Centrelink customers
Transport Concession Entitlement Card
The Transport Concession Entitlement Card gives approved Centrelink customers proof of entitlement for concession fares on public transport in NSW.
To be eligible to apply for a Transport Concession Entitlement Card you must:
- reside in NSW, and
- receive the maximum rate of Centrelink benefit.
You must also be either:
Registered as looking for work and receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:
- JobSeeker Payment
- Youth Allowance (job seekers only)
- Parenting Payment (partnered)
- Partner Allowance
- Widow Allowance
- Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
- Farm Household Allowance
Or receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:
- JobSeeker Payment (incapacitated)
- Youth Allowance (incapacitated)
- Special Benefit
- Sickness Allowance
Or registered for employment services and receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:
- Partner Allowance
- Widow Allowance
- Parenting Payment (partnered)
Your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is only valid while you remain eligible. If you are no longer eligible (e.g. if you take up employment), your Concession Opal card (if you have one) will be cancelled. Your entitlement to concession fares will cease and you must no longer use your Transport Concession Entitlement Card or Concession Opal card.
To apply for your Transport Concession Entitlement Card, you can apply online.
Check if you are eligible
Please make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria first before applying.
How to apply
- Select the 'Apply online' button.
- Select the entitlement type and enter your Centrelink Reference Number (CRN).
- Complete the online application.
When your eligibility is confirmed, your card will be mailed to you within 8-10 working days. If you are found to be ineligible, you will be advised when applying.
The Transport Concession Entitlement Card for Centrelink customers is valid for up to 90 days, as long as you remain eligible.
How to renew
- Select the 'Renew online' button.
- Select the entitlement type and enter your Centrelink Reference Number (CRN).
- Complete the online application.
Please note:
- You can renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card online up to 21 days before it expires, or after it has expired, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria.
- If your card expires before you receive your new card, you'll need to pay a full adult fare when travelling until your new card arrives. Fines may apply for concession travel without valid proof of entitlement.
- The renewal process is not automatic - you have to request a new card.
If your Transport Concession Entitlement Card has been lost or stolen, you can apply for a replacement card online. A card replacement fee may apply.
How to replace
- Select the 'Replace online' button
- Select the entitlement type and enter your CRN.
- Complete the online application.
Please note:
- Your card will be mailed to you within 8 to 10 working days. While you wait for your new card to arrive you will need to pay an adult travel fare.
- If the lost or stolen card is due to expire within 21 days, you need to renew online and be reassessed for eligibility.
If you have changed your name, address, email address, phone number or title, you can update your details for your Transport Concession Entitlement Card online.
Update your details
- Select the 'Update my details' button
- Complete the online form to update your details
Ticket options
You must carry your Transport Concession Entitlement Card when travelling on a concession fare as proof of entitlement or you may be fined.
Concession fares are not available on private ferries, event shuttle buses, chartered bus services or Great Southern Rail services.
In the Opal network, if you are an eligible job seeker or someone receiving other approved Centrelink benefits you are entitled to travel with a Concession Opal card.
If you are an eligible pensioner, you are eligible for a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card instead.
If you do not have your proof of entitlement card, you are required to pay for and travel with an Adult fare, or you may be fined for travelling on an invalid ticket.
How to get your Concession Opal card
- To apply, visit the Opal website.
- For a replacement Concession Opal card, visit the Opal website. A replacement fee may apply.
Using an Opal card provides you with a range of travel benefits.
Find out more about Opal terms of use.
Sydney Airport train station access fee
Eligible job seekers and those receiving approved Centrelink benefits pay the Concession Sydney Airport station access fee when travelling with a Concession Opal card to or from the airport train stations.
Eligible job seekers and those receiving approved Centrelink benefits are entitled to concessions fares on NSW TrainLink Regional trains and coaches.
Some privately owned and operated services in regional NSW may offer a range of different concession fares at their own discretion. Check with local transport operators before you travel.
Transport Concession Entitlement Card for eligible job seeker or approved Centrelink customers
- A Transport Concession Entitlement Card is not a ticket for travel. A valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card entitles you to purchase concession fares on public transport within NSW.
- When travelling on Opal services, you must use your Concession Opal card issued to you by Transport for NSW to pay for your journey and carry your valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card to demonstrate your entitlement to the concession fare.
- When travelling on other services, you must show your valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card to purchase a ticket at the concession fare.
- You must continue to carry your valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card at all times when travelling on a concession fare and produce it upon request by a driver, Revenue Protection Officer or Police. Failure to produce your Transport Concession Entitlement Card upon request may result in a fine being issued to you.
- To be eligible for a Transport Concession Entitlement Card as a job seeker or approved Centrelink customer you must:
- reside in NSW
- be receiving the maximum rate of benefit and be either:
- Registered as looking for work and receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:
- JobSeeker Payment
- Youth Allowance (job seekers only)
- Parenting Payment (partnered)
- Partner Allowance
- Widow Allowance
- Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
- Farm Household Allowance
- Receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:
- Youth Allowance (incapacitated)
- Special Benefit
- Sickness Allowance,
or
- Registered for employment services and receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:
- Partner Allowance
- Widow Allowance
- Parenting Payment (partnered)
- The Transport Concession Entitlement Card is not transferable and must only be used by you. You must not allow other people to use your Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
- Your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is valid for up to 90 days after it is issued, subject to you continuing to meet the eligibility criteria. The expiry date is printed on the back of your Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
- If you still meet the eligibility criteria you can renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card up to 21 days before expiry. Applications for new cards can be made online. It is your responsibility to renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card and you may be fined if you travel without having a valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
- If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria you will no longer be entitled to concession fares, and will no longer be able to use your Concession Opal card (if you have one), and must no longer use your Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
- If your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is lost or stolen you can apply for a replacement card which, subject to you still being eligible, will have the same expiry date as your previous card. Applications for replacement cards can be made online. A card replacement fee may apply.
- The Transport Concession Entitlement Card remains the property of Transport for NSW.
- You must pay a full adult fare if you do not hold a valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card. This includes if you are waiting for a replacement card or a new card.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information, in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).
We collect, hold and use personal information for specific purposes relevant to our functions. Personal information you provide in relation to your application is collected for the purpose of administering and managing your Transport Concession Entitlement Card and Concession Opal card, and for directly related purposes such as audit, management and operational activities for concession travel.
You may choose not to provide your personal information or health information. However this may mean that it is not possible or practicable for us to deal with your application for concession travel. Refusal to provide your information may mean that we cannot issue you with a Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
If you have provided your CRN number on this application, you authorise:
- TfNSW to use Centrelink Confirmation eServices to perform an enquiry of your Centrelink customer details and concession card status in order to enable TfNSW to determine if you qualify for a concession; and
- The Australian Government Department of Human Services (the Department) to provide the results of that enquiry to TfNSW.
In applying for a Transport Concession Entitlement Card you declare that you understand that:
- TfNSW may disclose your personal and health information to the Department, and that the Department will use information you provide to TfNSW to confirm your eligibility for concession travel.
- This consent, once signed or affirmed, remains valid while you are a customer of TfNSW, unless you withdraw it by contacting TfNSW or the Department.
- You can obtain proof of your details from the Department and provide it to TfNSW so that your eligibility for concession travel can be determined.
- If you withdraw your consent, or do not provide proof of your details, you may not be eligible for concession travel.
TfNSW will not otherwise disclose your personal or health information unless you consent, or we are permitted or required to by law.
Where TfNSW engages contractors to assist us in providing our services to you, we generally engage them under contract terms that ensure that they use personal information solely for the purpose of fulfilling their contract with us. We also generally require them to manage the personal and health information that they hold on our behalf in a way that complies with the NSW privacy laws.
For information about how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed by us please see our Privacy Policy at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/privacy .
For information about how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed in the Opal ticketing system, read our Opal Privacy Policy at transportnsw.info/opal-privacy-policy
TfNSW will keep your information at 110 George Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150. You can ask to access or amend your personal information held by us by contacting privacy@transport.nsw.gov.au or PO Box K659 Haymarket NSW 1240.
1.1 Additional wording if a customer signs a consent record electronically
If a customer signs a consent record electronically, you must also include this wording:
- I confirm that the electronic signature in this consent represents my signature.
- I consent to signing the form electronically and I confirm that my signature is legally binding.