Get a Leap Card or Young Adult Leap Card

A TFI Leap Card makes bus, Luas and train fares cheaper. Here is which card to get, where to buy it, and how 19 to 25 year olds get half fares.

A TFI Leap Card is a reusable travel card for Transport for Ireland (TFI) buses, trains and trams. Buy one at over 2,000 shops and post offices, or online at leapcard.ie, for a €5 refundable deposit plus €5 credit. If you are 19 to 25, apply online for a Young Adult card and pay half fare.

Which card do you need?

Children under 5 travel free without a card. A Student card needs a course of at least 15 hours a week for 6 months (25 weeks). Online courses do not count.

What you need

• Adult card: €5 for the deposit and at least €5 credit (Child 5-15 deposit is €3)
• Young Adult card: your date of birth and a valid passport, driving licence or learner permit
• Young Adult card: a phone or computer camera for a live selfie
• Student card: a stamped or signed letter from your college confirming full-time study and course length
• To register any card: its 14-digit card number and a leapcard.ie account

Step by step: adult card

1. Find an agent on the map at leapcard.ie, or order the card online.
2. Pay the €5 deposit and at least €5 travel credit.
3. Wait 24 hours, then click Register on leapcard.ie and enter your 14-digit card number.
4. Create an account or log in to finish registering.
5. Top up with the Leap Top-Up App, at an agent, at Luas, DART and commuter rail ticket machines, or with Auto Top-Up.
6. Tap on when you board. In Dublin, tap on and off for DART, commuter rail and Luas.

Step by step: Young Adult card (19 to 25)

1. Open the Young Adult and Student card page and click Apply.
2. Enter your date of birth and add your passport, driving licence or learner permit.
3. Take a live selfie. It is checked against your ID and printed on the card.
4. Pay the €5 deposit and at least €5 credit.
5. Wait for your card in the post, usually within 5 working days of verification.
6. Register the card online so it can be replaced if you lose it.

For a Student card, apply online after your course starts. Wait up to 5 working days for a confirmation email, then collect the card from a Student Leap Card agent with your Student ID and proof of age.

How much it costs and how long it takes

The 90 Minute Fare covers Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland city buses, Luas and Zone 1 DART and commuter rail. In Cork it is €1.70 for adults on TFI Cork City buses. Once you reach a cap, no more credit is taken that day or week.

Common mistakes

• Not registering. An unregistered card cannot be replaced or refunded if lost.
• Forgetting to tap off on Luas, DART and commuter rail in Dublin.
• Not collecting an online top-up. Tap the card at a ticket machine, agent, selected bus or in the app, and allow up to 48 hours.
• Keeping an old Young Adult card. Cards bought before 11 January 2024 stop on your 24th birthday, so apply for a new one valid to your 26th.
• Applying for a Student card before your course starts. Early or partial applications are rejected.

Related guides

• How to apply for a Free Travel pass
• How to claim tax relief on tuition fees
• How to get a learner permit
• How to apply for an Irish passport