Apply for school transport services

Statutory school transport services

In the 2026/2027 school year, pupils will continue to receive statutory school transport benefits in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of the Thuringian Act on the Financing of State Schools.

Entitlement to transport or reimbursement is subject to the following condition: the shortest walking distance between the pupil’s home and the nearest state school with available places that offers the desired school-leaving qualification must be at least:

• 2 km from Years 1 to 4
• 3 km from Year 5 onwards

If admission to the nearest school or schools has been refused, the school’s letter of refusal must be attached to the application. Assignments to a specific school by the State Education Authority must also be evidenced in writing.

From Year 11 onwards, parents or pupils of legal age are required to contribute 50 per cent towards the cost of travel to school, in accordance with the Statutes of the City of Jena. Parents must purchase travel tickets for the relevant period and, at the end of the school year, will receive a 50 per cent refund transferred to the bank account specified in the application.

The following additional note applies: If the pupil/young person holds a Jenabonus and is entitled to statutory school transport services under Section 4 of the Thuringian School Transport Act (ThürSchFG), the application must specify, by selecting either option 1. (Mobility Ticket) or 2. (statutory school transport services) to indicate which of the two services is to be utilised.

Voluntary school transport benefits

In addition to the statutory school transport, pupils will also receive voluntary school transport benefits in the 2026/2027 school year in the form of subsidies towards the costs incurred in travelling to school, which will be reimbursed at the end of the school year.

In this context, the journey to school is defined as the shortest walking route to the chosen school. Subsidies are available from:

• 2 km for Years 1 to 4
• 3 km from Year 5 onwards

The amount of the subsidy (monthly or weekly pupil travel pass) depends on the number of children in the applicant’s household who are eligible for child benefit:

• 1 or 2 children: 30 per cent
• 3 children: 40 per cent
• 4 or more children: 50 per cent

Applicants with more than two children eligible for child benefit must always enclose proof of child benefit receipt with their application.

Approval is always subject to the City Council of Jena making the necessary funds available.

Mobility ticket (Jenabonus)

Pupils and young people under the age of 18 will receive a mobility ticket for free use of public transport in Jena upon presentation of a valid Jenabonus and payment of an administration fee of €15.00 per year. This administrative fee is payable upon approval, as stated in the notification, and must be paid in cash at the relevant school. You will find more detailed information on this in your notification. This mobility ticket is issued until the end of the 2026/2027 school year or, at the latest, until the holder’s 18th birthday.

Approval is always subject to the provision of funding by Jena City Council.

Eligibility generally applies from the date the application is submitted.

Applications for the 2026/2027 school year must be submitted by 9 July 2027 (the last day of term) at the latest.

To claim a refund of cash benefits, evidence of transport costs (see documents) must be submitted by the deadline.

Only the most cost-effective reimbursement rate can be applied. You will find the calculation in your notification.

• Application for travel expenses for the relevant school year
• Valid Jenabonus for pupils/young people (for the mobility ticket)
• Proof of child benefit (for optional school services)
• Proof(s) of travel costs incurred

The following evidence of travel costs incurred is accepted:

• Single tickets / day tickets / weekly tickets / monthly tickets / 4-journey tickets issued by Jenaer Nahverkehr or JES Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (please submit these with the pupil’s name clearly written on them)
• Season tickets issued by Jenaer Nahverkehr or JES Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (proof to be provided via bank statements or direct debit confirmation from Jenaer Nahverkehr)
• “Deutschland-Ticket” (proof to be provided via bank statements or a direct debit confirmation from the relevant transport operator)
• If travelling by private car, either present the logbook or provide a statutory declaration confirming that the journey to school is made by private car

• Thuringian Schools Act
• Thuringian School Funding Act
• Resolution of the Jena City Council dated 13 December 2017 on services provided by schools of choice
• Resolution of the Jena City Council of 27 November 2018 on the mobility ticket
• Resolution of the Jena City Council of 15 June 2022 on the School Transport Regulations