For residents aged 14 to 30 in the community, there’s an opportunity to obtain FREE travel passes in Valencia until January 2025. My son, who just turned 17, has found this incredibly useful, allowing him to travel freely within the Valencia community, using EMT buses, the metro, and trams.
The purpose of the Abono Joven initiative is to encourage the use of Valencia’s public transportation system, highlighting it as the most economical and sustainable way to navigate both urban and interurban areas. This is particularly useful for those who have children that travel to get to school or work within Valencia. In this post I will walk you through how to obtain the FREE pass in a few easy steps. However, to get one, you must be a resident of Valencia, and can provide an NIE or DNI number.
Where to use your FREE youth travel pass in Valencia
You can use your FREE travel pass in Valencia across several modes of public transportation within the community:
Metro
The pass is valid on the entire Metro Valencia network, which includes several lines connecting different parts of the city and its suburbs. You can use it to travel between key locations such as the city center, university areas, and other residential neighbourhoods.
EMT Buses
The pass can be used on EMT Valencia buses, which cover a wide range of routes across the city. These buses connect various districts and important spots like the historic center, beaches, shopping areas, and more.
Tram
The pass is also valid on the tram system in Valencia, which serves routes along the coastline and other significant areas. The tram is particularly useful for reaching places like the beach or the Port of Valencia.
Steps On How To Get Free Travel Passes in Valencia
Step 1
You will need to be registered on the Metro Valencia website. Enter your details and of course your NIE or DNI number. If you are registering as a parent or guardian you can request a single appointment with your ID document. This will allow you to obtain the passes for several children as long as you show them your Family Book and DNI of each minor. If your child does not have a DNI or NIE you can also use the SIP as their ID document.
Step 2
Once you have logged in to the website you will be presented an appointment page where you can choose the date, time and station where you will collect your FREE travel pass. Once you have chosen when and where you will collect the passes, you will be then sent an email of confirmation of your appointment.
Step 3
On the day of collection, make sure that you bring identification. This will be your DNI, NIE, passport or SIP. You must also bring the receipt of your appointment printed or digital format. This is the email that they sent you to confirm the appointment.
Tips
- When collecting your pass, be sure to arrive well in advance. The process is strict, and they only accept collections at the exact time of your appointment—neither early nor late. Simply provide your appointment time and name upon arrival. Once they confirm your details in the system, they will create a personalised pass for you. This pass is a cardboard card, registered exclusively to the account holder, and is non-transferable.
- The staff informed us that my son should always carry his NIE or TIE card with him, as it may be requested by the driver. However, after more than a month of using the pass, no one has asked my son to show his ID. Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea to keep your ID with you, just in case.
- You can use the pass on the Metro, EMT buses, and trams, but keep in mind that it can only be scanned once per journey. My son has found this particularly useful for his daily commute to college, saving us the cost of buying a monthly travel pass for him.
- According to the Metro VLC website, the pass is officially valid until January 2025. However, my son’s pass is valid until 2027, suggesting that the dates might be extended if they decide to continue the scheme longer.
- If your pass becomes damaged, lost, or unusable over time, you can get a replacement by making another appointment, just as you did the first time. The process remains the same.
- After a month of daily use, my son’s pass has started to get a little dog-eared. To prevent your travel pass from getting damaged, you can either laminate it or use a protective cover. This will help keep it in good condition for longer.
- For more info about the terms and conditions of the FREE Youth Travel Pass in Valencia, check out the website for more details.
The free travel pass initiative in Valencia offers an incredible opportunity for young residents aged 14 to 30, providing significant savings and promoting sustainable transportation. The process to obtain the pass is straightforward, requiring a few key steps, and once acquired, it grants easy access to Valencia’s public transportation system.
Remember to carry valid identification at all times, even if it’s rarely requested. With the potential for the pass to remain valid beyond 2025, this initiative is a valuable resource for young people and their families. For further details, be sure to visit the Metro Valencia website.
