Entitlement.

• People with a serious impairment – which is likely to be permanent and, according to medical judgement, cannot be expected to improve significantly in the foreseeable future – are entitled to a Companion Travelcard.
• To obtain a Companion Travelcard, an ‘Application for a Companion Travelcard with medical confirmation’ must be completed, confirmed by a doctor and submitted.
• Disabled passengers aged 6 or older can apply for the Companion Travelcard.

No entitlement.

People who are likely to be able to travel unaccompanied again in a few weeks or months are not entitled to a Companion Travelcard.

The Companion Travelcard is valid on the “routes of the Swiss transport companies participating in the Half Fare Travelcard area of validity” and provides the following benefits:

1. Take a companion with you free of charge in Switzerland.
2. Take a guide dog or an assistance dog with you free of charge in Switzerland.
3. Take a companion and a guide dog or an assistance dog with you free of charge in Switzerland.
4. Free travel for an accompanying person or a guide dog or an assistance dog on international journeys if the tickets were purchased in Switzerland. This rule does not apply when a transport company applies market prices. Prices and discounts are set directly by the individual transport companies.

The validity of the Companion Travelcard is limited to 10 years. You must therefore renew your Companion Travelcard 10 years from the date of issue. To do this, you will need a medical certificate that reassesses your capacity to travel. Please fill out the ‘Application for a Companion Travelcard with medical confirmation’ and have it confirmed by a doctor. 

Example: A Companion Travelcard issued on 10 June 2022 will need to be renewed as of 9 June 2032.

We will remind you about the end of the validity of your Companion Travelcard in good time before it expires. This will give you sufficient time to submit the ‘Application for a Companion Travelcard with medical confirmation’, including confirmation from a doctor.

• Information on ordering the Companion Travelcard.
• Information about the photo and required documents.
• Information about SwissPass delivery.

You can apply for the Companion Travelcard if:

• You are likely to need a companion on an ongoing basis in order to use public transport. For example, if you are dependent on a wheelchair, have limited mobility, impaired vision, blindness or a cognitive impairment, or if you have a guide dog or assistance dog. 
  Please note that only one Companion Travelcard can be issued per person. The Companion Travelcard is valid for one person and/or one dog.
• You are permanently resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
• You can present a corresponding medical certificate.

You must meet all the criteria.

There are two ways of travelling with a Companion Travelcard: 

1. The person with a disability holds a Companion Travelcardand a valid ticket (e.g. full price ticket, Day Pass, GA Travelcard or half-fare ticket); the companion travels free of charge.
2. The companion holds a valid ticket (e.g. full price ticket, Day Pass, GA Travelcard or half-fare ticket); the disabled person with the Companion Travelcard travels free of charge.

The person with a disability and the companion must present the Companion Travelcard on the SwissPass to the train crew together with a valid ticket.

• With the Swiss Disabled Passenger’s ID Card, you can get a discount for travel on cross-border services in some trains/countries from a Swiss railway station to a railway station abroad and vice versa (under tariff TCV 710).
• In certain trains/countries, you can also take a companion or an assistance dog with you free of charge in the same class. For more information and to obtain the required ticket and any reservations, please call the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.) or visit a staffed public transport point of sale.
• Some transport companies abroad use market prices. No discount is given on these services. Information is available from the SBB Contact Center or at a staffed public transport point of sale.
• In other countries, the Swiss identity card is not recognised for buying tickets. You must therefore purchase your cross-border tickets in Switzerland.
• For assistance, please contact the Contact Center Handicap 48 hours in advance.

• Your companion must travel with you in the same coach and class.
• Your companion must accompany you along the entire route and be able to assist you

Each person receives their own SwissPass with their personal Companion Travelcard. Each holder of a Companion Travelcard can have a maximum of one active SwissPass.

Note.

The Companion Travelcard can be presented on both the travelcard holder’s personal SwissPass and SwissPass Mobile. 

Please note that the public transport sector has no influence on any admission regulations at private institutions (swimming pools, museums etc.).