Parent guide
School Opal card eligibility in NSW: check the school commute
Distance rules by year level, worked examples and the travel limits to check before settling on a school.
Free school travel has different distance rules for Kindergarten to Year 2, Years 3–6 and Years 7–12. A pass that worked in an earlier year does not settle the question for a new school or year group. And free travel alone does not tell you whether a commute is manageable.
This guide brings together the published rules checked on 26 September 2026, with examples to use while comparing schools. Schoolect helps you organise school options. Transport for NSW decides travel eligibility, and the school confirms enrolment. Keep those decisions separate.
The distance rules by school year
Under the School Student Transport Scheme, students must meet the residence and education eligibility conditions and be at least 4 years 6 months old. The table covers the distance component only. Preschool children are not eligible under these school-year categories.
| Year group in the year of travel | Straight-line distance | Walking distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 2 | No minimum distance | No minimum distance |
| Years 3–6 | More than 1.6 km | At least 2.3 km |
| Years 7–12 | More than 2.0 km | At least 2.9 km |
For Years 3–12, the distance test uses either the straight-line threshold or the walking threshold. You do not need to meet both. The published School Pass Terms measure straight-line distance from the centre of the school site and walking distance along the most direct practicable route to the nearest physical school entrance. A driving distance is not a substitute.
Notice the boundary wording: more than for straight-line distance, at least for walking distance. Do not round a map estimate and assume that establishes eligibility. Transport's assessment and the other scheme requirements still apply.
These hypothetical examples show how to read the table. They are not assessments of real homes or schools:
| Example | Distance result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Year 3 student, 1.5 km straight line and 2.4 km walking | Meets the walking threshold | The shorter straight-line distance does not rule out the distance component |
| Year 7 student, 1.9 km straight line and 2.8 km walking | Meets neither threshold | Investigate paid travel options rather than assuming free travel |
| Year 7 student, exactly 2.0 km straight line and 2.8 km walking | Meets neither threshold in the published terms | Exactly 2.0 km is not more than 2.0 km |
Each example assumes Transport accepts those measurements. For your own comparison, record both distances and the year group for the year of travel. A Year 2 child moving into Year 3 changes distance category even if the home and school stay the same.
What School Opal covers, and what it does not
School Opal travel is for approved travel between home and school on school days, within the school-student hours of 6:30 am to 7 pm. It is not a general free-travel card. A return trip after an activity still needs to fit the approved travel and hours.
Within the Opal network, Transport for NSW issues School Opal cards. Outside that network, bus operators issue school passes, and some rural or regional operators do not issue a physical pass. Ask about the arrangement that applies to the route you would use.
If a child does not qualify because they live too close, a School Term Bus Pass may be available to buy. It covers the direct home-to-school bus route on school days with one bus operator. It is not a substitute covering every mode or every reason for a refused free-travel application. Confirm the current price and conditions before budgeting for it.
This is particularly relevant when a shortlisted school requires a bus plus a train, or buses run by different operators. Write down every leg before treating a paid bus pass as the whole travel budget. Service NSW also distinguishes personal travel: children aged 16 and under use a Child/Youth Opal card for those trips.
Changing school, address or year group
Service NSW says eligible cards update automatically for a new school year. Families still need to act for a first application, a change of name, school or address, or a new shared parental responsibility arrangement. Do not assume automatic renewal has recorded a move or a new high school.
For a Year 7 start, use the new school and the year group for the year of travel. The application asks for that information. Likewise, check the Year 3 distance category when a child leaves Year 2. An existing card is not a reason to keep using old details after circumstances change.
The school checks and endorses the application before Transport processes it. Published guidance says processing can take several weeks. Keep the school and travel records consistent, allow time for the decision and arrange how your child will travel while it is pending.
If your child travels from two homes, identify that arrangement in the application or update rather than assuming one address covers both. Keep a record of the approved travel for the arrangement you actually need. The official references below explain the application and update pathways.
Put transport into your school comparison
Use one copy of this worksheet for each school. For a Year 7 option, start with the more-than-2.0-km straight-line or at-least-2.9-km walking test, then check the practical trip separately.
| Record for each school | What you are trying to establish |
|---|---|
| Enrolment route confirmed with the school | Whether this school is an available option |
| Year group, address and both distances | Which travel eligibility category to check |
| Every mode and operator | Whether the proposed travel is covered by the approved pass |
| Arrival at the school entrance | Whether the full morning trip works, including walking and waiting |
| Return after an activity | Whether there is a usable service within the approved travel conditions |
| Paid alternative and backup pickup | What the family will do if free travel is unavailable or plans change |
A pass decision does not choose the school for you. Trial the trip at the times your child would travel, include transfers and ask what they would do if they missed a connection. Record the answer alongside the subjects, support and activities you are comparing. Our Chatswood High vs Killara High guide shows how campus entrances and school activities fit into a named-school comparison.
If disability affects your child's ability to travel, discuss the Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP) with the school. It is a separate assessment, applied for through the school. Service NSW lists requirements covering the class or support setting, inability to travel independently, parents' or carers' ability to provide transport and attendance at the closest appropriate school. It also lists a distance of less than 40 km and a maximum 90-minute one-way transport time. Those are eligibility limits, not suggested commute targets.
Start with a school your child can attend, then check entitlement, timetable and the family's backup plan. Save each school from its profile as you research. The browse button below opens school search, not a transport application or an eligibility calculator.
Official references
- Transport for NSW: School Pass Terms and distance measurements (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Stanmore Public School: School Opal distance rules by year group (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Service NSW: school travel concessions and changed details (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Fort Street High School: approved travel, hours and bus passes (accessed 26 September 2026)
- Service NSW: Assisted School Travel Program (accessed 26 September 2026)