a London Borough and meet the age requirements, you can apply for a Freedom Pass. You can apply for a disabled person’s Freedom Pass if you live in a London Borough and have any of the statutory disabilities listed in the Transport Act 2000

If you’re over 60, but still too young for a Freedom Pass, a 60+ Oyster card could be a good option. It still provides free travel on the London Underground, Overground, trams and buses, as well as some TfL Rail and National Rail services, but you can’t use your pass outside of London. The card has a one-off £20 administration fee.

You can apply online from two weeks before your 60th birthday. For more information on the application process go to the TfL website

The London Councils site has all the instructions you need to apply for a Freedom Pass online or by post.

You will need to provide proof of your age or disability, as well as proof of your London address. This could include your passport, birth certificate, letters from your bank or utility bills. You’ll also need a clear passport style picture to be used on the card.

London Councils suggest that it should take around 10 working days to receive your Freedom Pass after your application has been received and processed. For a disabled person’s Freedom Pass it could take 4 weeks.

You can use your Freedom Pass on all London buses and trams, and if it has a rose on it, it’s also valid for bus journeys across England. For trains, check the network map for the routes and restrictions for using your Freedom PassOpens in a new window

Your Freedom Pass works on all services operated by Transport for London. As well as buses, tubes and trams, this also covers some TfL Rail and National Rail train services. You can see which lines are included with your pass on the network mapOpens in a new window

You should be able to tap in with your Freedom Pass in a similar way to using an Oyster Card. If the gates aren’t working for any reason, a member of staff at the station should let you through.

If a ticket inspector comes round when you’re on the train, just show them your Freedom Pass. Remember that not all rail services within London are included with your Freedom Pass, so you might be asked to pay for a ticket on some lines.

Freedom Passes and 60+ Oyster cards can’t be used for travel on TfL between 4.30am and 9am on weekdays, excluding Bank Holidays. For National Rail services you can’t use your Freedom Pass between 4.30am and 9.30am.

You can still use your pass after 9am during the week for TfL services and after 9.30am for National Rail, as well as at any time at the weekend.

Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass holders can travel for free at any time, including before 9.30am.

If you swapped your Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass for a Freedom Pass when you reached State Pension age, you can choose to  reapply for a Disabled Person’s Freedom PassOpens in a new window if you want to travel before 9.30am.

If your Freedom Pass has a rose on it, you can use it on bus services across England. English bus passes (including the Freedom Pass) won’t work on buses in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland although you may be able to get concessionary fares.