Brussels – Starting next school year, students in Brussels who are under 24 will be able to renew their STIB/MIVB passes without the need for a school certificate. Previously, students were required to submit a certificate from their school, complicating and prolonging the renewal process. The school pass costs €12 per year, while the Brupass, which provides access to all public transportation in the Brussels Region, costs €56. STIB spokesperson Guy Salon emphasized that this change aims to facilitate affordable travel for youth, reports 24brussels.
According to VRT News, the removal of the school certificate requirement will expedite the renewal process for students. The STIB school pass is eligible for individuals aged 12 to 24, granting unlimited access to STIB buses, trams, and metro lines, with the exception of line 12 from Brussels Airport.
Changes to STIB Pass Renewal for Brussels Students
In addition to the school pass, students can choose the Brupass, which allows travel across the Brussels Region using STIB, De Lijn, TEC, and NMBS. For families with three or more students, the cost for additional passes is lowered to €44 annually for the third and subsequent passes.
Students attending schools in Brussels but living outside the city still need to provide a school certificate to qualify for a STIB/MIVB school pass. This certification can be submitted via email or delivered in person at a STIB-BOOTIK or KIOSK. The STIB has noted that requiring this verification for non-residents ensures fairness while supporting a diverse array of students who depend on public transport in Brussels.
“We see that 90% of young people in Brussels now use public transport. Before the introduction of this new option, that figure was 70%,” Salon stated.
Salon also highlighted that approximately 175,000 young people out of 200,000 in this age group now have access to this cost-effective public transport option.
This initiative follows the Brussels government’s decision in July 2021 to significantly reduce the annual STIB/MIVB school pass price from €50 to €12 for students aged 12 to 24, aiming to improve accessibility and encourage greater use of public transport among the youth.
In February 2022, the Brussels 18-24 Pass was launched, allowing residents aged 18 to 24 to travel on the STIB network for just €12 per year, irrespective of their student status. Previously, non-students were required to pay €499 for the same pass.
