Do you have a question about your Half Fare Travelcard? You can find answers to frequently asked questions about the Half Fare Travelcard and help on how to renew or cancel it here.
Purchase.
First-time purchase online.
When purchasing online, the most important thing is your customer number in the format 000-000-000-0. If you have or had a SwissPass or a public transport travelcard in the last five years, you can find this number on your SwissPass card and use it to purchase your Half Fare Travelcard online.
If you used to have a travelcard but have forgotten the customer number, you can find out what it is by going to a staffed public transport point of sale or phoning the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.).
To purchase a Half Fare Travelcard for another person online, they also need to have a customer number.
First-time purchasing online with an identity check.
If you don’t have a travelcard or a SwissPass, you can still buy your new Half Fare Travelcard online. If you are buying a travelcard for the first time, we need to verify your identity. This identity check takes place online. You need a valid official ID (e.g. passport or ID card) and a smartphone with a camera. You will also need a recent, high-quality, digital passport photo.
It is not possible to purchase a Half Fare Travelcard for another person online using the identity check.
You can order a new Half Fare Travelcard online using the PDF order form on SBB.ch. To do so, fill out the PDF form on your computer, print it out and send it to us at the address given on the order form, together with the photo and the required documents. Alternatively, you can print the form out first, fill it out by hand and then send it to us.
Purchasing at a staffed public transport point of sale.
Of course, you can also order the Half Fare Travelcard at a staffed public transport point of sale. Please bring your SwissPass (if you have one) and a valid official ID (e.g. passport or ID card).
The credit card must be in the same name as the contracting party.
The credit card will be charged once the order has been received.
Observe limits.
Online
Order form
Staffed public transport point of sale
Debit cards.
PostFinance Card / PostFinance Pay
Reka Card
n/a
Online
Staffed public transport point of sale
Mobile phone.
Twint
Observe limits / credit
Online
Staffed public transport point of sale
Invoice.
CembraPay invoice (for online purchases).
Public transport invoice (when purchasing at the counter and using the order form).
We will send you the invoice together with a payment slip in the post. Please note:
Your order must be placed at least ten days before your travelcard validity begins. Otherwise your payment by invoice cannot be processed and will be returned.
We will send you the invoice separately – not together with your SwissPass card. You must pay this before the first day that your travelcard is valid, otherwise you will receive a payment reminder.
Online (CembraPay)
Order form (public transport invoice)
Staffed public transport point of sale (public transport invoice)
Cash payment.
Swiss francs CHF
Euros EUR (change in CHF)
Staffed public transport point of sale
Public transport vouchers.
Digital vouchers
Voucher card
When redeeming online, you must have sufficient credit for the entire amount in your online shopping basket. If this is not the case, you can top up the voucher with the difference.
If you would like a new photo before the time limit has been reached (ten years for those aged 25 or older, five years for under 25s), please visit a staffed public transport point of sale. The new photo will be taken directly on site. You can then get a new SwissPass card with the new photo for a fee of CHF 30.
Documents.
Purchasing online with a SwissPass.
If you already have a SwissPass, you will need the following documents to make the purchase for the first time online.
Debit or credit card (PostFinance Card / PostFinance Pay, Mastercard, Visa, Reka Card, American Express, Diners or JCB), Twint. (The credit card must be in the same name as the contracting party.)
Valid official ID (e.g. passport or ID card) for the travelcard user and for the contracting party (for example, if you are purchasing a Half Fare Travelcard for your child as a parent or for another person).
When purchasing online using an existing SwissPass, you can only enter the follow documents online: a valid official ID (e.g. passport or ID card) issued in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy or Liechtenstein.
If you are purchasing the Half Fare Travelcard for another person with a SwissPass, you will need the same documents for the other person.
Purchasing online without a SwissPass (with an identity check).
If you do not have a SwissPass, you can buy your first Half Fare Travelcard online via the identity check. However, you can only do so for yourself and not for another person. When purchasing without a SwissPass, it does not matter in which country you live or what nationality you are. Anyone can buy a Half Fare Travelcard. To make the purchase for the first time, you will need the following documents:
a smartphone with a camera.
a debit or credit card (PostFinance Card / PostFinance Pay, Mastercard, Visa, Reka Card, American Express, Diners or JCB), Twint.
If you would like to purchase the Half Fare Travelcard for another person who does not hold a SwissPass, you can do so at a staffed public transport point of sale or by using the order form.
Purchasing at a staffed public transport point of sale.
Of course, you can also order a Half Fare Travelcard at a staffed public transport point of sale. Please bring the following with you:
With a SwissPass.
Your SwissPass card or your smartphone/tablet with your SwissPass in the app (e.g. SBB Mobile).
Without a SwissPass.
A valid official ID (e.g. passport or ID card).
If you are purchasing the Half Fare Travelcard for another person, you will need the same documents for the other person.
Purchasing for the first time via the order form.
You can also order a Half Fare Travelcard using the order form. You will need:
An original, high resolution passport photo taken recently.
Please write your first name and surname in block capitals on the back of the photo.
Please attach the photo to the order form in the space indicated.
A copy of your valid ID (passport or ID).
Please send the order form to the address specified.
If you are purchasing the Half Fare Travelcard for another person, you will need the same documents for the other person.
Your Half Fare Travelcard will be valid on the SwissPass from its first day of validity.
This is your first SwissPass?
Your Half Fare Travelcard on the SwissPass will be delivered by post within around ten days. If you would like your new Half Fare Travelcard to be valid earlier, we can provide a temporary SwissPass. If you order online, you can print it out as a PDF. If you order using the order form, bring all your documents with you to the counter and you will receive it there.
Cancellation.
You can find all the questions and answers about cancelling your Half Fare Travelcard on the cancellation help page.
When buying a Half Fare Travelcard you take out an indefinite contract. The advantage is that your travelcard is automatically renewed when your year-long validity period comes to an end. Your SwissPass card is valid for five years and your travelcard will be automatically renewed on this card.
We will remind you of the possible cancellation date well ahead of the automatic annual renewal. You will receive this reminder together with your annual invoice. You can also subscribe to an e-mail or SMS reminder for this cancellation date in your customer account on swisspass.chLink opens in new window..
Payment arrears.
Please note that if you do not pay your annual Half Fare Travelcard renewal fee on time, you will be in arrears without warning. At this point you can no longer cancel your Half Fare Travelcard. If you are in arrears, we can block your Half Fare Travelcard after one month of validity.
If you leave your SwissPass at home or in the office, you can display it easily in the SBB Mobile app in the Tickets & SwissPass tile (you must have a SwissPass login with a linked customer number).
Alternatively, for a fee of CHF 5 we can issue you with a temporary card valid for two days, available at any ticket counter, upon presentation of official ID.
No problem, you can order a SwissPass replacement card for CHF 30 online at SBB.ch, via the SBB Contact Center or at a staffed public transport point of sale.
No. You cannot suspend or deposit the Half Fare Travelcard because after just a few journeys you will already have recovered the cost of the travelcard.
Getting the Swiss Half Fare Card on the mobile app
I purchased 2Half Fare Cards. I have the receipts and copied the QR code to the app. The app states I need to sign in to SBB to upload the card to the app. They want to verify my phone number via SMS, I never get a text, or an email. I do get an error message. Now what? 
Note that you do not need to add the pass to the app to use it. You can still use the app to buy tickets. Just indicate in the app that you have the Half Fare Card. You can even buy all the tickets for everyone in your travel party on one device that way. When the conductor comes show the ticket, and the Half Fare Card. As long as you show it in a way that allows the QR code to be scanned you are fine.
I thought I was booking a 1 month half fare travel card and now am realizing I booked the full year, recurring one. How do I cancel the current one and get my money back and then book the foreigner 1 month travel card? Thank you!
Hello everyone, I am from South Korea, so I try to get identity check in online system. But it said that “Identity check unsuccessful. Unfortunately, it was not possible to verify your documents. Please go to a public transport ticket counter. Bring a passport photo and valid ID.”. I have discount voucher until 4/30, but I could not go to office in offline, because I will arrived in Switzerland after 5/15. Is there any solution to get admission?
Do you have any questions about rail travel, tickets or travelcards? Book a free consultation at an SBB Travel Centre or make an appointment for a callback.
