ISIC (International student Identity Card) – this is the only international card that confirms your status as a pupil or student and gives you access to discounts and benefits in Slovakia and in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Who can get ISIC in Slovakia?
ISIC can be obtained by full-time students at an educational institution or organization, accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, or by the relevant state authority in another country, regardless of citizenship.
This means that Ukrainian students in Slovakia are also eligible for ISIC if they study at an accredited institution. Thanks to this, they can use student discounts on par with local students.
Every year, the ISIC card must be activated because the student card activation is valid for exactly 12 months. In the first year, you pay for activation and the production of the card itself, which costs approximately 27-35 euros. Then, each subsequent year, you only pay for the sticker, the prolongačnú známku (a sticker that is placed on the back of the ISIC). The membership fee for the ISIC license is 10 euros. However, the final price of the card is determined individually by each university.
Who can get ISIC in Slovakia?
ISIC can be obtained by full-time students at an educational institution or organization, accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, or by the relevant state authority in another country, regardless of citizenship.
This means that Ukrainian students in Slovakia are also eligible for ISIC if they study at an accredited institution. Thanks to this, they can use student discounts on par with local students.
How to get ISIC: where, when, and how much does it cost?
Applying for an ISIC card for a school pupil:
This is done through the school or college; information is usually sent before the start of the school year. If this did not happen, you can download the application form from the official ISIC website and submit it through your educational institution. Please note that the application form for school pupils and students is different!Applying for an ISIC card for a student
A university may offer the opportunity to apply for an ISIC student card even in July, after an applicant receives confirmation of acceptance for studies. Within a few weeks of receiving confirmation of acceptance, you must inform the university of your decision – whether you will study at this institution. If the answer is positive, you must pay the indicated amount for the ISIC and upload a photo electronically according to the university's instructions. It will take up to 14 days to produce your ISIC card. After the student receives their ISIC card at the student services office, they need to activate it. In some educational institutions, you may need to pay an additional fee of about 3 euros for extra travel discount functions before activation. Activating the ISIC card is done at a special terminal, which is located in the building of almost every faculty.
Every year, the ISIC card must be activated because the student card activation is valid for exactly 12 months. In the first year, you pay for activation and the production of the card itself, which costs approximately 27-35 euros. Then, each subsequent year, you only pay for the sticker, the prolongačnú známku (a sticker that is placed on the back of the ISIC). The membership fee for the ISIC license is 10 euros. However, the final price of the card is determined individually by each university.
List of the most popular universities in Slovakia that provide ISIC cards
- Ekonomická univerzita v Bratislave (University of Economics in Bratislava)
- Slovenská technická univerzita v Bratislave (Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava)
- Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave (Comenius University in Bratislava)
- Vysoká škola manažmentu v Bratislave (University of Management in Bratislava)
- Technická univerzita v Košiciach (Technical University of Košice)
- Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre (Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra)
- Prešovská univerzita v Prešove (University of Prešov)
- Trnavská univerzita v Trnave (University of Trnava)
- Žilinská univerzita v Žiline (University of Žilina)
Where does ISIC actually give discounts in Slovakia?
ISIC provides discounts in the following areas:- transport (trains, buses, public transport)
- culture and leisure (cinema, museums, theaters)
- travel and accommodation
- shops and online services
- food and fast food
Common mistakes students make with ISIC
— ISIC ≠ automatic discount. Even with the card, a discount may not apply without additional conditions. — Not all establishments accept the digital version of ISIC. In some cases, a physical card may be required. — Discounts may be time-limited or valid only within promotions. — To get a discount, you sometimes need to register on the website or in the ISIC partner's app. — Discount conditions may change, so it is advisable to check the current information on the official ISIC website before use. What to do if your ISIC is lost or damaged? If your ISIC card or annual sticker (prolongačná známka) is lost, damaged, or destroyed, you must apply for a duplicate. Your university will issue it for a fee set by them. To do this, you need to contact the student services office (študijné oddelenie) or the card issuing point at your educational institution.
