What is the ISIC card?
The ISIC Card – International Student Identity Card – is the only internationally recognized proof of student status.
It is a card issued in more than 130 countries, endorsed by UNESCO and supported by organizations such as the European Union Council for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport and the Andean Community of Nations. The ISIC card is recognized by universities, academic institutions, student organizations, national governments and ministries of education around the world.
It is accessible to all students and gives exclusive access to benefits and discounts worldwide.
The ISIC card is available to all students studying at an educational establishment (school, college or university) recognized by the Ministry of Education and has no age limit. You can apply for your ISIC card online or at one of the ISIC issuing offices.
Each standard ISIC card is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
If you have a Caixa ISIC card, i.e. an ISIC card with a financial component developed in partnership with Caixa Geral de Depósitos, and you have a question about the financial component of your card, namely credit, you should contact Caixa Geral de Depósitos. You can consult the website www.cgd.pt, go to a CGD branch or contact Caixa ISIC Support on 707 24 24 24 or 217 900 790.
Can I use my ISIC card as proof of identity?
The ISIC card is proof of student status and can be used as proof of identification in many places.
However, some countries may require other means of identification, so we recommend that you check each country’s rules beforehand.
What if I'm not a student?
If you’re not a student but are under 31, the IYTC – International Youth Travel Card – is the right card for you.
If you’re a teacher, you can get the ITIC – International Teacher Identity Card.
The IYTC and ITIC cards are similar in terms of services, benefits and discounts to the ISIC card.
What is the IYTC card?
The International Youth Travel Card is aimed at all young people under the age of 31. The IYTC card offers benefits, services and savings around the world, similar to those of the ISIC card. The IYTC card is a valuable tool, especially for travelers.
The IYTC card is valid for one year from the date of issue. To be eligible for the IYTC card, you must apply for it before your 31st birthday. You can apply for your IYTC card online.
What is the ITIC card?
The International Teacher’s Card is available to all teachers who teach in an educational establishment (school, college or university) recognized by the Ministry of Education. It is the only document that recognizes teacher status internationally. The ITIC card gives access to similar benefits, services and savings worldwide as the ISIC card.
The standard ITIC card is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The ITIC card can be applied for online or at one of the ITIC issuing offices.
If you have a Caixa ITIC card, i.e. an ITIC card with a financial component developed in partnership with Caixa Geral de Depósitos, and you have any questions relating to the financial component of your card, namely credit, you should contact Caixa Geral de Depósitos. You can consult the website www.cgd.pt, go to a CGD branch or contact Caixa ITIC Support on 707 24 24 24 or 217 900 790.
How much do ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards cost?
The cost of the card varies according to the country in which it is issued.
In Portugal, ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards cost 10 euros, plus any postage.
What is the ISIC Association?
The ISIC Association is the non-profit organization that represents ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards worldwide. For more information about the ISIC Association, please visit www.isicassociation.org.
ISIC Portugal is a member of the ISIC Association.
How can I get my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card?
ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards aren't issued in my country, what can I do?
If there are no issuing offices in your country, you can buy an ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card in another country when you travel.
Make sure you have all the necessary documents with you.
We are constantly working to ensure access to the ISIC, ITIC and IYTC card in as many countries as possible.
Stay tuned for new developments.
Can I renew my ISIC, ITIC and IYTC card?
If your card has expired, you must apply for a new card via the isic.pt website or at an issuing office.
If you want a new ISIC card, you must prove that you are still studying by presenting a document that clearly indicates your name, the name of the educational establishment and the current school year.
To obtain a new ITIC card you must prove that you are still teaching, by presenting a document that clearly indicates your name, the name of the educational establishment and the current school year.
If you want a new IYTC card, you must prove that you are under 31.
If you have a Caixa ISIC or Caixa ITIC card, i.e. an ISIC or ITIC card with a Caixa Geral de Depósitos banking component, you should contact your bank. You can go to a CGD branch or contact Caixa ISIC Support on 707 24 24 24 or 217 900 790.
If you have any questions, send an email to info@isic.pt.
I've lost my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card, what should I do?
ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards are non-refundable and non-transferable.
You can use the ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card in the ISIC Mobile App, using the virtual card, or you will have to obtain a new card online or at one of the issuing offices.
I applied for my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card online, what are the next steps?
When applying for your ISIC card at www.isic.pt you must provide proof that you are a student, proof of your date of birth (ID card, Citizen’s Card or Passport), a photograph and make the payment.
When applying for your ITIC card at www.isic.pt you must provide proof that you are a teacher, proof of your date of birth (ID card, Citizen’s Card or Passport), a photograph and make the payment.
When you apply for your IYTC card at www.isic.pt you must provide proof of your date of birth (ID card, Citizen Card or Passport), a photograph and make the payment.
If you didn’t provide these details during the initial registration process, you can go to My Card to update your details and check the process for issuing your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card.
If you have any questions, you can send an e-mail to info@isic.pt.
How long is the ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card valid for?
Standard ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards are valid for 1 year from the date of issue.
The validity of co-branded cards varies depending on the type of co-brand and the agreement reached between the parties.
What documents do I need to apply for an ISIC card?
The ISIC card is only available to students enrolled in an educational establishment recognized by the Ministry of Education, so you have to prove that you are currently studying.
When you apply for your card you must provide one of the following documents:
- a copy of your student card which clearly indicates your name, the educational establishment and the academic year;
- a signed and dated statement from the educational establishment certifying that you are a student at that institution.
You will also need
- proof of your date of birth (Identity Card, Citizen’s Card or Passport);
- a passport photo.
What documents do I need to apply for an ITIC card?
The ITIC card – International Teacher Identity Card – is only available to active teachers, teaching in an educational establishment recognized by the Ministry of Education.
To prove your status as a teacher, you must present a signed and dated declaration from the educational establishment. You will also need
- proof of your date of birth (Identity Card, Citizen’s Card or Passport);
- a passport photo.
What documents do I need to apply for an IYTC card?
The IYTC – International Youth Travel Card – is valid for people up to and including the age of 30.
To obtain your IYTC you must prove your age with one of the following documents:
- Identity Card, Citizen Card or Passport.
You’ll also need a passport photo.
What is a student?
To be considered a student you must have at least 15 hours of study per week, for a minimum of 12 weeks per year, at an educational establishment (school, college or university) recognized by the Ministry of Education.
What is a teacher?
To be considered a teacher, you must be teaching in an educational establishment (school, college or university) recognized by the Ministry of Education.
How can I find benefits and discounts?
To find benefits and discounts all over the world, use the international discount search engine at www.isic.org.
You can also search for benefits and discounts at www.isic.pt.
On this site you can also suggest benefits and discounts that you would like to have with your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card.
You can also install the ISIC mobile app, which is free and available for iOS and Android devices. Use it to search for benefits and discounts when you’re on the move.
Adjust the search settings by clicking on ‘Refine Results’ to get discount information by category, card type and the type of discount. Please note that some benefits and discounts may have restrictions such as only being able to be used online. To search only for online benefits and discounts, select the ‘online’ discount type from the list.
Your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card offers you a wide range of benefits and discounts on travel, entertainment, education, software and much more. The benefits and discounts vary all over the world. To make your savings more meaningful at home or when traveling abroad, make sure your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card goes with you everywhere!
Can I easily search for discounts on my smartphone or tablet?
Both the isic.pt website and the www.isic.org website are responsive sites, meaning you can easily consult them from your smartphone or tablet.
You can also download the free ISIC mobile app available for iOS and Android to search for benefits and discounts.
Can my friends and family benefit from the discounts on my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card?
In general, ISIC, ITIC or IYTC discounts and benefits are for the holder only. There may be exceptions and partners who clearly indicate that the discount is applicable to companions.
But your friends and family may be eligible for their own ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card.
I bought my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card, do I have to activate it?
No, as a rule your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card is active as soon as it is issued.
However, you can check the status of your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card here to see if you need to activate it. Enter your card number in the ‘Check your card’ box and click on ‘Check Card Status’.
Your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number consists of a letter followed by a series of 12 numbers and one more letter at the end.
If your card is not active, go to the Card Activation Page to activate it online. Please note that if you have an ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card that also functions as a payment card (credit, debit or prepaid card), for security reasons always cover the payment card number and CVV code when uploading images of the front and back of your card. You can use a small piece of paper to cover this information before scanning or taking pictures of your card. Alternatively, you can edit the scan or photo of your card to cover this information.
Card activations take up to 2 working days to verify and process. You will receive an email notification as soon as your card activation is complete. Once your card is active, you can easily access all the online benefits and discounts your card gives you.
If you want to activate the banking component of your card, you should contact your bank.
If you have a Caixa ISIC or Caixa ITIC you can call 707 24 24 24 or 217 900 790.
I've been refused a benefit or discount, what do I do?
We take the refusal of benefits or discounts very seriously.
In order to be able to investigate and analyze the situation, we ask that you send us as complete and detailed an explanation of what happened as possible to info@isic.pt.
What happens if my ISIC, ITIC and virtual IYTC card is not accepted in an establishment?
Some establishments have specific policies in place and it is at their discretion whether or not to accept the virtual ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card. However, we are continuously working to ensure that the virtual ISIC, ITIC and IYTC card is recognized and accepted worldwide and we will do our best to inform you, in the description of each benefit, if the virtual card is not accepted. However, please let us know if you have any problems with the acceptance of the virtual card. Send an email to info@isic.pt so that we can contact the establishment and find a solution or, if necessary, update the discount information.
If you are traveling abroad, we recommend that you take your physical card with you as the recognition and acceptance of the virtual card may not be fully guaranteed. Some local benefits, due to their characteristics, such as the validation process for ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards, may still require a physical version of the card.
My ISIC, ITIC and IYTC card doesn't allow me to access benefits and discounts online, now what?
If you’re having trouble accessing benefits and discounts online, please check that your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card is active. You can check the status of your card here. Enter your card number in the ‘Check your card’ box and click on ‘Check Card Status’.
If your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card is not active, go to the Card Activation Page to activate it online. Card activations can take up to 2 working days to verify and process, you will receive an email notification as soon as your card activation is complete.
If your card is active but you’re still having trouble accessing benefits and discounts online, send an email to info@isic.pt with a scan or photo of the front and back of your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card so we can check the situation.
Why can't I register with the ISIC App?
There may be several reasons why you can’t register:
- ISIC headquarters may not yet have received your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card details and therefore your card is not yet available for use online;
- Your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC number may have been entered incorrectly;
- Your name may not have been entered according to the name on the card.
What you can do:
- Check that your card is active by clicking here;
- Check that you have entered the correct data;
- If you continue to have problems, please contact us at the following email address: info@isic.pt
Why haven't I received the registration activation email?
There may be several reasons why you haven’t received the activation email:
- Your email was entered incorrectly when you registered with the ISIC App;
- The automatic activation email was caught by your spam filter;
- Your email server may have blocked the automatic email.
What you can do:
- Check your spam or junk folder and search for an email from isicaccounts@isic.org;
- Add isicaccounts@isic.org to your email contacts or list of authorized senders;
- if you continue to have problems, please contact us at mobiletickets@isic.org.
I can't log in to the ISIC App, what can I do?
There may be several reasons why you can’t log in to the ISIC App:
- You have entered your login details incorrectly;
- There is a problem with your account;
- You are using an invalid ISIC profile.
What you can do:
- Make sure you have created an account in the ISIC App (see the registration instructions in the ISIC App). Old profiles may not work*;
- if you continue to have problems, please contact mobiletickets@isic.org.
*There are ISIC sites in other countries that may have asked you to create an account in the past. The ISIC App profile is not related to that account and a new registration is required.
I don't know the pin/password to access my virtual card.
The pin and fingerprint to access your virtual card is not something you define for this application. This is automatically synchronized with the pin and fingerprint registered to unlock your phone. In this sense, by using your pin and fingerprint, you should be able to access your virtual card without any problems.
If you have set a password to protect your virtual card, this is the same password you set to log in to your ISIC account.
If you are still unable to access your virtual card, please contact us at mobiletickets@isic.org.
Can I upload or change my photo in the ISIC app?
When we don’t have a photo of you in our archive, you can upload a photo to your virtual card via the ISIC App.
From the menu, go to your profile and upload an image to use on the virtual card. Make sure you upload a passport photo with your face from the front.
You can change your photo in the ISIC app, but you have to remove the existing one first. To do this, send your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number to mobiletickets@isic.org, justifying your request to remove the photo. Once we have removed your photo, you can upload a new one to your virtual card.
The photo can only be removed by the ISIC Association if the uploaded photo does not match your image or is not a face photo that meets the photo requirements for an ID document.
How do I update my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC virtual card?
The card update function is only visible to registered users with a card that expires in 30 days.
As soon as you renew your card, use this function in the ISIC app to update your account with your new ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number. This way, your existing account will still be available and you won’t need to register again!
How to find the card update function:
- Click on the three stripes button in the top left corner;
- Click on Profile;
- Above your profile picture you will see the update function for your card.
After clicking on the card update function, fill in the field with your new ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number and you’re done! Your virtual card is updated with your new number.
If you have any problems or questions updating your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card, please contact us at mobiletickets@isic.org.
My ISIC app has the wrong language, what can I do?
The language the app selects is based on your phone’s settings. The app takes your priority list into account and selects the option that comes first and in which the ISIC app is available.
This can be resolved by following these steps:
Apple:
- Go to your phone’s settings – General – Language and Region;
- On the Language and Region screen, click Edit in the top right corner;
- In the Preferred Language Order, check that the language in which you want to see the ISIC app is at the top of the list;
- Click OK and restart the ISIC app.
Android:
- Go to your phone’s settings – Device – Language and Text;
- On the Language and Text screen, click on Language;
- In the Preferred Language Order, check that the language you want to see the ISIC app in is at the top of the list;
- Click OK and restart the ISIC app.
If you still have problems or questions, please contact us at mobiletickets@isic.org.
Which devices are compatible with the ISIC App?
The ISIC App is currently supported by:
- Android smartphones
Android OS 4.4 and above
- iPhones
IOS 8.0 and above
If you don’t have these requirements, please visit https://m.isic.org
If we haven’t answered all your questions, please send us an e-mail to info@isic.pt.