If you’re an Erasmus or international student in Porto, here’s some amazing news: since January 1st, 2024, all students between 4 and 23 years old can get a free monthly transportation pass for their usual routes around the city. Yep, totally free – and that includes you as an Erasmus or International student! 🎉
Who Can Get It?
Basically:
- 👶 Youth 4–18 years old (until the last day of the month they turn 19).
- 🎓 Students 19–23 years old (until the last day of the month they turn 24).
The only condition? You must be enrolled in a Portuguese school, university, or other higher education institution. And since Erasmus students are officially enrolled here with an acceptance letter… you’re covered! ✅
What You’ll Need 📑
To apply, you usually need:
- Acceptance letter from your Portuguese university (for Erasmus, that’s your proof of enrollment).
- ID card or passport.
- Tax Number (NIF) – not always requested, but it can happen.
👉 Some transport companies ask for it, others don’t. Better to be prepared!
Wait… What’s a NIF? 🤔
A NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is basically your Portuguese tax number. It’s used for everything here: opening a bank account, signing a phone contract, and sometimes even for student discounts.
How to get a NIF:
- Book an appointment at a Finanças office (Portuguese tax office). You can do it online in this link.
- Bring your passport + proof of address (from your home country works fine).
- If you’re from outside the EU, you’ll also need a fiscal representative (usually a Portuguese resident who accepts to be linked to your file).
- Cost: It’s usually free for EU students. For non-EU, sometimes a small fee applies.
Pro tip 💡: Many Erasmus students ask their Portuguese buddy/friend to be their fiscal representative, and it’s a quick process. But it isn’t needed most of the time.
Also, try to go to Loja Andante first without the NIF and only your ID and Acceptance Letter. Usually it works with only these documents.
Where and how to request the Free Pass 🚌
You’ll need to go to the transport companies’ customer support offices in Porto, which are called “Loja Andante”
- 📍 Andante Shops are located in places like Trindade metro station, Casa da Música or even Hospital São João – these are the closest to the main faculties.
- Bring your documents, fill in the application, and they’ll give you (or later mail you) your Andante card with the free monthly pass loaded right away. There’s no need to come back for it.
How It Works After You Get It
- Your Andante card will work just like any other transport card, but every month the cost will be 0€.
- It’s valid for the zones you select (usually your university–home routes, but most Erasmus students go for Z3 or municipal passes which cover a big area of Porto). Since it’s free, Loja Andante won’t probably ask you which zones you want.
- Renewal is automatic as long as you remain enrolled. Once a year, they’ll ask you again for a proof of enrollment.
Final Tips 💡
- Don’t wait until the last minute – queues can be long at Andante shops, especially in September.
- Keep digital copies of your acceptance letter and NIF, just in case they ask again later.
- Even if your Portuguese isn’t great, the staff at Andante are used to international students. Just say you’re applying for the Passe Sub23 (that’s the official name).
In short:
📌 Get your acceptance letter → (maybe) get your NIF → go to an Andante shop → walk out with free transport for your Erasmus semester/year.
Free rides = more money for francesinhas, cervejas, and trips to the beach 🌊🍹
