Varsovian Card for a student 2026/2027 – how to make an instruction

You fill out the aforementioned ZAP-3 form. You can do this through the podatki.gov.pl portal. There you indicate the address of the rented apartment or dormitory (e.g. at Żwirki i Wigury Street). From that point on, your taxes (even if zero) support the city’s infrastructure, which entitles you to discounts.

4. Step-by-step instructions for obtaining the Warsaw Card

You can choose one of two paths: online or stationary. In 2026/2027, the digital path is recommended through the Warsaw 19115 portal.

Online Track (Fastest)

1. Go to the e-POP system website or the My Warsaw portal.
2. Select the application for the “Entitlement to the Varsovian Card”.
3. Upload a scan of the first page of PIT and UPO (as one PDF file).
4. Enter your ELS card number (located on the back, this is usually the serial number of the electronic chip).
5. Attach a recent photo (the same format as for your ID card).
6. Wait for verification. It usually lasts from 2 to 10 working days. Once accepted, you will receive a confirmation email.

Stationary path (Passenger Service Points)

If you prefer to handle the matter in person, go to one of the ZTM POPs. The most popular points for students are:

• Świętokrzyska Metro (close to the Main Campus of the University of Warsaw),
• Metro Town Hall Arsenal,
• Central Station,
• Metro Politechnika (ideal for WUT students).

At the point, you must show the PIT/UPO in paper form or on the screen of your smartphone and the ELS card. The employee will immediately verify the authorization and stick a special hologram on your ID card (or encode it electronically in the system).

5. Activation of ELS Card Entitlements

Just because you accept your online application doesn’t mean your ticket is already cheaper. You must physically “upload” the entitlement to the card.

Where to do it?

• In each stationary ticket machine (yellow and red machines at the stops).
• In mobile ticket machines (inside buses, trams and SKM trains).
• at passenger service points.

Insert your ID into the ticket machine reader and select the “Extend/Activate e-hologram” option. Only after this operation will the system offer you a lower price (the “Varsovian Ticket” category) when purchasing a 30- or 90-day ticket.

6. Financial benefits: How much will you save in 2026/2027?

For a student, every zloty matters, and the difference in ticket prices with the Warsaw Card is significant. Assuming the average rates for 2026:

• 30-day ticket (zone 1): Without a card, it costs approx. 55-60 PLN (reduced student ticket). With the Varsovian Card, the price drops to about PLN 50.
• 90-day ticket (zone 1): Without a card, it is an expense of about PLN 140. With the Varsovian Card, you pay about 120 PLN.
• Total annual savings: On an academic year (9 months), you have between 80 and 120 PLN left in your pocket. This is the equivalent of several meals in a milk bar or a phone subscription.

In addition, the card with the Varsovian Card allows for free entry or large discounts to city museums on Thursdays and cheaper tickets to OSiR swimming pools in such districts as Wola or Praga-Południe.

7. Extension of rights – what do you need to remember?

The rights of the Varsovian Card are not granted indefinitely. They are valid for as long as your last tax return.

• Expiry date: Entitlements usually expire on September 30 each year (as does the validity of the card after the summer semester).
• Re-verification: In 2027, you will need to re-submit your PIT for 2026 to maintain the discount. If you don’t, the ticket machine will not allow you to buy a cheaper Varsovian Ticket, and the inspector on the tram may impose a penalty for not having a valid license.

Specific tips for the student

• Check the status in mObywatel: From 2026, your Varsovian Card is visible as a digital document in the “My Documents” tab. You can show it there in museums without pulling out your ID.
• Avoid queues in October: The heaviest siege in POPs is between September 30 and October 15. Send the application online in September, right after settling your PIT and returning to Warsaw.
• Beware of the ticket zone: The Varsovian Card entitles you to discounts in the 1st ticket zone. If you live in a town near Warsaw (e.g. Piaseczno, Marki), check if your municipality has signed a contract for “Warszawa+” – this is another right that works similarly.
• Don’t wait for your first job: Even if you don’t make money, file a ZAP-3. This is a legal way to obtain the Varsovian Card by declaring your place of residence for tax purposes.

Varsovian Card vs. Young Varsovian Card – key differences in 2026

Many students mistakenly identify these two concepts. In the 2026/2027 academic year, you need to know which entitlement is more advantageous for you, as ticketing systems automatically adjust the fare to your age and tax status.

• Young Warsaw Card: You are entitled to it if you are under 26 years of age and meet the tax requirement (or your parents settle PIT in Warsaw and you are still dependent on them). It offers the lowest possible rates for tickets (e.g. a 30-day reduced ticket for about PLN 50).
• Varsovian Card (Standard): It is dedicated to students who are over 26 years of age (e.g. in doctoral or second-cycle studies), but still have a stdent ID. It entitles you to a student discount (50%) and an additional Warsaw discount.

Tip: If you turn 26 during the semester, your eligibility for the Young Varsovian Card will expire on your birthday. You must then submit an application for updating your entitlements to the standard Varsovian Card in order to maintain the continuity of discounts.

Procedure for Foreign Students (Erasmus and Full-time International Students)

Warsaw as an educational hub attracts thousands of students from abroad. In 2026, they are also entitled to the Varsovian Card, as long as they complete the tax formalities in Poland.

Steps for an International Student:

1. Obtaining a PESEL number: This is necessary for any contacts with the tax office.
2. Submission of the ZAP-3 form: Even if the student does not work, he declares Warsaw as his place of residence for tax purposes.
3. Verification in POP: Foreign students more often have to visit the Passenger Service Point in person, as their data may not appear in the automatic PESEL/PIT registers available for the e-city hall.

Errors in the PIT declaration and rejection of the application

The most common reason for rejecting an application for a Warsaw Card in 2026 is formal errors in the tax return submitted. The verification system “sees” only those applications that are correct in terms of address.

• Incorrect postal code: If you enter a postal code from your hometown in your PIT-37 declaration, the tax office in Warsaw will not be able to confirm your entitlement, even if you physically live in a dormitory in Białołęka.
• No signature on the DTT: If you settle via e-Declarations, you must download the full UPO (Official Receipt Certificate) document. The screenshot with the information “sent” itself is not a verification document.
• PIT-11 is not PIT-37: Remember that the PIT-11 you receive from your employer (e.g. for working in a café during the holidays) is not the basis for issuing the card. You must submit the annual return (PIT-37) or the ZAP-3 application yourself.

Varsovian Card and metropolitan ticket – what do you need to know?

If your university or dormitory is located close to the border of the zones (e.g. the UKSW area in Młociny or technical faculties near the borders of Ursynów), you may need a ticket for the 1st and 2nd zones.

The Varsovian Card reduces the cost of a ticket only within the 1st ticket zone. If your access route includes neighboring municipalities (e.g. Piaseczno, Pruszków), you need to make sure that your municipality has the status of Warsaw+. In 2026, ticket machine systems allow you to combine these discounts, but this requires you to manually select the appropriate ticket category on the screen.

Digital e-hologram in the mObywatel 2.0 application

In the academic year 2026/2027, physical hologram stickers on ELS cards are being replaced by a digital certificate.

1. Mobile Verification: During the control in the metro or bus, instead of showing your ID, you can open the mObywatel application, where in the “My tickets” or “Varsovian card” tab, you can see the active status of the discount along with a QR code.
2. Sync with ELS: Even though you have a digital version, your physical ID still needs to be “reflected” in the ticket machine once your application is approved. The ZTM system must store the information on the card chip (Mifare/Desfire) so that the metro gates open automatically when the ID card is approached.

Non-traffic discounts – where can you really save?

The Varsovian Card is a powerful loyalty tool in 2026. In addition to cheaper rides, as a student you get:

• Culture: Tickets to the TR Warszawa Theatre or the Museum of Modern Art with a discount of up to 40%.
• Sport: Cheaper access to climbing walls in Wola and swimming pools in OSiR complexes (e.g. on Polna – close to WUT).
• Services: Selected cafes in the area of Krakowskie Przedmieście and Plac Zbawiciela offer discounts on “coffee with the Varsovian Card” in the morning.

Procedure in the event of a failure of the electronic system of the ELS card

If the ticket machine does not recognize your ID (“Card Read Error“) and you have an active Varsovian Card, do not try to buy a ticket from another device.

• Head to e-POP: This may mean damage to the electronic layer of the card.
• Certificate: At the ZTM point, you can ask for a temporary Warsaw City Card, to which the employee will transfer your ticket and the rights of the Warsaw Card until a duplicate of the ELS is made at your university (e.g. at the University of Warsaw or MUM).

How to check if your Varsovian Card is still valid?

In 2026/7, the easiest way to verify is with a stationary ticket machine.

1. Insert the ID card into the reader.
2. Select “Card Information”.
3. The system will display the expiration date of the e-hologram. If the date is 30 September 2026, it means that you need to urgently submit a new application based on the PIT for 2026 to avoid penalties during the inspection in October.

Effective obtaining of the Varsovian Card in the 2026/2027 season is a two-stage process: formal and tax (PIT/ZAP-3) and technical (activation in the ticket machine). Remember that having only a student ID card with a university hologram is not the same as having a Warsaw license. Only a correctly encoded e-hologram in the ZTM system protects you from high fines and allows you to fully enjoy the privileges of a resident of the capital.

The most important questions about the Varsovian card

Can a first-year student obtain the Varsovian Card immediately in October?

Yes, provided that they submit the ZAP-3 form to the Warsaw tax office and have an ELS card. However, he must have a confirmation of the submission of this form.

Is the Varsovian Card free?

The very acquisition of the license and uploading it to the student ID card is completely free of charge. You only pay for public transport tickets.

What if I lose my student ID card with an active Varsovian Card?

You need to make a duplicate ELS at the university (e.g. at the University of Warsaw in the USOS system) and then go to POP ZTM with a confirmation of obtaining a new card. The employee will transfer your rights and the unused ticket to a new medium.

Do I need to be registered in Warsaw to get a card?

No. No check-in is required. The only thing that matters is the fact of settling the tax (place of residence for tax purposes) in Warsaw.

Can students of private universities also get the Varsovian Card?

Yes. The right is granted to every student (public and private university) who meets the tax condition. The type of university does not matter.

Does a card with a hologram of the Varsovian Card replace an identity card?

No. The ID confirms your entitlement to discounts, but during ticket control, the ticket inspector may ask for a proof of identity document if the data on the ID is illegible.

Can I have a Varsovian Card on my phone?

Yes, thanks to the city’s mobile application (e.g. Warsaw 19115 or mObywatel), but it is still most convenient to use an ELS card in ticket machines and at metro gates.