Istanbul Transit Cards

İstanbulkart

The Istanbulkart is a form of electronic ticketing used instead of cash on the mass transit system in the Istanbul Greater Municipality. It can be used on buses, the metro, funiculars, tramways, and ferries. 

Standard Fare Transit Cards
The Anonim Kart These cards can be purchased with from any of the 2100 counters around the city. The price is 25TL (Fall 2022). They can be used on all modes of transportation. They can be loaded at authorized İETT loading points, and at authorized private loading points. They are good for two years.

The Discount Student Istanbulkart 
A discount card is available to students, including international students in the Erasmus+, Exchange, and Mevlana programs.

The Student Certificate required for the application is available after online course registration has been completed for the semester. 

Application for the Discount Student Istanbulkart 

In-Person

1. You will need to request your student Certificate from the Registrar's Office.  YÖKSIS number will be stated in the document. 

What is a YÖKSIS number? YÖK, the Council of Higher Education, the branch of the central government is responsible for universities. YÖK assigns each student a unique number, called a YÖKSIS number.

2. Collect the following: Student Certificate, Original passport, One photograph, 10TL

3. Go to the İETT Main Office in Karaköy. You may read on other websites that students may apply to other places in the city, but we recommend Karaköy because it is the main office.

4. The İETT official will look up your YÖKSIS number on the IETT system, and accept the other documents and payment.

5. They issue the card.

Online 
Because the online application site is in Turkish and the system itself has some serious quirks, we do not recommend using it, nor can we help you with it. You can try it if you like: İETT Online Application for the Istanbulkart.

If your Travel Card is lost or stolen 
 If you think you dropped it on campus, you can look in the Lost and Found, which is located in the Student Affairs Office on the South Campus.

To replace a lost or stolen card

  1.  Cancel the lost or stolen card by calling the İETT call center at 444-1871. Your card has to be cancelled before a new one can be issued to your YÖKSIS number.
  2. Go to the İETT main office in Karaköy and apply to have a replacement card issued. Take your passport with you.
  3. Pay a fee of 10TL. It is 10TL for the first replacement card, 20TL for the second and third, and 40TL for the fourth.