A question I have been asked a lot overcthe last couple of weeks.
The residence permit in Portugal is a document that allows you to reside regularly in the country. Thus, using the title, the foreigner can live in the country for a certain period of time, depending on the type of authorization. In December, Horários do Funchal announced free passes for all those aged 65 or over (Social Pass +65) and for students up to the age of 23 (Social Pass 4_23). But can anyone with a residence permit benefit from the ‘Social Pass +65’?
In the days preceding the measure’s entry into force, there was a large turnout to hand over the necessary documentation to obtain the free pass at Horários do Funchal, which covers both young people under 23 and seniors over 65.
As DIÁRIO reported at the time, there were queues of more than three hours, with more than 300 people.
In this sense, extraordinary measures were taken, which allow passengers to travel without new transport tickets, but only on Horários do Funchal . Rodoeste, Automóveis do Caniço and SAM are outside these transitional measures , information already reported by DIÁRIO, in the January 8th edition.
DIÁRIO contacted the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructure, which reported that to reduce the number of people at service areas, “users aged 65 or over can present their citizen card or identity card to the driver instead of the ‘ Social Pass + 65’, measure valid until March 1, 2024”.
“Other documents in addition to the citizen card or identity card” are then left out.
Users who present theresidence permit at the entrance of buses from any company “they cannot use public transport for free, and will have to purchase a ticket for that trip”.
“To avoid this situation, users in these conditions must go to the service stores and request the ‘Social Pass + 65’, complying with all the requirements set out in the law (i.e., presenting proof of tax address in RAM)”, clarifies the entity.
Therefore, taking into account point 15 of Ordinance No. 1110/2023, of 20/12, applications to obtain the Social Pass +65 must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:
- Identity Card or Citizen Card;
- Tax identification card; (if you do not have a Citizen Card);
- Proof of tax residence.
Even though the residence permit may be considered,“It is always necessary to prove that the passenger has a tax residence in RAM to be able to benefit from the Social Pass + 65”, he explains.
According to a document from Horários do Funchal, published on its online page , after checking whether you qualify for one of the existing free passes, you must go to the HF-Anadia Store and submit the necessary documentation.
To issue the ‘Giro’ you must have a recent passport-sized photograph and your citizenship card. “If you do not have a Citizen Card, you must alternatively present your Identity Card and Tax Identification Card”, reads the document, which informs that “issuing a new pass has a cost of €5.00”.
It is also necessary to bear in mind that specific documents are required for each pass, for example in the case of the ‘Social Pass +65’, the passenger must provide proof of tax residence issued by the finance department or a declaration of residence issued by the parish council.
In the case of the ‘Social Pass 4_23’, the young person must present proof of enrollment in the current academic year at any educational establishment or special education institution in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Also bear in mind that even if you already have a pass, free pass top-ups “are only charged at HF stores – Marina, Anadia and Pinga”, so you cannot top up at Payshop or CTT agents.
