BC Bus Pass Program

Effective: August 31, 2018

A bus pass is available through the BC Bus Pass Program and can be provided to:

1. Low-income seniors, or
2. Clients with the PWD designation that receive disability assistance

If clients with the PWD designation that receive disability assistance and are also a low-income senior, refer to the information for clients with the PWD designation. The information for low-income seniors is only for those who do not receive disability assistance payments.

 1. Low-income seniors

Low-income seniors can receive an annual bus pass at a reduced cost when one of the following criteria are met:

• 60 or older, and the spouse of a person with the PWD designation that receives disability assistance
• 60 or older and receive income assistance 
• 60 or older, live on a First Nations reserve, and receive assistance from your band office
• 65 or older and would qualify for the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) but haven’t lived in Canada for 10 years
• Receive these federal benefits: Old Age Security (OAS) and GIS, spousal Allowance, or Allowance for the Survivor (this does not include the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) survivor’s pension)

2. Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation

Clients with the PWD designation can receive a monthly bus pass at no cost when one of the following criteria are met:

• Receive disability assistance or hardship assistance from the ministry (this does not include the CPP disability benefits)
• Are 65 or older and meet all the eligibility requirements for GIS but haven't lived in Canada for 10 years and continue to receive disability assistance from the ministry
• Live on a First Nations reserve and receive disability assistance from the band office

This bus pass is part of the Transportation Supplement. Clients must remain eligible for disability assistance each month to keep using the pass. However, there are specific circumstances where clients with the PWD designation may still qualify for the pass even if they leave disability assistance. Review the Transitional Transportation Support for more information.

Note: Clients with the PWD designation that receive disability assistance and start receiving OAS and GIS when they turn 65 will transition to a program called Medical Services Only (MSO). In the year they switch to MSO, they can continue to receive a bus pass through the low-income seniors program and do not have to pay a fee in that year.

Effective: January 1, 2018

Low-income seniors

• The bus pass is an annual pass and can be used from January 1 to December 31

Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation

• The bus pass works on a month-by-month basis
• Clients can switch from the $52 monthly Transportation Supplement to a bus pass anytime, and it will start the next month if you notify the ministry by the 5^th of the current month

When clients are no longer eligible for disability assistance, they may keep their bus pass through the Transitional Transportation Support program, or by qualifying for the low-income seniors bus pass

Effective: January 1, 2018

Low-income seniors

The bus pass for low-income seniors can be purchased for an annual fee which is non-refundable, which means you can't get your money back. See the Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs – Bus Pass Fees for the annual fee amount. Clients are responsible for paying the annual fee for the BC Bus Pass, the ministry does not pay for these fees.

There is no adjustment to the annual fee if the pass is only used for part of the year or purchased partway through the year. 

Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation 

There is no annual fee.

Note: Clients with the PWD designation that receive disability assistance and start receiving OAS and GIS when they turn 65 will transition to a program called Medical Services Only (MSO). In the year they switch to MSO, they can continue to receive a bus pass through the low-income seniors program and do not have to pay the annual fee in that calendar year.

Effective: March 4, 2013

A replacement for a lost bus pass can be requested by contacting the BC Bus Pass Program. This can be done by submitting an Online Request for Service or see the BC Bus Pass Program for more contact information.

There is a fee to replace a lost pass. The fee can be found in the Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs – Bus Pass Fees.  Clients are responsible for paying the replacement fee for the BC Bus Pass, the ministry does not pay for these fees.

Effective: February 27, 2019

 To learn more about the T5007 tax slip, see the Policy – T5007 Tax Slip section in Individual Case Management.

Effective: December 15, 2025

Low-income seniors

If you're a new applicant, you can apply for a bus pass by contacting the Ministry in one of these ways:

• Online: Fill out the online request for service

• Phone (toll-free): 1-866-866-0800
  • If you have a Person ID (PID) and PIN or a Social Insurance Number (SIN), press: Option 3 then Option 1
  • If you don’t have a PIN, press: Option 2 then Option 1

• Fax: Send your information to 1-855-771-8788

• Mail:
  BC Bus Pass Program
  PO Box 9985, STN PROV GOVT
  Victoria, BC V8W 9R6

What You’ll Need to Provide:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Last name
• First name
• Date of birth
• Phone number
• How you prefer to be contacted
• Your address

To learn more about the program, visit BC Bus Pass for people aged 60 and older or contact the ministry.

Persons with Disability (PWD) designation

You can choose to get the Transportation Supplement as $52 monthly or as a bus pass.

If you are receiving $52 monthly and want to switch to a bus pass, you need to contact the ministry by the 5th of the month with your request. You will get your new BC Bus Pass the next month.

You can ask for a bus pass in one of these ways:

• Online: Go to the Service Request tab on My Self Serve - Home
• Phone (toll-free): 1-866-866-0800
  • If you have a Person ID (PID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or a Social Insurance Number (SIN): Press Option 3 then press Option 1
  • If you don’t have a PIN: Press Option 2 then press Option 1

If you change your mind later, you can follow the instructions for how to cancel your bus pass to get the $52 monthly.

To learn more about the program, visit Transportation Supplement/BC Bus Pass for people receiving disability assistance or contact the ministry.

Low-income seniors

If you qualify for a bus pass, you’ll get a invoice that explains how to pay the yearly fee.

You can pay in one of these ways:

1. Online or phone banking (fastest way):
   • Choose the payee name your bank uses for the BC Bus Pass Program
   • Enter your 9-digit Bus Pass Program Account Number (you’ll find this on your bus pass or payment form)
   • Pay the full amount
     Note: You don’t need to return the invoice to the ministry if you pay online or by phone.
2. At the bank:
   • Bring your invoice and payment to your bank to process it
3. By mail:
   • Mail your invoice with a cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance
      

Note: If you ineligible, you won’t get a bus pass, and your payment will be refunded.

If you are eligible and once your payment is processed:

• If it is for a new or replacement BC Bus Pass Compass Card, it will be mailed to you—usually within four to six weeks
• If you are renewing your BC Bus Pass Compass Card, keep your card it is reusable and it will automatically be enabled for the next calendar year

Persons with Disability (PWD) designation

There is no annual fee.

Effective: December 15, 2025

If you ride TransLink and BC Transit buses that have card readers: 

• Tap your bus pass on the card reader to validate your fare
• Make sure to only tap your card, not your wallet as card readers and gates accept credit card and mobile wallet payments
• For BC Transit buses, you will know you tapped successfully when you see a yellow checkmark on the card reader. If your initial tap does not work, wait 90 seconds before trying to tap again.
• For TransLink buses, tap your bus pass in and out upon exiting

If you ride BC Transit buses in communities without card readers:

• You’ll get a sticker to put on your Compass Card to show your pass to the driver to validate your fare

BC Transit sticker

You might need a BC Transit sticker depending on where you live or plan to travel. You can request a BC Transit sticker if you:

• Have lost your sticker,
• Have moved to a BC Transit community that does not have card readers
• Are travelling to a specific BC Transit community that does not have card readers

You can ask for a sticker from the BC Bus Pass Program in one of these ways:

• Email: BCBusPassProgram@gov.bc.ca     
• Phone (toll-free): 1-866-866-0800
  • If you have a Person ID (PID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or a Social Insurance Number (SIN), press: Option 3, then Option 1
  • If you don’t have a PIN, press: Option 2, then Option 1

Effective: December 15, 2025

Low-income seniors

If you already have a bus pass, the system will automatically check if you still qualify for next year. If you are still eligible, you’ll get an invoice that explains how to pay the $45 yearly fee. If you are no longer eligible, you'll get a denial letter.

Important: If you’ve moved, make sure your address is updated.

After you pay the annual fee, your BC Bus Pass is reloaded starting January 1.

If you have any questions, you can contact the BC Bus Pass Program in one of these ways:

• Email: BCBusPassProgram@gov.bc.ca     
• Phone (toll-free): 1-866-866-0800
  • If you have a Person ID (PID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or a Social Insurance Number (SIN), press: Option 3 then Option 1
  • If you don’t have a PIN, press: Option 2 then Option 1

Persons with Disability (PWD) designation

There is no annual renewal.

Effective: December 15, 2025

You can apply for or renew a bus pass through the band office if you live on a First Nations reserve, get assistance from your band and:

• You have the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation, or
• You are 60 years old or older

If you live on a First Nations reserve and get federal benefits like Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), follow the instructions for low-income seniors under how to apply for a bus pass or how to renew a bus pass.

Effective: December 15, 2025

If you are a senior who has lived in Canada for less than 10 years, you may need to submit additional documents. The ministry will send you a letter after they have received your application with a document checklist of what you need to submit.

Note: If you are married, you must send these documents for both you and your spouse.

Start Date: December 15, 2025

If you need a replacement bus pass, you can contact the BC Bus Pass Program in one of these ways:

• Online: Fill out the online request for service
• Phone (toll-free): 1-866-866-0800
  • If you have a Person ID (PID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or a Social Insurance Number (SIN), press: Option 3 then Option 1
  • If you don’t have a PIN, press: Option 2 then Option 1

You may have to pay a replacement fee. The replacement fee for your bus pass goes up each time you ask for a replacement bus pass. The replacement fee amounts can be found in the Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs – Bus Pass Fees. On January 1 every year, the replacement fee resets back to the starting amount. Everyone (including low-income seniors and clients with PWD designation) pays the same replacement fee. You will need to follow the instructions on the invoice that is mailed to you for how to pay the replacement fee.

Effective: December 15, 2025

Low-income seniors

Your bus pass is an annual pass and can be used from January 1 to December 31.

The cost of the bus pass cannot be refunded. This means you won’t get your money back if you stop using it. There is no discount if you only use the pass for part of the year.

If you no longer want a bus pass from the BC Bus Pass Program, you don’t need to do anything. When you receive the renewal invoice, you may ignore it.

Persons with Disability (PWD) designation

You can choose to get the Transportation Supplement as $52 monthly or as a bus pass.

If you want to cancel your bus pass and receive the $52 monthly instead, you need to contact the ministry by the 5th of the month. You will get the $52 with your assistance payment the next month.

You can cancel your bus pass in one of these ways:

• Online: Go to the Service Request tab on My Self Serve - Home
• Phone (toll-free): 1-866-866-0800
  • If you have a Person ID (PID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or a Social Insurance Number (SIN): Press Option 3 then press Option 1
  • If you don’t have a PIN: Press Option 2 then press Option 1

If you change your mind later, you can follow the instructions for How to apply for a bus pass to get a new pass.