Youth Pass

You can load cash value and LinkPasses onto your Youth Pass CharlieCard at:

• Fare vending machines
• The CharlieCard Store
• Retail sales locations
• Fare boxes on buses and trolleys at street-level stops (cash value and one-way fares only)

To pay your fare, simply tap your card on the fare target at any fare gate or onboard fare box.

Your Youth Pass CharlieCard makes you eligible to purchase discounted Commuter Rail tickets and passes:

• On board (show your card to the conductor)
• At ticket windows (show your card to ticket window staff)
• At fare vending machines (tap your card to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare or purchase a monthly pass)
• Retail sales locations (show your card to the cashier)
• mTicket: Enter your card serial card number on the Reduced Fares page under the “My Account” section in your mTicket app. The reduced fare will then automatically appear when purchasing a ticket.

For Zone 1A travel on the Fairmount Line, Youth Pass cardholders can tap their CharlieCard at the newly installed Fairmount Line validators before boarding, just like for the bus or subway. Please remember to take the proof-of-purchase receipt from the validator to show to conductors.

Your Youth Pass CharlieCard makes you eligible to purchase discounted ferry tickets and passes:

• On board (show your card to the ticket agent or ferry official)
• At ticket windows (show your card to ticket agent)
• mTicket: Enter your card serial card number on the Reduced Fares page under the “My Account” section in your mTicket app. The reduced fare will then automatically appear.

Please note: The Salem and Winthrop ferries are operated seasonally by their respective municipalities. Prices and discount options may vary depending on what time you take your trip.

Learn more about taking the ferry

You can prove your enrollment by showing an official document from an eligible program, such as a letter of enrollment or a program-specific card (like MassHealth or EBT). All programs will be able to provide you with a letter of enrollment or eligibility if you ask for one.

Learn more about proof of enrollment

Being a college student does not automatically qualify you for a Youth Pass, even if you receive financial aid. But you may be eligible if you are enrolled in one of the Youth Pass partner programs, like MASSGrant, MassHeath, or SNAP.

Learn more about eligibility

You may be eligible if you have verified that your school does not provide Student CharlieCards. We prefer that middle and high school students access reduced fares via the Student Pass Program, but if you’re sure that your school does not provide this option, then you are eligible for a Youth Pass. Please make sure to let your Youth Pass location know which school you attend or state this on the Youth Pass online application so that they can relay the information to us.

If you’re a Boston resident in grades 7 – 12, including BPS public, charter, pilot, innovation school, and out-of-district students, you are not eligible for a Youth Pass, since you are eligible to receive an M7 Card (pre-loaded with monthly passes) directly through BPS. If you are a BPS student, please contact your school’s office about how you can get an M7 Card.

If you’re having trouble getting a card through your school or you're an out-of-district student, contact the Boston Public Schools Transportation Department about how you can get a card:

• BPS Transportation
• 617-635-9520
• Schoolbus@bostonpublicschools.org

Please contact your school’s office about how you can get an M7 Card. If you are having trouble getting a card through your school, contact the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Transportation Department:

• BPS Transportation
• 617-635-9520
• Schoolbus@bostonpublicschools.org

No, you will not be asked to show your immigration or citizenship status as part of the Youth Pass application process.

You should expect your application to be reviewed for eligibility within 5 business days. You will receive an email notification on whether you were approved, denied, or if more information is needed to process your application.

You will be required to sign the program’s terms and conditions on the application form in order to be accepted. The terms and conditions list the rules of the program for participants. Among other things, you will need to affirm that you are not eligible for a middle or high school Student CharlieCard and that you will give up your Youth Pass card if you become eligible for a Student CharlieCard. You’ll also need to agree to not allow anyone else to use your card. Any violation of the terms and conditions may result in removal from the program and card deactivation.

You’ll need documents that show proof of age, address, and enrollment in a Youth Pass partner program.

Learn more about accepted documents

Each participating city or town has a specific location where you can apply and/or pick up a Youth Pass CharlieCard (if eligible).

Please bring your eligibility documents with you, including proof of age, address, and enrollment in a partner program.

Call or email your participating city or town to see if any alternative hours are possible.

Most Youth Pass locations require that you either fill out an application online or complete it in person after calling/emailing to schedule an appointment. We recommend that you call or email your participating city or town to set up an appointment so staff can set aside time for you.

Cities or towns must agree to participate in the program. Some cities or towns may not participate because there is no MBTA service in that area.

If you live in a city or town with MBTA bus, subway, Commuter Rail, Express Bus, or ferry service that does not participate in the Youth Pass Program, encourage them to sign up by asking your city officials to contact us at youthpass@mbta.com.

If you apply online and are eligible, you will receive your card in the mail within 5 days of your application being approved. If you apply in-person and are eligible, you will receive your card on the spot.

Please contact your participating city or town if you don’t receive your cards within 5 business days of your application being approved.

If a fare gate or fare box says that your card is inactive or if you are not allowed through, first check to see if the card is damaged or cracked. If your card is not damaged or cracked, we recommend tapping the Youth Pass on a fare vending machine (instead of a fare gate/fare box) to see the expiration date of the card on the screen. If nothing appears on the screen, then the pass is either broken or de-magnetized. For broken, de-magnetized, or expired cards, you can request a replacement card online or by reaching out to the contact at your city/town.

Other reasons why your card may not be working include:

• It was double-tapped at a fare gate within the 15 minute window. If this happens, you must wait 15 minutes before you can tap another fare gate.
• It was tapped at one of the new card readers, which are not compatible with current CharlieCards and CharlieTickets.
• It was deactivated (either on accident or on purpose) by administrators at your city/town or the MBTA. If you believe your card was deactivated by accident, reach out to the contact at your city/town to receive a replacement card.

Only the assigned cardholder can use a Youth Pass CharlieCard. Prior to receiving a card, you  must sign the MBTA Youth Pass terms and conditions, agreeing to (among other things) not allow anyone else to use your card. A violation of any of the terms and conditions may result in removal from the program and card deactivation.

If your Youth Pass CharlieCard is damaged, lost, or stolen, you must report the card as damaged/lost/stolen to your Youth Pass office. It will be deactivated immediately.

You can get a replacement card:

1. Online. You will receive your card in the mail within 5 days of your request being approved, and any stored value or passes will automatically be transferred to the new replacement card.
2. In-person at your city or town's Youth Pass location. You will receive your new replacement card on the spot. To transfer stored value or passes onto your new card, you’ll need to visit the CharlieCard Store. You must have both your old and new card serial numbers with you.

Note: The CharlieCard Store will not replace a pass that has expired.

Cards that are replaced will be deactivated immediately. Balances from your old card can be transferred as follows:

• If you requested a replacement card online, any stored value or passes will automatically be transferred to the new card.
• If you get a replacement card in person, you'll need to visit the CharlieCard Store to transfer stored value or passes onto the new card. You must have both your old and new card serial numbers with you in order to do so.

Keep in mind that while the CharlieCard Store is able to transfer value and passes to a Youth Pass CharlieCard, they are not able to issue cards. You must get your replacement card online or from your city or town’s Youth Pass location.

Note: The CharlieCard Store will not replace a pass that has expired.

Enter your Youth Pass serial card number on the Reduced Fares page under the “My Account” section in your mTicket app. The reduced fare will then automatically appear when purchasing a ticket.

Learn more about Commuter Rail fares and mTicket