Residents of the Community of Madrid who are 65 years of age or older can travel for free throughout the region’s entire transit network. For them, the only step required to access the Metro, Cercanías, and buses completely free of charge is to load the +65 Pass onto their Personal Public Transportation Card, after first proving, of course, that they meet the requirements set by the Regional Transportation Consortium (which we’ll detail below).
Below are all the details on how and where to purchase and renew (if you already have one) the +65 Pass to get the most out of the regional public transit network.
How to Get the +65 Pass
The first step: having a Personal Public Transportation Card
To use the +65 Pass, you must first have a Personal Public Transportation Card. Since last June, being registered as a resident in the Community of Madrid or in one of the municipalities of Castilla-La Mancha or Castilla y León listed on the Regional Transportation Consortium’s website has been an essential requirement for obtaining a Personal Public Transportation Card.
This means that anyone wishing to apply for the card must also submit a certificate or notice of registration issued within the three months prior to submitting the application.
The certificate can be requested in person at the city hall of the municipality where you reside, or through its online portal. In the case of the Madrid City Council, for example, the certificate application process can be completed online, by phone, or in person—without an appointment—at its Citizen Service Offices.
In addition to the certificate of residence registration, you must also provide a recent color passport-sized photo (if you complete the process in person, the photo can be taken at the office) and a form of identification (ID card, passport, or residence permit).
With all the required documents on hand, the Personal Transportation Card can be requested online or in person at one of the Madrid General Transportation Consortium’s service offices. You can schedule an appointment to obtain or renew the card in person via the consortium’s website or by calling 012.
Step 2: Load the +65 Pass onto your Personal Public Transportation Card
Once you have your Personal Public Transportation Card, simply load the +65 Pass at any of the sales points authorized by the consortium. They are as follows:
- The “Tarjeta Transporte” pass loading app (which can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store).
- Any Metro de Madrid, Renfe Cercanías, or Metro Ligero Oeste ticket vending machine.
- Tobacco shops and authorized retail establishments.
- Transit Hubs.
If the app, terminal, or ticket machine detects that you meet the age requirement, it will automatically offer you the +65 Pass. This pass, which is personal and non-transferable, allows you to travel completely free of charge for 365 days throughout the entire public transportation network of the Community of Madrid (up to fare zone C2, that is, within the region’s boundaries).
Anyone who already has the +65 Pass and wishes to renew it can recharge it starting 10 days before its expiration date, either through the “Tarjeta Transporte” app or at any of the other points of sale listed above. There’s just one final step: take advantage of the free transit pass to travel freely throughout the entire region.