It's not always easy to find out what preferential rates are available for senior citizens in Belgium. Not only are the prices not always clear, but the discounts are sometimes lost or not ideally promoted. And yet these reduced rates are very advantageous compared with the full rate, which is sometimes exorbitant, for access to the entire self-service network.

Here's a short guide to the season tickets available to senior citizens from public transport companies in Belgium.

TEC

From the age of 65, TEC offers the Horizon+65+ pass, which gives access to the entire TEC network at a preferential rate, or even free of charge.

From the age of 65, the annual pass will cost you just 36 euros (instead of 580 euros for the same access if you are aged between 25 and 64).

It will also be available free of charge, with no additional charge other than the MOBIB card, if you are eligible for the BIM (BIM intervention majorée).

For more information on the Horizon+65+ pass: Visit the TEC website 

STIB

On the STIB side, as a senior citizen, you can benefit from the 65+ season ticket from the age of 65. The annual pass costs 60 euros and gives you access to the entire STIB network, except for the section between Bourget and Brussels Airport.

As with the TEC, this pass is free (apart from the MOBIB card) if you are eligible for the BIM.

For more information on the 65+ travelcard: Go to the STIB website.

In addition, if you are a dependant of one of the 19 Brussels CPAS and are a resident of one of them, while receiving a social integration income or equivalent, you can also obtain a free pass giving access to all the lines in the network - the S - RIS pass.

De Lijn

Finally, De lijn offers the Omnipas 65+, which also allows you to use their entire network, with the exception of transport for events, as well as the Limburg express lines, for 54 euros a year.

For more information about the Omnipas 65+: Visit the De Lijn website 

SNCB

Unfortunately, the SNCB does not yet offer a special season ticket for senior citizens.

However, there is a senior return ticket that costs 6.8 euros, whereas a standard return ticket will cost you between 4.8 and 42 euros. So while it's not necessarily advantageous for very short journeys, it quickly becomes advantageous as the distance increases!

The MOBIB card

A new MOBIB card costs 5 euros and is valid for five years.

It is required to use all the passes described above.

What supporting documents do I need for these passes?

To obtain your MOBIB card, go to a shop or online.

You will need to bring your identity card and 5 euros. If you don't have an electronic identity card (and therefore a national registration number), you should also bring a valid passport photo.

For season tickets themselves, you do not need any additional proof other than your identity card, even for people who benefit from the BIM and therefore have a free season ticket if this affects the reduced fare. However, if you have any doubts about the validity of your BIM, it may be useful to consult your mutual insurance company to make sure that the fare benefits are still valid.

Where can I get my season ticket?

Season tickets are available from the public transport sales outlets in question, as well as from online platforms:

For TEC : at a ESPACE TEC ticket office and online via the E-shop to obtain your season ticket or renew it, and at SELF ticket machines and by bank transfer via EASY PAY for renewals only.

For STIB: at BOOTIK and KIOSK sales point counters and online at Go Easy to obtain your season ticket or top it up, and at GO sales machines for renewals only.

For De Lijn: at Lijnwinkels sales outlets, online at eShop or e-sales to obtain and renew your season ticket.

SNCB tickets are available at all their sales outlets. As for checking your senior citizen status, this is done on the transport system when your ticket is checked.

In conclusion - annual pass

If you are a traveller and like to be able to travel throughout the year and throughout Belgium, to use all transport except trains, it will only cost you a maximum of 155 euros for the first year, and 150 for the following 4 years, and so on. This rate can be reduced to 59 euros in the first year and 54 euros in subsequent years if you take advantage of the increased intervention (BIM).

Please note that annual subscriptions imply an unlimited number of journeys throughout the year.