How long is Oyster card balance valid for?

Unused credit on your Visitor Oyster card The pay as you go credit on your Visitor Oyster card never expires so you can keep your card until your next visit, or lend it to family and friends. If you don't need your Visitor Oyster card, you can get the remaining credit refunded.



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Children under 11 travel free on most public transport services in London when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, or with a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard. Children aged 11 to 15 years old can get free or discounted travel with a Zip Oyster photocard, or a Young Visitor discount.

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You just have to ask a member of staff at a station to reactivate it for you as travellers cannot do that themselves. It's only if you returned the card for a refund of the deposit/credit that you have to get a new card.

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There is no expiry date on Oyster cards.

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If you want to do it over the phone, call TfL customer services on 0343 222 1234 between 8am and 8pm. For full info on what to do about lost, stolen or faulty Oyster cards, see the 'Refunds and replacements' section of the TfL website.

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What to do? As Oyster for Visitor cards can't be registered, the balance can't be checked on line. You'll need to touch in at a Tube, DLR, or Overground ticket machine which will show the balance remaining on the card, and that balance will remain in situ until used.

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If your card has failed revenue inspections or we have detected suspicious travel, we may stop it from further use.

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If you only have pay as you go credit on your Oyster card, you can lend it to someone else. Two people can't use the same contactless or Oyster card for a journey. If you have a Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass or discount added to your Oyster card, you can't lend it to someone else.

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Image courtesy of Shutterstock. Children under 11 travel free on most public transport services in London when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, or with a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard. Children aged 11 to 15 years old can get free or discounted travel with a Zip Oyster photocard, or a Young Visitor discount.

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You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID when you vote: an older person's bus pass. a disabled person's bus pass. an Oyster 60+ card.

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You must have a contactless and Oyster online account to use the app. The app will only work with contactless cards and/or Oyster cards; not Oyster photocards or other smartcards. You can only use the app if your Oyster card shows a 'D' symbol in the bottom left of the reverse side, as shown in the below image.

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To get a refund on any unused credit on your card, take it to a Tube station, telephone Transport for London (TfL) or post it to the address below. Please check the balance on your card at a Tube station or Oyster Ticket Stop before you leave London, as you cannot do this from home.

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Is it cheaper to use Oyster or contactless? As both cards use the same Pay As You Go system and are compatible with the TfL Oyster & Contactless app, the costs are comparable. As a tourist in London, it can be worth getting an Oyster Card as part of the London Pass.

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It's more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper Travelcard or single tickets with cash. Oyster cards have a daily price cap – once you reach this limit, you won't pay for any additional journeys (excluding Thames Clippers River Bus where there is no capping).

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