At the end of 2024, after much uncertainty, the Balearic Islands ensured free public transport for at least the first half of 2025, until the end of June. Despite the change of year, the extension will not imply new procedures for those who already enjoyed the 100% fare reduction.
Free transportation in Ibiza
In the case of Ibiza, to use the transport for free, you must still have the TGeneral, TJoven or TDorada card. That is to say, to get on the bus without paying you must go through the Consell de Ibiza and pass a series of procedures. The requirements, as detailed on the official site of the Consell, are the same as last year. Namely:
- The General Card can be applied for by persons between 18 and 64 years of age.
- The Youth Card can be applied for by young people from 5 years old to 18 years old.
- The Gold Card is for:
- Seniors over 65 years of age, for persons who are this age at the time of application.
- Pensioners, who meet the following requirements: who receive a pension for absolute permanent disability; or who can prove by official certification a degree of disability equal to or greater than 65% or who receive any other type of official economic pension (retirement, widowhood, TOTAL permanent disability…) and who at the time of applying for the aid are over 55 years of age and who can prove that they are not subject to any employment relationship, not even as self-employed.
- People at risk of exclusion.
- Long-term unemployed.
Documentation
To obtain any of the bus cards you must be registered on the island of Ibiza or have an employment contract on the island. Those who still do not have the cards and wish to acquire them, must present the following documents:
- DNI, NIE or Passport.
- The retirement pension must be evidenced by a document issued by the National Institute of Social Security or by the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Affairs.
- The condition of handicapped person and the degree of recognized handicap will have to be accredited by means of a certification issued by the Balearic Institute of Social Affairs or the equivalent organism.
- The rest of the pensions will have to be accredited in the same way as the previous ones, by means of certificates issued by the corresponding agencies.
- The circumstance of not being subject to an employment relationship must be accredited by presenting a certificate issued by the National Institute of Social Security or the General Treasury of Social Security.
- Persons at risk of exclusion must present a certificate from the social worker of the municipality to which they belong. The expiration date of the card will be as deemed by the social worker.
- The long-term unemployed must present a certificate from the SOIB, indicating that they have been unemployed for more than two years, the duration of the card will be 6 months.
In turn, from the Consell de Ibiza have re-emphasized that the money allocated by the central government for transport is insufficient: “We demand that you pay the real gratuity, with the amount currently allocated does not cover it”.
Free transportation in Formentera
There are also no major changes planned for the smallest of the Pitiusas in the coming months. Transport will continue to be free for people under 18 years old, people with disabilities and their companion, residents and non-residents working on the island. “The intention of the Conselleria de Movilidad is that this gratuity is extended throughout the year but everything will also depend on the money that comes from the Central Government,” they have clarified from the Consell.
Documentation in Formentera
In each case, in order to justify access to free transportation, users must present the following documents at the time of boarding the bus:
- Children under 18 years of age will have to prove their age by showing their ID card.
- Persons with disabilities must show the card.
- As for residents, they will have to show the certificate of empadronamiento or resident certificate.
- Recurrent users will have to apply for a card at the Mobility Area through a procedure that can be accessed through the OVAC, as it has been done so far.
Continue reading:
