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Who is eligible

Full-time students at Auckland high schools aged 16 to 19 can get the secondary student concession. This gives you a 40% discount on most trains, ferries and buses — including school buses.

To get discounted fares, you must:

  • be 16 to 19 years old
  • be enrolled full-time at a high school in the Auckland region.

If you are 19 at the start of the school year and turn 20 during the year, you can still get the concession.

If you attend alternative schooling (including home schooling), you need a Certificate of Exemption from the Ministry of Education.

Who is not eligible

You cannot get the concession if you:

  • do not have a student ID card or National Student Number (NSN)
  • study part-time
  • go to a high school outside the Auckland region
  • go to alternative schooling (including home schooling) unless you have a Certificate of Exemption from the Ministry of Education
  • go to a private training institute (for example, a language school) or a tertiary institution.

Ways to apply

The easiest way to apply is online with your National Student Number. If you need help, apply in person.
Apply online (recommended)
  • A registered AT HOP card.
  • A MyAT account.
  • Your National Student Number (NSN).
How to apply
1. Go to the application form

Go to 'Apply for a concession' in MyAT.

You will be asked to log in.

2. Fill out the form

The form has 4 steps.

  1. Select the AT HOP card you will keep the concession on. You will have the option to switch between profiles to find the right card.
  2. Under 'Select a discount', choose ‘Secondary (40% off)’.
  3. You need to prove you are eligible for the concession. Enter your National Student Number, check the consent boxes and select ‘Apply’.
  4. You will find out the outcome of your application.

If you choose to use your student ID for verification instead of your NSN, you’ll need to apply in person.

3. Wait for confirmation

We’ll email you when we’ve loaded the concession onto your AT HOP card. This will take 1 to 3 working days. If you use your AT HOP card in the meantime, adult fares will apply.

You can use the concession one hour after we email you.

4. Tag on to activate your concession

Tap your AT HOP card on a card reader or electronic gate at a station or on a bus, train or ferry.

If you do not tag on within 60 days, your concession will expire. Your card will go back to adult fares. If this happens, contact us and we can reactivate your concession.
Apply in person
  • A MyAT account.
  • Your student ID.
  • A physical ID card provided by your high school.
  • Contains your student ID number and an expiry date.

The student who the concession is for needs to go in person to the customer service centre (CSC) — even if their parent is applying for them.
How to apply

Go to one of our customer service centres. You can buy a new AT HOP card at the CSC or bring one with you.

At CSCs, you can apply with your student ID – you do not need your NSN.

Apply now

If you're ready to apply, go to the online application form. You'll need to log in to your MyAT account.

When will your concession expire

The concession ends:

  • when you’re no longer enrolled at an Auckland high school
  • when your student ID card expires (if you applied in person)
  • after 3 years (if you applied online).

We'll periodically check your eligibility with the Ministry of Education.

If you go on to tertiary education in Auckland, you can apply for a tertiary concession.

Travelling with the concession

The concession is loaded on a registered AT HOP card. You will need to tag on and off with that HOP card when you travel to get discounted fares. If you use cash or contactless, you will pay the full adult fare.

You cannot use the accessible concession for:

  • Rakino Island or Waiheke Island services
  • buses, trains and ferries to and from other regions.

Carry your student ID with you

While travelling on the network, Transport Officers may ask for proof of ID.

Lost, stolen or damaged cards

Your concession is attached to the card, not your account. This means if you lose your AT HOP card and need a replacement, you need to transfer the concession to your new card.

To find out how to cancel a card and transfer the balance, go to Help or problems with your AT HOP card.

Some people can get more than one concession

You can only keep one concession on each AT HOP card. If you get another concession, you will need to put it on another card.

You can only use one concession on each journey.

To see what concession you might be able to apply for, use our Concession eligibility checker.

Terms and conditions
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