Introducing the School Opal card
The School Opal card gives eligible school students free travel on public transport between home and school on trains, buses and ferries within the Opal network.
Who can apply?
Students need to live a minimum distance from their school to be eligible for a School Opal card, as follows:
Years K-2 (Infants)
There’s no minimum distance.
Years 3-6 (Primary)
1.6 km straight line or 2.3 km walking distance from school.
Years 7-12 (Secondary)
2.0 km straight line or 2.9 km walking distance from school.
Who needs to apply?
- Most students automatically receive a School Opal card that rolls over each year.
You only need to apply or update your details if: - It’s your first time applying.
- You are moving from Year 2 → Year 3 or Year 6 → Year 7.
- You’ve changed your name, school, or home address.
- You live across multiple addresses due to shared parental responsibility.
- You need an additional travel entitlement.
How to apply
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Go to the official TfNSW form: Apply for a school travel pass.
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Complete the application in one session (you can’t save midway).
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Parent/guardian must apply if the student is under 16.
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Students 16+ can apply and sign for themselves.
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The school will verify your application.
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TfNSW will process it and notify you by email.
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Cards are sent out once approved
Better together
The School Opal card is only for travel to and from school on school days and doesn’t cover travel to after school care, school excursions, sport and other activities away from school, so it’s a good idea to get a Child/Youth Opal card for personal travel.
Child/Youth Opal card benefits for kids (and parents)
Here’s a quick show and tell:
- Travel on trains, ferries, buses and light rail with one ticket
- Never pay more than $9.65* per day Monday to Thursday
- Never pay more than $4.80* on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
- $25 a week (Note that the Opal week runs from Monday to Sunday).
*Excluding Sydney Airport station access fee
Dedicated School Bus Services
In addition to our normal route bus services, we provide a number of dedicated school bus services. Click here to find out more about our dedicated route bus services or mouse over the “School Bus” heading above and select “School Bus Services”.
