U23-Ticket
Free U23 ticket in Ryfylke
From 1 September 2024, young people aged from 15 to 22 living in the Ryfylke municipalities of Sauda, Suldal, Hjelmeland, Strand, and the Forsand part of Sandnes can travel for free using public transportation in Rogaland. You purchase the U23 ticket yourself and apply for reimbursement afterward through an electronic form.
How to Purchase a ticket
Everyone who travels by public transport must have a valid ticket, even if it is free. You purchase the youth ticket ( U23 ) yourself through the Ticket app: Kolumbus Billett. The ticket can be used on most buses, fast boats, trains and ferries in Rogaland.
Reimbursement of tickets
Once you have purchased the U23-ticket, you will receive a receipt via email (PDF), which you must keep. Only after you have the receipt can you apply for reimbursement. This is done through an electronic form managed by Stavanger municipality. Processing time is 14 days.
Filling out the refund form
To get the ticket expenses refunded, you need to upload the receipt (PDF) in the form and fill in:
- Bank account number
- Social security number
- Contact information
Conditions of getting a refund
- To be eligible for reimbursement for the U23 ticket, it must have been purchased after 1 September 2024.
- The reimbursement scheme applies from the day you turn 15 until the year you turn 22.
- Only the ticket owner can apply for a refund.
- You must be registered and live in Sauda, Suldal, Hjelmeland, Strand, or the Forsand part of Sandnes municipality.
- You need a smartphone. Only tickets purchased through the Kolumbus ticket app can be refunded.
- You must have BankID or MinID to apply for reimbursement.
Contact Information
If you have technical issues or questions about the reimbursement scheme, you can contact the municipality you live in:
Sauda municipality – tlf: 46 93 50 75 or biblioteket@sauda.kommune.no
Suldal municipality – tlf: 52 79 22 00 or postmottak@suldal.kommune.no
Hjelmeland municipality – tlf: 51 75 00 00 or postmottak@hjelmeland.kommune.no
Strand municipality – tlf: 51 74 30 00 or postmottak@strand.kommune.no
Sandnes municipality – tlf: 51 33 50 00 or postmottak@sandnes.kommune.no
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find answers to many of the questions we receive about the free U23-ticket in Ryfylke.
1. 1. Who is eligible for a refund for the youth ticket?
The arrangement scheme applies to those who are residents of Sauda, Suldal, Hjelmeland, Strand, and the Forsand part of Sandnes municipality. The scheme is valid from the day you turn 15 until the year you turn 22.
2. What types of tickets are covered?
The scheme only applies to the U23 ticket.
3. I bought a ticket in mid-August. Can I get half of the ticket refunded?
No, the system is not set up for this.
4. Which zones does the scheme cover?
The scheme applies to all zones in Rogaland. Read more about the U23 ticket.
5. What happens if I travel out of the zone?
If you travel out of the zone, you pay for the entire trip yourself. Kolumbus’ ticket rules do not allow you to extend a journey with an additional ticket.
6. Can someone else buy the ticket for me?
Yes, anyone can buy the ticket for you, but only the ticket owner can apply for reimbursement.
7. Do I need a ticket when traveling by public transport?
Everyone must have a ticket, even when traveling for free. The difference for free travel is that someone else pays for your ticket. This also applies during ticket inspections. Neither the municipality nor the public transport companies will pay the fine you receive for traveling without a valid ticket.
8. How long does it take before I receive the reimbursement?
If the submitted form passes all automatic and manual checks, the applicant will have the money in their account within 14 days.
9. Do I need a ticket when travelling in a group through school?
Each person must have a valid ticket, either purchased and refunded or paid for by the school.
Political decisions
- Autumn 2023: The Ryfylke Council (Ryfylkerådet) decided that all young people from 15 years and up to 22 years old, who have a registered residential address in Sauda, Suldal, Hjelmeland, Strand, and Forsand, should be offered a free youth pass ( U23 ).
- The background for the scheme includes preventing students from changing their registered address.
- The plan was to use the same technical solution that Stavanger municipality used to offer free public transport to its residents in 2023.
- Spring 2024: After Stavanger municipality ended the project with free public transport, it was no longer possible to use the same technical solution.
- Stavanger municipality offers an alternative solution based on a reimbursement scheme.
- It was decided that the reimbursement scheme will take effect from 1 September 2024, and will last until 31 December 2025.
