Transport for London is now accepting applications for photocards from London residents aged over 60, students aged over 18, apprentices, and individuals aged 18 to 25 who are leaving care and living in London.

Applications for all photocards were suspended after a recent cyber security incident, but will soon be reopened for 5-10, 11-15 and 16+ Zip Oyster photocards.

Until the application process restarts, 5-10 and 11-15 Zip Oyster photocards that have expired will continue to be accepted until 31st December 2024 on Transport for London and National rail services across London where they are normally valid.

After suspicious activity was detected on its computer network on 1st September, Transport for London took immediate action to secure it and ensure all safety-critical systems and processes were maintained.

The Information Commissioner’s Office was notified of the incident, and throughout the process of reinstating the service, the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre have been closely involved.

The decision to suspend photocard applications was to allow important security checks to be undertaken.

A phased approach is being used to process new applications, with over 13,000 18+ Student Photocards being issued since applications reopened.

After a customer has successfully applied for a new 60+ London Photocard, they will be advised on how to claim additional travel costs while the Photocard website was offline and unable to apply for a new one.

Applications can now be submitted for new 18+ Student, 18-25 Care Leaver and Apprentice Oyster Photocards and 60+ London Oyster Photocards.

Holders of 60+ London Oyster Photocards are normally required to submit a yearly address check; those checks have also been suspended, but will soon restart, with customers being advised of the exact date.

For more details, please check the Transport for London website by clicking here.

“We’re pleased to now reopen applications for those wishing to apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocards, following applications for the 18+, Apprentice and 18-25 Care Leavers or concessions opening last week. We are working hard to reopen applications for 16+ and other Zip photocards as soon as possible. Following the recent highly sophisticated cyber security incident, we have been working to restore systems which we had to take offline as part of our mitigations. We will continue to work to ensure other photocard applications can start being processed as soon as possible. Once customers have successfully applied for a new Oyster photocard, we will also contact them to advise on how to claim for any additional travel costs incurred while the photocard website has been unavailable.”

Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at Transport for London