Swiss Travel Refund Scheme
For Spring and Fall students only. Revised for Spring 2023.
BU Geneva encourages you to explore Switzerland! To do this we offer you the opportunity to participate in the program’s Swiss Travel Refund scheme. You can make savings on your Swiss travel with this scheme.
On arrival you can buy the monthly pass for the Transport Publics Genevois (TPG) which runs trams, buses and shuttle boats in the Geneva canton. The program will give you a one off cash refund for this at 45chf. In addition you can travel cheaper in Switzerland by purchasing the Half-Fare travel card. The Half-fare travel card will give you half price tickets on the SBB Swiss federal railway and reduced fares with most Swiss public transport operators. There is an introductory cost of 120chf for the half-fare card for people under 25 which the program will also refund.
Students who are 25 or over can buy the TPG at 75chf and the Half-price card for 185chf and the program will give the same refund totaling 165chf.
The SwissPass
The TPG and Half-fare travel cards will be linked to your SwissPass account. The SwissPass is a mobility scheme which allows you to manage your travel cards and discount schemes together. You can manage these online and get information on mobility schemes and leisure activities in Switzerland.
Students normally purchase a TPG travel pass for Geneva public transportation on arrival day (see the previous webpage) and the SwissPass which will also be issued at the TPG office. You must always have the SwissPass card on you when you use public transportation in Switzerland.
How do I purchase the Half-Fare travel card?
To purchase the Half-Fare travel card you need your SwissPass (the temporary one is fine if you don’t have the permanent card) and a bank card. You have 2 options:
Option 1 purchase online:
If you haven’t already done so, regsiter your www.swisspass.ch account. Click in the link: register for SwissPass, enter your customer number from your SwissPass card, our post code which is 1207 and your DOB euro format. Don’t log off or close the browser tab until you have purchased the half price card.
Next, go to the link below and make the purchase. Print off the purchase receipt.
Half fare travel card for under 25
If you cannot get your bank card to work online try an alternative card if you have one, otherwise you will have to go to option 2.
Option 2 purchase at the local train station:
First register your www.swisspass.ch account as above. Then go in person with your SwissPass and passport to the SBB ticket office at Eaux Vives train station (map) where you can pay cash or with a bank card at the desk. Be sure to tell the person at the desk that you are temporary resident in Switzerland and you will not renew the half price card.
Important – after!
Check your SwissPass account online and verify that your details are correct and that your travel cards are referenced (click the refresh if you don’t see them).
The SwissPass is valid for several years so you can use it again if you come back to Switzerland in that time. The Half-Fare travel card is valid for 12 months. The Half-Fare card will automatically renew after 12 months unless you indicate you don’t want renewal or cancel it before leaving. They will then bill you for another 12 months (which we won’t refund). In your SwissPass account go to your half price card, select Cancel travelcard and then click on Send cancellation. You should see a confirmation that your travelcard will cancel in 12 months time. half price travel card cancellation
How do you get the refund?
During arrival day we will take you to the local public transportation office where you will buy the monthly Geneva pass and get the SwissPass with it. Once back at the residence you will present your pass at the office and get a cash refund for the full cost. For the cash refund for the half price travel card you can submit your sales receipt and travel refund form (in your welcome pack) to the Student Life and Housing office. You will be told when to come back later to get your cash refund. Your receipt and travel refund form must be submitted in advance and you can only come back at a specified time for the cash refund.
Resume:
- Purchase the TPG pass on arrival day, the TPG office will issue you a temporary SwissPass card.
- Present your TPG pass / SwissPass at the office to get the 45chf cash refund
- The permanent SwissPass will arrive through the post in 2 weeks
- Register your SwissPass online account.
- Purchase the Half-Fare card online or at the train station
- The Half-Fare card will be linked to your SwissPass account
- Bring both sales receipts and the completed travel refund form to the Studentlife office.
- You will be notified when to come back to the Studentlife office for the the 120chf cash refund.
Don’t get fined!
It is important to understand how the travel cards you have work and the benefits and terms & conditions. There is always a risk you could be fined if you use them incorrectly. You must always have the SwissPass with you when traveling. You should click on the links below to find out more about the benefits and terms & conditions of the discount schemes.
SBB Mobile app: your personal travel companion
Once you have registered your SwissPass online you can install the SBB Mobile app on your smartphone and sign in via your SwissPass login. Once you have received your permanent SwissPass through the mail you should be able to see the card with the QR code and your photo on the app. This can be shown to transport staff if there is an honor check instead of the physical card itself.