Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Online Depending on the postal system in your country, it usually takes 3 – 4 weeks to process you online application and deliver the card to you. Visit a local ISIC Office ISIC When applying please provide one of the following documents: You will also need: IYTC To get an IYTC you must be able to prove your age with one of the following documents: You will also need a recent passport sized photograph of yourself. ITIC To prove your full time teaching status, you will need a letter on official school or university stationery. This must state that you are employed at a recognised school, college or university for at least 18 hours per week, for a minimum of 1 academic year. You will also need a recent passport sized photo of yourself. If you card is not currently activated you can visit our card Activation Page to activate your card online. Please note, if you hold an ISIC, IYTC or ITIC card that also functions as a payment card (credit, debit or prepaid card), for security reasons, please always cover your payment card number and CVV code when uploading images of the front and back of your card. You can use a small piece of paper to cover the related information before scanning or taking photos of your card. Alternatively, you can edit the scan or photo of your card digitally to cover the information. Card activations take a maximum of 2 working days to check and process. You will receive an email notification as soon as your activation is completed. Once your card is activated you can easily access all the online discounts and benefits available to you with your card. If you are having difficulty accessing online benefits, your card might not be active in the database. To activate your card online please visit our Card Activation Page. Please note, card activations can take 1-2 working days to check and process – you will receive an email notification as soon as your activation is completed. If your card is active, but you are still having difficulties accessing online benefits please contact us. Please include a clear scan or photo of the front and back of your card so that we can fully investigate. Search FAQs The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the only internationally recognised proof of full-time student status issued in close to 130 countries. The card allows you to prove your student status worldwide, as well as gain access to over 150,000 discounts and benefits. It is endorsed by organisations such as UNESCO, the European Council on Culture and the Andean Community of Nations. The card is recognised by universities, academic institutions, student organisations, national governments and ministries of education around the world. The ISIC is available to full time students at school, college or university, aged 12 years and above. There is no upper age limit. You can order your card online or by visiting your nearest ISIC issuing office. If you are currently on a break from study but will shortly be enrolling in a study institution, please check with your local ISIC issuer on the process for getting an ISIC card. The ISIC card is proof of student status and can be used to identify yourself in different places in multiple counties worldwide. However, some countries may require a different form of personal identification so please check with the local regulations in advance if you are travelling there. Please note, the ISIC card is not accepted as a form of identity in the U.S., where only government issued forms of identity are accepted in all parts of the country. If you are not a student, but are 30 years old or younger at the time you apply for the card, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is the right card for you. If you’re a full time teacher or professor, you can apply for the International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC). The IYTC and ITIC both offer similar benefits, services and discounts to the ISIC card. The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is available to individuals aged 31 years old or younger, who are not fulltime students. The IYTC card carries many of the same benefits and discounts as the ISIC card. The IYTC card is a valuable tool particularly if you are travelling abroad. The IYTC card is valid for one year from the date of issue. You need to apply for the IYTC card before your 30th birthday in order to be eligible for the card. You can order your card online or by visiting your nearest IYTC issuing office. The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) is available to fulltime teachers or professors. The ITIC card gives you access to many of the same benefits and discounts as the ISIC card. The cost of the card varies depending on the country of issue, but costs between 4 – 25 USD. To be as fair as possible, the costs of the card is regulated by the purchasing power within each country where the card is issued (as calculated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)). The ISIC Association is the non-profit organisation that is responsible for the ISIC, IYTC and ITIC cards worldwide. For more information about the ISIC Association please visit the ISIC Association website www.isicassociation.org. There can be several reasons why you may not be able sign up: Here’s what you can do: There can be several reasons why you did not receive an activation email: Here’s what you can do: There can be several reasons why you can’t log in to the ISIC global App Here’s what you can do: *Local ISIC country sites may have requested you create an ISIC The pin & fingerprint to access your virtual ID is not one you set yourself. It is automatically synced with the pin & fingerprint registered to unlock your phone. Accordingly, if you use this one, you should encounter no issues trying to access your virtual ID. In case you chose the password to protect your Virtual ID, this password is the same one as your self-set password to log-in to your ISIC account. In case you still can’t access your virtual ID, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: mobiletickets@isic.org When we don’t have a photo on file, you can upload a photo to your virtual ID via the App. Go via the menu to your profile screen and upload an image for use on your virtual ID. Please ensure you upload a passport style, headshot photo. It is possible to change your photo in the ISIC global app. You can request to have your photo removed at mobiletickets@isic.org by providing your card number and reason for photo removal. After we have removed your photo you can upload a new photo to your virtual card. Your photo can be removed by the ISIC global office if your profile image doesn’t include your likeness or is not headshot photo. The update ID function is only visible for logged-in users, with a virtual ID that expires in 30 days. How to find the update ID button: The language the app selects is based on your phone settings. It looks at the priority list, and selects the highest option that our app is available in. For example if your app shows in Japanese, this simply means that the Japanese language is higher on the language-priority list then English. This can be solved by following these steps: Apple: Android: In case you are still encountering issues, or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: mobiletickets@isic.org Currently the following devices are supported: • iPhones For those users that do not have the above mobile devices please visit the mobile website https://m.isic.org Online Depending on the postal system in your country, it usually takes 3 – 4 weeks to process you online application and deliver the card to you. Visit a local ISIC Office In some cases it is possible to renew your card. Please contact the issuing office where you purchased the card for further details. If there is currently no issuing office in your country, then if you are travelling you can apply in another country you visit. Be sure to take your eligibility documents with you. We are constantly developing the accessibility of the cards in countries all over the world. Please continue to check for future developments on this website. Generally, ISIC cards are non-refundable and non-transferable so you will need to purchase a new card. You can apply for a new card at your closest issuing office or online. ISIC When applying please provide one of the following documents: You will also need: IYTC To get an IYTC you must be able to prove your age with one of the following documents: You will also need a recent passport sized photograph of yourself. ITIC To prove your full time teaching status, you will need a letter on official school or university stationery. This must state that you are employed at a recognised school, college or university for at least 18 hours per week, for a minimum of 1 academic year. You will also need a recent passport sized photo of yourself. The definition of a full time student depends on which country you are in. Your local ISIC issuing office will be able to advise you. Find your local ISIC issuing office online. Generally, full time means at least 15 hours of study a week, for a minimum of 12 weeks per year. The ISIC card is available to full time students at school, college or university, aged 12 years and above. There is no upper age limit. ISIC and ITIC cards are generally issued in line with the annual study cycle of the country where you purchased your card. The ITYC is valid for 12 months from the date you purchase it. Please use our discount search engine to search for benefits and discounts worldwide. You can also download the free ISIC App for Android and iOS devices online to search for benefits and discounts when you’re on the move. Your card provides you with a wide range of discounts and special offers including travel, entertainment, education and software benefits. Discounts and benefits vary around the world so to make significant savings at home and when travelling abroad make sure your ISIC card goes everywhere with you! Adjust the search settings by clicking ‘Refine results’ to get discount information per category, card type and discount type. Please note some benefits and discounts may have restrictions, or can only be redeemed online. To search for online only discounts please select ‘online’ from the discount type list. As we work towards worldwide ISIC virtual ID acceptance, please be mindful that some discount providers may have specific policies in place and will accept or deny the ISIC virtual ID at their own discretion. We will do our best to inform you within the benefit description if this is the case, however, please do let us know if you are experiencing problems with All ISIC, IYTC & ITIC cardholders can access a special collection of local and national discounts in the United States. The online based programme includes over 125,000 discounts and benefits in the USA, in addition to the usual ISIC card discounts. To access the US benefits programme you need to first verify your card online. You can then redeem offers at participating benefit providers easily through printable and mobile coupons, online or by phone. All cards issued in the U.S. come with international travel insurance that covers you during your travels. For further information on the insurance coverage and claims please visit the ISIC USA website: www.myisic.com. To find your local ISIC country website to view even more national and local offers, visit our Contact page and select your country from the dropdown country list on the right hand side of the page. ISIC and MasterCard work together to deliver the ISIC MasterCard programme in multiple countries worldwide. ISIC MasterCard card’s combine the identity and discount aspects of the ISIC, and the payment functionality of a prepaid, debit or credit MasterCard – all in one single, easy to use card. To find out more visit the ISIC MasterCard programme page. Please contact your local ISIC office for more details on the availability of the ISIC MasterCard programme in your country. If you card is not currently activated you can visit our card Activation Page to activate your card online. Please note, if you hold an ISIC, IYTC or ITIC card that also functions as a payment card (credit, debit or prepaid card), for security reasons, please always cover your payment card number and CVV code when uploading images of the front and back of your card. You can use a small piece of paper to cover the related information before scanning or taking photos of your card. Alternatively, you can edit the scan or photo of your card digitally to cover the information. Card activations take a maximum of 2 working days to check and process. You will receive an email notification as soon as your activation is completed. Once your card is activated you can easily access all the online discounts and benefits available to you with your card. If you are having difficulty accessing online benefits, your card might not be active in the database. To activate your card online please visit our Card Activation Page. Please note, card activations can take 1-2 working days to check and process – you will receive an email notification as soon as your activation is completed. If your card is active, but you are still having difficulties accessing online benefits please contact us. Please include a clear scan or photo of the front and back of your card so that we can fully investigate. We take refusal of a promoted discount or benefit very seriously. In order to fully investigate, please contact us and explain what happened and where with as many details as possible. We will the fully investigate the matter. Offering student discounts and benefits means you can begin to build a relationship with these important customers. ISIC benefits – and therefore your products and services – are promoted through different channels to students, targeting millions of students around the world through the ISIC websites, national ISIC organisations, social media, roadshows, discount guides and more. Build your brand image No financial investment required One solution, many markets Guaranteed to target students Contact us if you are interested in offering an attractive ISIC student discount or benefit. Thousands of universities worldwide partner with ISIC to upgrade their standard university ID for students, to an internationally recognised ISIC card offering cardholders over 42,000 discounts and benefits. Cards can be tailored to suit each campus’ facilities and requirements. Contact us if you are interested in offering the ISIC card as a university card. If you are an organisation working alongside, or targeting students and youth, and you are interested in selling the ISIC card then please contact us to receive more information.
Most popular questionsHow can I get the card?
Currently it is possible to purchase your ISIC / IYTC / ITIC online. Please check here to see if you can purchase the card online in your country.
You can purchase your card instantly in one of our many issuing offices worldwide. Search for your local issuing office online. Please remember to take along all the necessary documents needed for your card to prove your student status and identity, as well as a recent passport photograph of yourselfWhat documents do I need to apply for the card?
The ISIC is only available to full time students, so you must be able to prove you are currently studying full time at school, college or university.
The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is for youth and young adults aged up to and including 30 years old who are not fulltime students.
The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) is for full time teachers or professors.I bought my card, do I have to activate it?
My card won't allow me access to online benefits
About the card
What is the ISIC card?
Can I use my card as proof of identity?
What if I am not a student?
What is the IYTC card for youth?
What is the ITIC card for teachers?
How much does the card cost?
What is the ISIC Association?
ISIC global App
Why am I not able to sign-up?
i.e. name and card number
mobiletickets@isic.org
step-by-step guide to the sign-in process.Why have I not received the activation email?
from isicaccounts@isic.org
mobiletickets@isic.orgI cannot log-in to the app, what can I do?
All previous ISIC profiles will not work*
mobiletickets@isic.org
profile in the past, the ISIC global App profile is different than
the local profile.I don’t know the pin/password to access my virtual ID.
Can I upload or change my photo in the ISIC global App?
How do I update my ID?
Once you’ve renewed your card at your local ISIC issuer, simply use this function in our app to update your account to your new ISIC cardnumber. This way your existing account will continue, and you don’t have to sign-up again!
1. Click the three stripes in the top left corner
2. Click Profile
3. Here the Update ID will be visible under your profile picture.
After clicking the Update ID function, you’ll be able to fill in your new cardnumber, and done! Your virtual ID is updated to your new cardnumber.
In case you are still encountering issues, or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: mobiletickets@isic.orgMy app is in the wrong language, what do I do?
1. Go to your Phone Settings Menu and find Language and Region
2. In the Language and Region screen, press Edit top right
3. In the Preferred Language Order, please check if the English Language is placed above the Japanese Language. If not, please drag English on top of Japanese
4. Press Done and Restart the ISIC app.
1. Go to your Phone Settings Menu and find Language and input
2. In the Language and input screen, press languages
3. In the preferred language order, please check if English is displayed higher on the list than Japanese. If not, please drag English on top of Japanese.
4. Done! Now restart the app, and you’re ready to go.Which mobile devices are compatible with the ISIC global App?
• Android smartphones
Android OS 4.4 and higher
IOS 9.0 and higherGet the card
How can I get the card?
Currently it is possible to purchase your ISIC / IYTC / ITIC online. Please check here to see if you can purchase the card online in your country.
You can purchase your card instantly in one of our many issuing offices worldwide. Search for your local issuing office online. Please remember to take along all the necessary documents needed for your card to prove your student status and identity, as well as a recent passport photograph of yourselfCan I renew my card?
My country does not issue the ISIC card, what can I do?
I lost my card, what should I do?
What do I need to get the ISIC/IYTC/ITIC card?
What documents do I need to apply for the card?
The ISIC is only available to full time students, so you must be able to prove you are currently studying full time at school, college or university.
The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) is for youth and young adults aged up to and including 30 years old who are not fulltime students.
The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) is for full time teachers or professors.What is a full time student?
How long is the card valid for?
Benefits and discounts
How can I find benefits and discounts?
What happens if my ISIC virtual ID is not accepted by a discount provider?
virtual ID acceptance at info@isic.org so, we can discuss a solution with the discount provider and update our information if necessary.Can I search for discounts easily on my phone or tablet?
What is the special benefit programme in the U.S.?
I'm from the U.S. and I have an insurance query
Visit your local ISIC website
What is an ISIC MasterCard?
Can I get an ISIC MasterCard card in my country?
Cannot get benefits?
I bought my card, do I have to activate it?
My card won't allow me access to online benefits
I was refused a benefit, what do I do?
Business Requests
Can I offer a benefit from my company?
Partnering with ISIC says a number of positive things about your company and product: You take students seriously and care about their personal development. You are associated with respected organisations, national and regional governments which have endorsed ISIC, including UNESCO.
Partners pay nothing to ISIC to become affiliated, so there is no financial risk involved. All you need to do is offer an attractive and relevant discount or benefit to all cardholders.
ISIC partners reach multiple markets around the world in an efficient, cost-effective and coherent way. ISIC offices support you in determining what would be an attractive benefit for cardholders and help come up with the marketing solutions.
We can guarantee that the benefit(s) you offer ISIC cardholders are accessed only by students. All cardholders are officially verified as students. All ISIC cards have a unique serial number stored in our database, which means the ISIC Association can provide partners with an online card verification solution to ensure only valid cardholders are fairly accessing the benefit or discount.We would like to issue the ISIC card as our university card. How can I find out more?
I would like to sell the ISIC card