In a bid to reduce the ever-increasing amount of cars on the road, in October 2022 public transport was made free to use for holders of a Tallinja Card. Whilst all citizens and residents in Malta and Gozo are eligible to apply for their personalized card, it is important to note that there are one-time application fees depending on the category that you fall under, as well as postage fees.
Applying can be done online in 4 easy steps where you will need to input your personal details and upload your passport sized photo along with a copy of either your ID card, passport or any other ID document that you are using to apply with.
You will receive your Tallinja Card within two weeks and then you can begin to travel for free. Alternatively, you can also apply for your Tallinja Card at any sales outlets of Malta Public Transport or at any Maltapost office.
A Tip from Boq: Tallinja Direct or Tallinja on Demand routes are not free and their usual rates and fares will apply.
Card Types and Fees
- Child Tallinja Card: applies to children aged 4 - 10 and comes against a €5 application fee.
- Student Tallinja Card: applies to those aged 11 - 16 or those aged 17 - 59 who are undergoing a full-time educational course. This comes against a €25 application fee.
- Adult Tallinja Card: applies to those aged 17 - 59 and do not fall under any other of these categories. It comes against a €25 application fee.
- Gozo Resident Tallinja Card: applies to those who reside in Gozo and comes against a €25 application fee.
- Concession Tallinja Card: applies to senior citizens who are aged 60+ and to those persons with disabilities. It comes against a €5 application fee.
Once you’ve received your personalized Tallinja Card and start to make use of the free bus service, it is important to remember to tap your card when boarding the bus, on the machine that is closest to the driver.
Your Tallinja card will expire once you no longer meet the criteria of your category, in which case you will be asked to renew your card under the correct type.
For more specific details on each category, have a look at clause 6 in the Terms and Conditions.
Public Transport for Tourists
Whilst free public transport is only available to those who are residents of Malta and Gozo, tourists can purchase different types of cards that would allow them to travel at reduced prices, rather than paying the standard fares on each trip. These are:
- Explore Flex Card: this starts from €6 and allows you to top it up with credit and have the fare of each trip deducted from your balance at reduced rates. This is ideal for those that prefer a pay-as-you-go style of travel rather than committing to unlimited travel
- Explore Card: this offers unlimited bus journeys for 7 days on all public buses across Malta and Gozo. It costs €7 when buying the card for children aged 4 - 10 and €25 for anyone aged 11 and older. This card is ideal for those tourists who plan on traveling frequently during their stay.
- 12 Single Day Journeys Card: this card will get you 12 bus rides for €15 which can be used on any day within the card’s validity, which will be stated at the back of the card when purchased. Opting for this card might make most sense for those who won’t be making use of public transport as frequently or for those who are visiting for a longer period of time.
For more information on the cards mentioned above and what benefits you can get out of them, you can find out more here.
The Tallinja App
If you’ll be using public transport, we highly recommend downloading the Tallinja app, available on Google Play and the App Store. The recent introduction of real-time bus tracking has made the use of public transport much easier, allowing commuters to plan their journey ahead of time and can reduce the amount of time spent waiting at bus stops.
It also allows you to select your preferred travel options and save your favourite bus stops, routes and your frequently-made journeys. Through it, you can monitor your ticket transactions, check your balance and top up your card where needed.
