Frequently Asked Questions

My country does not issue ISIC, ITIC or IYTC cards, what can I do?

If currently there is no issuing office in your country, then you can apply for an ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card in another country when you are travelling.

Be sure to take all the eligibility documents with you.

We are constantly developing the accessibility of the ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards in countries all over the world.

Please continue to check for future developments.

Can I renew my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card?

If your card is expired, you must make a new card application through our website isic.pt or in an issuing office.

If you want a new ISIC card you must prove that you're still studying, presenting a document that clearly indicates your name, the name of the school and the current academic year.

To obtain a new ITIC card you must prove that you’re still teaching, presenting a document that clearly indicates your name, the name of the school and the current academic year.

If you want a new IYTC card you must prove that you are less than 31 years old.

If you have a Caixa ISIC or a Caixa ITIC card, meaning, an ISIC or ITIC card with a financial component of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, you must contact your bank. You can go to a CGD branch or contact the CGD support at +351 707 24 24 24 or +351 217 900 790.

Please send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

I lost my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC, what should I do?

ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards are non-refundable and non-transferable.

You can use your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card on ISIC mobile application, using the virtual card, or you will need to purchase a new card online or at the closest issuing office.

I’ve applied for my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card online, what are the next steps?

When you apply for an ISIC card online at www.isic.pt you must provide a proof that you are a student, a proof of your birth date (ID Card or Passport), an ID photo and make the payment.

When you apply for an ITIC card online at www.isic.pt you must provide a proof that you are a teacher, a proof of your birth date (ID Card or Passport), an ID photo and make the payment.

When you apply for an IYTC card online at www.isic.pt you must provide a proof of your birth date (ID Card or Passport), an ID photo and make the payment.

If you haven’t provided these elements during initial process of registration you can check My Card to update your data and check the issuing process of your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card.

If you have any queries you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How long is the ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards valid for?

Standard ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards are valid for 1 year from the date of issue. 

The validity of the co-branded cards can vary according to the type of co-brand and agreement made between parties.

What documents do I need to apply for the ITIC?

The ITIC card is only available to teachers or professors that are teaching in a school that is recognised by the local Ministry of Education.

To prove your teacher status, please present a signed and dated letter from your school/ university.

You will also need:

• proof of your date of birth (ID card or passport)
• a passport sized photo.

What documents do I need to apply for the IYTC?

The IYTC card – International Youth Travel Card – is valid for people up to 30 years.

To get your IYTC you must be able to prove your age with one of the following documents:

• Official ID card;
• Passport.

You will also need a passport sized photo.

What is a student?

In order to be considered a student you must have at least 15 hours of study per week, for a minimum of 12 weeks per year and you must be enrolled in a school that is recognised by the local Ministry of Education.

What is a teacher?

In order to be considered a teacher, you must teach in a school that is recognised by the local Ministry of Education.

Can I easily search for discounts on my smartphone or tablet?

Both isic.pt and isic.org are responsive websites so can be viewed easily on your smartphone or tablet.

You can also download the free ISIC App for Android and iOS devices to search for benefits and discounts.

Do my friends and family also enjoy the benefits?

Generally, the benefits and discounts of ISIC, ITIC or IYTC are just for the cardholder. There may be exceptions and partners that indicate clearly that the discount applies to companions.

However, your friends and family might also be eligible for their own ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card.

I bought my card, do I have to activate it?

No, your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card should be activated as soon as it is issued. You can check your card status here to verify if you need to activate your card. Simply enter your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number in the ‘Check your card’ box and click ‘Check card status’.

Your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number consists of a letter followed by 12 numbers and a letter at the end.

If your card is not currently activated, you can visit our card Activation Page to activate it online. Please note, if you hold an ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card that also functions as a payment card (credit, debit or prepaid card), for security reasons, please always cover your payment card number and CVV code when uploading images of the front and back of your card. You can use a small piece of paper to cover the related information before scanning or taking photos of your card. Alternatively, you can edit the scan or photo of your card to cover the information.

Card activations take a maximum of 2 working days to check and process. You will receive an email notification as soon as your activation is completed. Once your card is activated you can easily access all the online benefits and discounts available to you with your card.

If you want to activate the financial component of your card, please contact your bank.

If you have a Caixa ISIC or Caixa ITIC card, you can call CGD support at +351 707 24 24 24 or +351 217 900 790.

I was refused a discount or benefit, what do I do?

We take refusal of a promoted benefit or discount very seriously. 

In order to fully investigate, please send us a full explanation of the situation as detailed as possible to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will investigate the matter.

What happens if my virtual ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card is not accepted for a benefit or discount?

Some benefit providers have their own specific rules and it is at their own discretion to accept or not virtual ISIC, ITIC or IYTC cards. However, we work continuously to make virtual ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards recognized and accepted all over the world and we make our best efforts to inform you, at each benefit description, if virtual card is accepted. Moreover, we ask you to inform us if you have any problems with virtual card acceptance, by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we can contact the benefit provider and search for a solution or, if needed, update the discount information.

If you are travelling abroad, we recommend you to carry on your plastic card once that recognition and acceptance of virtual card cannot be fully guaranteed. Some local benefits, for their own characteristics, such as the validation process of ISIC, ITIC and IYTC cards, may still need the physical form of the cards.

My ISIC, ITIC and IYTC card doesn’t allow me to access online benefits or discounts, what shall I do?

If you are having difficulty accessing online benefits, please check if your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card is active. You can check your card status here. Simply enter your card number in the ‘Check your card’ box and click ‘Check card status’.

If your ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card is not currently activated visit our card Activation Page to activate it online. Card activations take a maximum of 2 working days to check and process and you will receive an email notification as soon as your activation is completed.

If your card is active but you are still having difficulties accessing online benefits, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include a clear scan or photo of the front and back of your card so that we can verify the situation.

Why have I not received the activation email?

There can be several reasons why you did not receive an activation email:

• There was a typo in the email address when you registered on the ISIC app;
• The automated activation email message was caught by your spam filter;
• Your email provider might have blocked the automated email message.

Here’s what you can do:

• Check your spam or junk mail folder for an email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
• Add This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to your email contacts or approved senders list;
• If you are still having problems, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I cannot log-in to the ISIC App, what can I do?

There can be several reasons why you can’t log in to the ISIC App

• You have inserted incorrect log-in details;
• There is a problem with your account;
• You are using an ISIC profile that is not accepted.

Here’s what you can do:

• Ensure you have created an ISIC global app profile. All previous ISIC profiles will not work*;
• If you are still having problems, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

*Local ISIC country sites may have requested you create an ISIC profile in the past, the ISIC global App profile is different than the local profile.

I don’t know the pin/ password to access my virtual ID.

The pin and fingerprint to access your virtual ISIC, ITIC or IYTC is not one you set yourself. It is automatically synced with the pin and fingerprint registered to unlock your phone. Accordingly, if you use this one, you should encounter no issues trying to access your virtual card.

In case you chose the password to protect your Virtual card, this password is the same one as your self-set password to log-in to your ISIC account.

In case you still can’t access your virtual card, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Can I upload or change my photo in the ISIC App?

When we don’t have a photo on file, you can upload a photo to your virtual card via the ISIC App.

Go via the menu to your profile screen and upload an image for use on your virtual card. Please ensure you upload a passport style, headshot photo.

It is possible to change your photo in the ISIC App. You can request to have your photo removed at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by providing your card number and reason for photo removal. After we have removed your photo you can upload a new photo to your virtual card.

Your photo can only be removed by the ISIC global office if your profile image doesn’t include your likeness or is not headshot photo.

How do I update my ISIC, ITIC or IYTC virtual card?

The update virtual card function is only visible for logged-in users, with a virtual card that expires in 30 days.
Once you’ve renewed your card, simply use this function in our app to update your account to your new ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card number. This way your existing account will continue, and you don’t have to sign-up again!

How to find the update card button:
1. Click the three stripes in the top left corner;
2. Click Profile;
3. Here the Update ID will be visible under your profile picture.

After clicking the Update ID function, you’ll be able to fill in your new card number and done! Your virtual card is updated to your new card number.
In case you are still encountering issues, or have questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

My ISIC App is in the wrong language, what do I do?

The language the ISIC App selects is based on your phone settings. It looks at the priority list, and selects the highest option that our app is available in.

This can be solved by following these steps:

Apple:
1. Go to your Phone Settings Menu and find Language and Region
2. In the Language and Region screen, press Edit top right
3. In the Preferred Language Order, please check if the preferred language is placed on top. If not, please drag your prefers language to the top.
4. Press Done and Restart the ISIC app.

Android:
1. Go to your Phone Settings Menu and find Language and input
2. In the Language and input screen, press languages
3. In the preferred language order, please check if your preferred language is displayed higher on the list. If not, please drag your preferred language on top.
4. Done! Now restart the app, and you’re ready to go.

In case you are still encountering issues, or have questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Which mobile devices are compatible with the ISIC global App?

Currently the following devices are supported:
• Android smartphones
Android OS 4.4 and higher

• • iPhones
  IOS 8.0 and higher

For those users that do not have the above mobile devices please visit the mobile website https://m.isic.org