As 1 September 2026 approaches, thousands of Kyiv families are once again faced with the question: do they have to pay for their children's travel on the capital's public transport? With the start of the school year, the rules for providing discounted travel to students come into force again, but to apply them correctly, the appropriate certificate is required. Let's look at exactly what is provided for schoolchildren in Kyiv and what nuances parents should keep in mind.
Summer holidays: travel is paid, but with a discount
In accordance with a decision of the Kyiv City Council, free and discounted travel for students of general secondary education institutions in the capital is provided exclusively during the academic year and the annual assessment period. This means that during the summer holidays — from 1 July to 31 August — free travel for schoolchildren is traditionally suspended. Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Valentyn Mondryievskyi previously explained that during this period, travel for students is paid, as it is in most Ukrainian cities. At the same time, an electronic student ticket can be used to purchase a monthly or half-monthly pass at a 75% discount, which significantly reduces the cost of a child's daily trips over the summer.
From 1 September — free again: but only with a ticket
From 1 September 2026, travel for students on Kyiv's public transport will once again become free. However, there is an important nuance: to receive the benefit, a valid certificate — a student ticket — is required. If previously the "traditional" student booklet issued by the educational institution was sufficient, now, for regular free travel with trip registration through a validator, you must use an electronic student ticket, which is issued through the relevant services of the Kyivpasstrans municipal enterprise. Passengers entitled to discounted travel may continue to use their existing old-format travel certificates, provided that they have been renewed at the educational institution and contain all the required details: a photograph, class, validity period, the signature of the responsible person, and the seal of the educational institution.
Which transport is covered by the benefit
It is important to understand that the municipal public transport of the capital, to which the right to free travel applies, includes: buses on urban routes of general use, trolleybuses, trams, the metro, the funicular, and the urban electric train. At the same time, in Kyiv marshrutkas — shared taxis owned by private carriers, commercial companies, and entrepreneurs — schoolchildren have no right to free travel and must pay the fare on general terms. Parents should take this into account when planning their children's routes to and from school.
What parents should do before 1 September
Schoolchildren and their parents are advised to check in advance that they have a valid and up-to-date student ticket — either electronic or old-format with an extended validity period. If the document has been lost or its validity period has expired, it is necessary to contact the educational institution to obtain a new one or renew the old one. It is also worth checking that the electronic student ticket is linked to the transport cards the child uses, and that they have sufficient funds for possible trips on days when the benefit does not apply (for example, on days of non-academic events or in case of calendar changes). Following these simple rules will help avoid unpleasant situations when validating travel and ensure children's unimpeded access to public transport throughout the school year.
