Free Urban Bus Travel for Secondary School Students (ThessCard, Thessaloniki Regional Unit)
A free ThessCard for unlimited OSETh journeys for pupils of lower-secondary schools, general and vocational upper-secondary schools (ΓΕΛ/ΕΠΑΛ), model and experimental schools in the Thessaloniki prefecture who are entitled to free transport because of the home–school distance, for the 2026-2027 school year.
A free personalised ThessCard for unlimited OSETh journeys for school pupils; more than 4,000 cards are expected for 2026-2027 (more than 3,000 pupils in 2025-2026)
Who can get it
Official evidence · Δελτίο Τύπου Αντιπεριφέρειας Θεσσαλονίκης 04.09.2025 · Checked: 2026-09-29
Official evidence · Περιφέρεια Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας: «εξασφαλίζει και φέτος στους μαθητές Γυμνασίων, Γενικών Λυκείων, ΕΠΑΛ, Πρότυπων και Πειραματικών Σχολείων του νομού Θεσσαλονίκης, δωρεάν μετακινήσεις με την αστική συγκοινωνία» · Checked: 2026-10-12
Official evidence · Αντιπεριφέρεια Θεσσαλονίκης, 04.09.2025: «Μοναδικό κριτήριο για τις δωρεάν μετακινήσεις των μαθητών είναι η απόσταση μεταξύ του σπιτιού και του σχολείου τους να είναι ή να υπερβαίνει τα 2, 5 χιλιόμετρα.» · Checked: 2026-09-29
Based on official sources. For the latest criteria, contact the relevant authority.
How to apply
The steps to apply yourself. Free: you don’t need to pay anyone.
Required Documents
Usually the details gov.gr already holds about you are enough.
Step by step
- 1
Issue a ThessCard (if you do not have one)
Online on the OSETh website or at one of the four OASTh ticket offices.
Open the page - 2
Give the card number to the school
Give the card's unique number to your head teacher; the school checks whether you are entitled to free transport because of the home–school distance.
- 3
Charge the card once
From the 2026-2027 school year the card is charged only once.
Authority: Άλλος Φορέας
Good to know
- Sign in to gov.gr with your TAXISnet codes. You sign in ONLY through the official government page. Never enter your codes anywhere else.
- Fill in and submit the application. Enter your details, upload anything requested and submit. Keep the protocol number.
- Track your application. Progress and the final decision appear in your account on the authority / gov.gr.
Prefer a professional to handle it?
This service is being prepared. For now, the free guide above walks you through every step.
Assign to an accountant / KEP — coming soonIndicative guide — the application and final decision are made by the competent authority.
Indicative results — not an official assessment.
The eligibility check, browsing and the full guide are free.
Already applied? Tell us how it went.
What it is
The Thessaloniki Regional Unit signed a contract with OSETh (Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organisation) for free unlimited-travel cards for pupils of lower-secondary schools, general and vocational upper-secondary schools, model and experimental schools in the Thessaloniki prefecture for the 2026-2027 school year. Pupils entitled to free transport because of the distance between home and school qualify. In 2025-2026 there were more than 3,000 beneficiaries, and more than 4,000 cards are expected for 2026-2027.
Pupils give the unique ThessCard number to their school's head teacher. From this year the card is charged only once. Pupils who do not yet have a ThessCard issue one online on the OSETh website or at one of the four OASTh ticket offices. Application period: an annual cycle, every school year (September).
Lifecycle*
ActiveTime-limited programme
No fixed end date is currently recorded.
*Cycles, deadlines, and availability may change regularly. Always confirm with the official source before applying.
Benefit details
- Provider
- Άλλος Φορέας
- Category
- Education & Scholarships
- Status
- Active
- Type of benefit
- Service / In-kind
Details last verified: 12/10/2026