Youth transport passes for students in Spain (2026): Abono Único, city discounts and what happens in 2027
Published on · 6 min read
How much public transport costs for international students in Spain in 2026: the €30 youth Abono Único, Cercanías for €10, Barcelona's T-jove, youth passes in Valencia, Bilbao and Seville, which documents you need and what may change from 1 January 2027.
If you are coming to study in Spain, public transport can be very cheap in 2026, but the best prices come with fine print: there is almost always a maximum age, plus a requirement for a Spanish ID number (DNI or NIE) or legal residence, and sometimes padrón registration (empadronamiento).
In short: until 31 December 2026 there are state discounts for young people. The Abono Único costs €30 for 30 days if you were born in 2000 or later and covers Cercanías, Media Distancia and state-run buses. The youth monthly Cercanías pass costs €10. Each city also has its own youth pass, with different requirements. As of today, no extension for 2027 has been confirmed, so check prices before January.
If you are going to live in Madrid, you will find every detail in our guide to transport cards in Madrid. Here we look at the national picture and at other cities with lots of students.
Where do these discounts come from?
The 2026 discounts come from Royal Decree-law 17/2025, which the Congress validated in January 2026. According to the Ministry of Transport, the State funds urban and metropolitan transport discounts for the administrations that sign up for the aid: in general, 50% off youth passes and 20% off other passes. Each region or city council decides how to apply them, which is why each city sets its own age range and requirements.
Abono Único and Cercanías: the state discounts
Youth Abono Único (€30)
Price: €60 standard and €30 for young people born on or after 1 January 2000.
What it covers: unlimited travel for 30 days on Cercanías and Rodalies, Renfe Media Distancia (and some Avant routes) and state-run buses.
Requirements: a DNI or NIE and Spanish nationality or legal residence in Spain.
How: register for free on the Ministry website at least 24 hours before buying it. Then buy it from Renfe with your code.
Dates: you choose the start date when you buy it (within the next 30 days), and it cannot be later than 31/12/2026.
Youth Cercanías pass (€10)
If you only use Cercanías or Rodalies in your city, the Ministry lists a €10 monthly pass for young people born between 2000 and 2011, valid in every zone of the network. You need the AJ26 code, which you get through the same registration. Without the code, the standard monthly pass costs €20.
Watch out if your NIE is brand new
EU students: if you stay longer than three months, you must register in the Central Register of Foreigners (Royal Decree 240/2007). That certificate includes your NIE.
Non-EU students: your document is the TIE. Technically, a student authorisation is a "stay" (estancia), and the official pages talk about "legal residence" without clarifying this case. Check that the registration validates you before you count on the discount.
Youth passes by city
Barcelona: T-jove
Price: according to ATM, the T-jove costs €45.50 in 2026 and gives 90 days of unlimited travel in every zone, including the metro to the airport.
Requirements: being under 30. The "Jove" profile is assigned automatically when you sign up for T-mobilitat.
Format: a personalised T-mobilitat card (€4.50) or your phone (€1). Always carry your ID.
Valencia: Móbilis30 / SUMA Mensual Jove
Price: €14.90 a month for one zone (A, B+ or C) until 31/12/2026, according to Metrovalencia.
What it covers: Metrovalencia, EMT, MetroBus and Cercanías within the zones you buy.
Requirements: being under 31 and holding a Carnet Jove. If you are a foreign national, you also need the residence certificate issued by the Police. If you are from the EU, this will normally be your registration certificate.
Bilbao and Bizkaia: Gazte Barik
Prices: according to the Bizkaia Transport Consortium, from 21/02 to 31/12/2026 the Gazte Oro pass costs from €21.40 (1 zone) to €43.10 (5 zones).
Requirements: being under 26 and registered on the padrón in Bizkaia, with a personalised Barik card and the Gazte profile.
Padrón: you will be asked for a recent certificate. If your landlord is causing problems, read what to do if you are not allowed to register.
Seville: Consortium Youth Card and TUSSAM
Consortium Youth Card (Tarjeta Joven): for under-30s living in Andalusia. The Junta de Andalucía adds an extra 25% to every top-up of the Consortium card. You need a DNI or NIE and a photo.
TUSSAM (city buses): according to the local press, in 2026 there is a youth pass of about €8.80 and a monthly student pass of about €11.40, with requirements such as being registered on the padrón in Seville. Confirm it on the TUSSAM website before applying.
Madrid
The Abono Joven from the Regional Transport Consortium costs €10 for 30 days in every zone, from age 15 until the day you turn 26. Since June 2026, you need to be on the padrón to apply for the personal card (TTP). We explain it step by step in our Madrid guide.
What happens from 1 January 2027?
All the state prices in this article apply until 31/12/2026. The Government dissolved Parliament and called a general election for 29 November 2026 (Royal Decree 806/2026), and as of today no extension for 2027 has been approved. In practice:
Do not buy long passes that rely on a discounted price without first checking what happens in January.
Some passes stop being valid when the fare changes. In Valencia, for example, the Móbilis30 is valid for 30 days "while the fare it was bought at remains in force".
If your city keeps its share of the discount, the price might change less. But that depends on each administration.
Check your transport consortium's website at the end of December. We will update this article when there is news.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a youth pass with just my passport?
It depends. Barcelona's T-jove works with your T-mobilitat registration. But the Abono Único, the Cercanías pass and most passes with a residence requirement ask for an NIE or a residence document.
Do I need to be on the padrón?
In Bizkaia (Gazte) and in Madrid (personal card), yes. In other cities it depends on the pass. Registering on the padrón also helps with other paperwork: we cover it in your first 30 days in Spain.
How much will I really save?
A lot, if you commute every day. To work out your full budget by city, see how much it costs to study in Spain.
Are the prices final?
No. They are the prices published by each operator as of 5 November 2026 and may change, especially in January 2027.
Ask someone who has done it
Not sure which pass suits you in your city? Ask in the Uniwords community, where other students share how they got theirs, and take a look at the student perks.
This article is for information only and does not replace each operator's official information or professional advice. Last reviewed: 5 November 2026.