Can international students get transport concessions?

1Which international students can apply for ISTP in Melbourne?

Under the Victorian guidance checked on 5 Nov 2026, ISTP covers eligible full-time international students at participating institutions, excluding masters and doctoral courses.

Melbourne uses Victorian rules. The International Student Travel Pass, or ISTP, is for full-time international students at participating institutions in bachelor, associate degree, diploma or advanced diploma courses. Masters, doctoral and part-time study are outside this pass scheme.

Participating institutions include the University of Melbourne, Monash, Deakin, La Trobe and Swinburne. Your institution must still check your course, campus and enrolment before issuing a code.

Eligible New Zealand students can also apply. International exchange students, students with refugee status and Australian Awards Scholarship recipients have other concession pathways and do not use ISTP. Ask your institution about your category.

2How should I choose an ISTP duration and coverage?

Choose a Victorian ISTP using your home, campus and regular trips to check coverage, then match the duration to the dates you will use it.

Under official guidance checked on 5 Nov 2026, ISTP has 90-, 180- and 365-day options, with statewide and Zone 2 products. The scheme describes a 50% discount. Use the purchase page for current prices and review eligibility and amounts before starting in 2027.

For a Zone 2 pass, ask your institution or the transport authority to check your home, campus and regular destinations against its coverage. A lower price may not cover your usual travel.

List weekly campus trips and other regular travel before comparing a pass. The product discount does not establish your personal saving, which depends on how much you travel.

3How do I apply for and start using ISTP?

For Victorian ISTP, obtain eligibility confirmation and a code from your institution, purchase the pass and receive the physical card; the code alone is not a usable pass.

Under official guidance checked on 5 Nov 2026, Confirm eligibility and obtain an ISTP code from your institution. Methods differ; Monash uses its WES student system. Follow your own institution if you study elsewhere. A student ID does not complete the pass application.

Follow the Victorian ISTP page to register, provide a postal address and photo, select the period and purchase. The official guidance gives about three weeks for delivery. Use a reliable mailing address and arrange full-fare myki travel while waiting.

The pass starts with its first tap. ISTP does not support Mobile myki, so use the posted physical card. Exchange students should follow their institution for alternative concessions; Monash describes a tertiary student ID route for courses titled EXCHANGE.

Keep eligibility confirmation and the application code, then check activation. Contactless concession linking follows the current transport instructions; a student card alone is not a transport entitlement.

4Which international students may qualify for NSW concessions?

Under NSW guidance checked on 5 Nov 2026, most temporary-visa international students do not qualify for tertiary concessions; specified scholarship and other exceptions need separate assessment.

Sydney uses NSW rules. Ordinary international students on temporary visas usually do not qualify for tertiary concessions. Standard criteria also concern NSW residency, citizenship or permanent residency, and full-time on-campus study in an approved course.

International exceptions include specified Research Training Program full research scholarships, Endeavour postgraduate and vocational education scholarships, and designated full Australian Awards scholarships. Further funding conditions and exclusions apply.

Give your institution the full scholarship name, course and enrolment details. Exchange students should have their program assessed under the May 2026 NSW issuing guidelines. A scholarship label or previous Victorian approval does not establish NSW eligibility.

5How do eligible students apply for a concession Opal card?

After NSW concession eligibility is confirmed, complete the institution's required data-sharing steps before applying for and activating the card under official instructions.

Under official guidance checked on 5 Nov 2026, Consent to your institution sharing eligibility data with Transport for NSW and allow at least two days for the information to be provided. If there is no online consent form, use the student centre process.

Prepare the institution name, enrolment details and recognised student ID, then follow the official student concession page to apply for Opal. After eligibility confirmation, the official guidance gives about five to seven business days for delivery. Activate on arrival as instructed.

Carry the required proof of entitlement when using a concession. Keep institutional consent and application confirmations. Until eligibility and the card are ready, use a fare and payment method you already qualify for.