School transport in primary and lower secondary school

Who can apply?

Pupils who live a certain distance from the school are entitled to free school transport:

• 2 km for grade 1
• 4 km for grades 2-10

The right to transport owing to a long distance to and from school is regulated in Sections 7-1 and 7-2 of the Education Act. 

Pupils can also apply for school transport or transport owing to a particularly dangerous way to and from school.

The minimum distance requirement does not apply for pupils who need transport due to disabilities, or who have a temporary need for transport due to illness or injury.

How to apply?

Who applies?

For primary and lower secondary school pupils, the school  reports transport needs to us.

If as a parent or guardian you are unsure about anything related to school transport for your child, please contact your child’s school.

Application tool

The Troms County Administration makes decision pursuant to the provisions of the Education Act. If an application is rejected, a letter is sent containing information about the right to challenge a decision.

Adapted school transport

If the pupil is disabled or has a temporary injury or illness, the school must apply for adapted school transport.

School card

We issue a school card to pupils who are entitled to free school transport.

The school cards are only to be used for school transport.

You will find information here about how to buy our ordinary tickets.

When and where do you get your card?

For pupils at primary and lower secondary school, the school card will be issued at the school on one of the first days of school. Pupils who had a school card in the previous school year will receive an updated card. Remember to take good care of your school card.

Pupils receiving a new school card

The school card is only valid on school days. As there are 190 school days and two journeys per day, the school card is valid for 380 bus journeys. It’s the pupil’s responsibility for ensuring that this number of bus journeys is not used up before the end of the school year.

• Pupils receiving a new school card will be issued their new school card on one of the first days of school. These will work from the first time they are used.
• When you use the school card for the first time, hold it against the validator for three seconds so the new data can be loaded on the card.
• The card must be scanned on the bus on every journey.
• The card is valid for travel between the pupil’s home and school, i.e. two journeys per day.
• If you need to transfer to another bus, this will still be regarded as one journey.
• The school card is personal and may not be loaned or given to others.

Lost and damaged school cards

• Notify the school, which will order a new school card.
• In most cases, the pupil will be given a reserve school card.
• New school cards cost NOK 50.
• A valid receipt must be presented at the school before a new card is issued.
• The fee does not apply for pupils in grades 1-4.
• School cards with technical errors, or which cannot be scanned on the bus, should be delivered to the school. The school will issue a reserve school card for free.

Pupils with a school card from the previous year

• Keep the school card from the previous school year.
• On the first day of the new school year, hold the card against the validator for three seconds so the new data can be loaded on the card.

The school card should be used every year you are entitled to school transport in Troms, including if you swap schools.

Misuse of school cards

• School cards that are misused will be confiscated and returned to the school.
• Forgery of school cards is regarded as forgery and may be reported to the Police.
• Misuse of school cards can lead to the right to transport being revoked for a shorter or longer period.

How long is the journey valid?

• The school card is valid for 75 minutes from the time of boarding/scanning the card until the transfer time expires.
• The school cards have two journeys programmed on the card per day.
• Primary/lower secondary school cards are valid until 17:00 (5pm).
• Upper secondary school cards are valid until 23:00 (11pm).

Change of residence or shared residence

Pupils who change their place of residence or school must notify the school, as moving will generally change the transport conditions and may affect the pupil’s right to free transport.

Pupils who alternate between living with parents with different residential addresses may be entitled to school transport to both parents if the distance is over 6 km. A certain amount of predictability is required in the distribution of transport between the places of residence. However, equal distribution is not a condition.

Both parents must confirm that the pupil has two places of residence before a bus card is issued. The signed form must be delivered to the school to support the application.

Download the form for confirmation of shared residence (PDF, 647 kB) here.

Disabled, injured or ill pupils

There is no minimum distance requirement for disabled and temporarily ill or injured pupils. The Education Act sets as a condition for transport that the disability, injury or illness indicates that the pupil has a genuine need for transport. This must be documented by a medical certificate (PDF, 838 kB) from a specialist/doctor.

Pupils that attend a school other than his/hers local school

Although the schools are responsible for school transport in cases where the pupil is granted the right to attend a school other than his/her local school, the municipality/school can apply to the county administration to carry out the transport on behalf of the municipality.

In such cases, an individual decision by the municipality concerning the right to attend the school, including the duration, must be attached to the application.

Pupils attending compulsory work placement/practical training

The pupil has the right to free transport when there is a minimum of 4 km between the pupil’s residence and the business concerned. The municipality arranges and funds this transport.

Reimbursement form for school transport

You will find the reimbursement form for school transport here.