Kids and Public Transport in Valencia: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Valencia has two separate public transport operators, and the distinctions matter for children’s passes. EMT is the city bus company, run by Valencia City Council. Metrovalencia (metro and tram) is run by the Generalitat Valenciana. They have different cards, different eligibility rules, and different application processes — but between them, they cover the whole city.
Under 6 on EMT buses: free, no card needed
Children under 6 travel free on EMT buses when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket, up to two children per paying adult. No card required — just board, validate your own ticket, and bring the little ones with you. Note that children under 6 travel without the right to a seat.
Under 10 on Metrovalencia: also free, no card needed
On the metro and tram, the baseline free travel age is slightly higher. Children under 10 travel free on Metrovalencia when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket, again up to two children per adult. No card is needed at this age, though Metrovalencia staff may ask for a document proving the child’s age.
The EMT Infantil card: free unlimited bus travel for under-14s
This is the one most resident families should know about. The EMT Infantil card is for children under 14 who are empadronados in the city of Valencia for at least six months prior to application. It’s a personalised card with your child’s photo, valid on the entire EMT bus network, and the card itself costs just €5 — after that, travel is completely free with no journey limit. The card is valid for two years from issue and must be renewed before it expires.
To apply, download and complete the EMT Infantil form, gather the required documents (your child’s DNI, NIE, or passport, plus libro de familia, a recent photo, and the DNI of a parent or guardian), and visit an EMT Customer Service Office in person. The process can’t be completed entirely online, but you can prepare most of the paperwork at home. Start early — September is busy with back-to-school admin, so July or early September is the sweet spot.
Free metro and tram travel for under-14s: the Móbilis30 card
For free travel on Metrovalencia, children need a separate card: the Móbilis30, issued by the ATMV (the metropolitan transport authority). This is applied for entirely online via the ATMV website at sigapunt.gva.es, and the card is sent by post. Legal residency in Spain is required — applicants must provide a valid DNI, NIE, or passport, and children under 14 without a DNI can use their libro de familia plus their SIP health card instead. The Generalitat has confirmed that free travel for children under 14 on the metro, tram, and MetroBus continues through at least June 2026, with the second half of the year subject to renewal.
Under 30: the EMT Jove pass
Once your child turns 14, the EMT Infantil expires and they move into the youth pass scheme. The EMT Jove offers unlimited travel across the entire EMT bus network for a rolling 30-day period and is available to anyone under 30. The standard price is €25 per month, currently available at €12.50 thanks to a subsidy funded directly by Valencia City Council — confirmed through June 2026, with the second half of the year subject to renewal. It’s personal, non-transferable, and available at any EMT Customer Service Office with a valid ID. If the applicant is under 14, a parent or guardian must accompany them.
For metro and tram travel, the equivalent for this age group is the Móbilis30 youth pass, which gives unlimited regional travel for €14.90 per month, also subsidised and confirmed until at least June 2026.
The practical takeaway
For families living in Valencia, the combination of these schemes is genuinely generous. A child under 14 with both cards travels the entire city — bus, metro, and tram — essentially for free. The two applications are independent of each other, but both are straightforward once you know the process: EMT Infantil in person at an EMT office, Móbilis30 online via the ATMV website.
Important to Know: Fare subsidies in Valencia are reviewed periodically by the Generalitat Valenciana and Valencia City Council. Always check the latest terms at emtvalencia.es and metrovalencia.es before applying.
