Young people in school years 7 to 11 can travel by bus throughout Kent at any time with a Kent Freedom Pass, making travel easier and more affordable. After the single annual payment for the pass, bus travel is free any day of the week on participating bus routes in Kent. Who can apply? To apply for a Kent Freedom Pass every applicant must be: in academic year 7 to 11 (students who would be in year 11, but have been put forward into year 12, are also eligible). a resident of Kent (meaning they live in a household that pays Council Tax to a Kent district council). Non-Kent residents going to school in Kent aren’t eligible for a Kent Freedom Pass and should contact their own local authority to find out if any other schemes are available. How to apply or renew your Kent Freedom Pass Apply online - if you are in academic year 7 to 11 and are paying the standard fee of £100. Renew online - if you will need to be paying the standard fee of £100. You will need last year's pass number and the email address you registered with last year. By post – if you aren’t eligible for a reduced fee or you can’t apply online, you can print and fill in a paper application form (pdf, 1.1Mb) or get an application pack from your school. If you are renewing you don't need to send another photo. You can apply at any time between now and 31 May 2012 for a Kent Freedom Pass for academic year 2011-12 but remember: it can take up to 28 working days to process and you will have to pay your own bus fares until your pass is ready - these are not refundable. the fee for each pass remains the same throughout the year and they will expire on 31 August 2012, regardless of what date is it applied for or issued. Categories of payment and eligibility are: Standard fee - £100 For existing and new applicants who are in academic year 7 to 11 and attend a school or other recognised institution. Applications in this category can be made online. Students who receive free school meals - £50 They must be in academic year 7 to 11. Applications must be made by post and the ‘Free School Meals’ box ticked on the form. Young carers, young people in care and care leavers - free These applications must be endorsed before submitting them to us: young carers’ applications must be endorsed by one of the recognised support organisations shown on the young carers projects map (pdf, 86k). young people in care (year 7 to 11) applications must be endorsed by a designated officer within our Families and Social Care directorate. Your case worker will be able to arrange this. young people in care (year 11 and above) applications must be endorsed by Catch 22 (formerly Rainer Kent Services). Unless the correct endorsement is made, the application will be assessed according to the standard eligibility and require payment of the £100 standard fee. Please also apply carefully as refunds are not given.