Youth, senior and large-family discount cards in Spain

Key rules

• Tarjeta Dorada: The Renfe Tarjeta Dorada is for people aged 60 or over and costs 6 euros, valid for 4 years.
• Carnet Joven: Age limits and prices differ by region, so ask your regional youth office.
• Large-family title: Rail discounts are 20% in the general category and 50% in the special category.
• Residency: Foreign residents can usually get these cards if they are legally resident and meet the conditions.

Which cards exist and who can get them

Most of these cards depend on your age, your family and where you legally live, not on your nationality. If you are a legal resident, you can usually get them. The Renfe senior card is the exception: it also works for people who do not live in Spain.

Carnet Joven (youth card)

Each region runs its own Carnet Joven. The age range is often 14 to 30, and in some regions it goes up to 35. The European version is the EYCA card.

It gives discounts on transport, culture, leisure, accommodation, shopping and courses. The price depends on the region and is often low or free. Ask your regional youth office for the age limit and the current price before you apply.

Renfe Tarjeta Dorada (senior rail card)

If you are 60 or over, the Tarjeta Dorada gives you 25% off long-distance, AVE and Avant tickets on some days and 40% off on others. Check which days give which discount before you book. Bring your ID when you get the card.

Regional senior cards are separate. They work under local rules, so ask your region or town hall what they give and who qualifies.

Large-family title

The título de familia numerosa gives 20% off Renfe long-distance and AVE tickets in the general category, and 50% in the special category. Show the valid title when you buy.

It can also bring discounts on local transport, museums, sports centres, school fees, electricity (the social bonus) and university fees. Regions and town halls set these, so ask yours which ones apply. You apply through the regional government where you live.

What to prepare

The documents list below shows what you need for the resident and family discounts. The checklist and FAQ below cover the steps and common questions.

Proof you need for resident and family travel discounts

Proof for island resident and large-family discounts

• Certificate of empadronamiento (proof you are registered at your address), from your town hall. It must show an address in the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta or Melilla. Get a recent one in case the system cannot check you automatically.

• Photo ID to show at check-in or boarding for the island resident discount: DNI for Spanish nationals, or NIE, residence card or passport for foreigners.

• Legal residence in Spain, with a valid residence document, if you are a foreigner. The island resident discount depends on where you are registered, not on your citizenship. Tourists and non-residents do not qualify.

• Application form for the large-family title (título de familia numerosa), from the regional government where your family lives. It is usually handled by its social services or family department. In Ceuta and Melilla, apply to the national Ministry of Social Rights.

• ID of the parents for the large-family application: DNI, NIE or passport.

• Family book (libro de familia) or the children's birth certificates, plus your empadronamiento certificate as proof of residence.

• Income proof, and papers on disability, single-parent status, divorce or separation, or widowhood, only if they apply to your family category.

• Translated and legalised birth certificates for children born abroad, if the office asks for them.

• Proof of enrolment for children aged 21 to 26 who are studying.

Checklist

• Check that you are legally resident in your region before you apply for a Carnet Joven, the regional youth card.

• Ask your regional youth office for the age range (often 14 to 30, in some regions up to 35) and the current price.

• Compare what the Carnet Joven discounts cover: transport, culture, leisure, accommodation, shopping and courses.

• Confirm you are 60 or over before you ask for the Renfe Tarjeta Dorada, which costs 6 euros and is valid for 4 years.

• Bring your ID when you get the Tarjeta Dorada.

• Show your valid large-family title (título de familia numerosa) to get 20% off Renfe long-distance and AVE tickets in the general category, or 50% in the special category.

• Ask your region and town hall about large-family discounts on local transport, museums, sports centres and school or university fees.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner get a Carnet Joven in Spain?

Yes, a foreigner can get a Carnet Joven if they are legally resident in the region that issues it and fit its age range. The card is run by each region, so the age limit (often 14 to 30, sometimes up to 35) and the price differ.

Do I need to live in Spain to use the Tarjeta Dorada?

No, you do not need to live in Spain, because the Tarjeta Dorada is open to residents and non-residents aged 60 or over. You show ID when you get it. It only works on Renfe services, and the discount days differ, so check them before you travel.

Do regional senior cards work like the Renfe card?

No, regional senior cards usually need local residence and sometimes pensioner status, unlike the Renfe card. Ask your town hall or regional government which card exists where you live and what it needs.

What does the large-family title give on trains?

The large-family title gives 20% off Renfe long-distance and AVE tickets in the general category and 50% in the special category. Local transport, museum and sports centre discounts are set by each region and council, so ask locally.