Student Octopus: apply, then activate the status

For 2026/27, applicants must be 12–25 at submission and attend an acceptable institution’s full-time day course. A student card alone does not establish eligibility; MTR assesses the application.

The concession requires Student Status on a personalised physical/mobile Octopus. Single tickets and QR travel do not qualify. Airport Express, Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau journeys and East Rail First Class are excluded; other operators set their own offers.

Enter the official application and choose your category. Provide the requested personal details and valid student proof; CityUHK guidance uses a valid student card. Check photo and device/age requirements for the selected card.

Prepare your valid CityUHK student-card image, name and date of birth, working email, Hong Kong postal address, and a clear recent portrait for a new card. For adding/renewing status, have your existing Octopus number. Personalised Mobile Octopus with photo requires age13 or over; physical/mobile choice cannot be changed during processing. Use the upload cropping tool to remove borders and avoid unclear, monochrome or patterned reproductions.

1. 1

   Select the correct application

   Choose New Application[1] for a new card, [2] for an existing photo-personalised card, or Renewal for expiring student status. Select City University of Hong Kong and your course details.

   Start the correct student application (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Enter and upload

   Check name, date of birth, student number, email, card number/postal address and upload valid student proof. New-card applicants also upload and crop the portrait.

3. 3

   Save the successful submission

   Pay HK$90 in the new-card process; existing-card activation/renewal costs HK$20 when activated. Save the Application Number and successful submission page. Approval and activation are still required.

The published physical-card process allows 4–6 weeks for delivery with activation instructions. Activate through the Octopus App or an eligible service centre. Existing-card and renewal applications also need activation; submission alone is insufficient.

If your status expires on 31 October 2026, complete the applicable renewal and activation before expiry. Tertiary-level status is normally renewed annually; check the encoded validity.

Use the enquiry link below within six months of application. If you forgot the number, the application document is normally emailed after one working day. If submission succeeded but no email arrived, check inbox and junk after one day and call2881 8888 before paying again. Physical-card activation is available at Kowloon Tong or Wu Kai Sha Customer Service Centres; excluded stations are Airport Express stations, Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau, Racecourse, Disneyland Resort and Sunny Bay.

1. 1

   Wait for the activation notice

   Use the approval email or instructions with the new card. The new-card fee includes the MTR administration charge; do not automatically pay another HK$20.

   Check application progress (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Write status to the card

   For a physical card, follow its student-status activation prompts in the Octopus App or take it to an eligible centre. Mobile Octopus renewal must be completed in the app; pay any applicable HK$20 and finish the card update.

3. 3

   Read back the result

   Check encoded Student Status and expiry in the app, an Octopus Enquiry Processor or a Customer Service Centre. Add value if a new card lacks sufficient balance. Approval email or payment alone does not replace encoded status.

After activation, check status and expiry before travelling. Notify MTR as instructed if student eligibility, school or personal details change.

If a personalised student Octopus is lost or stolen, immediately call 2266 2266 to report it and request replacement. For applications/renewal call MTR 2881 8888, Mon–Fri 08:30–18:00 and Sat 08:30–13:00, except Sundays/public holidays. Pay adult fares until you hold a usable card with valid Student Status; a student ID, application receipt or payment screenshot does not qualify for a concessionary single-journey ticket.

Submit renewal within 60 days before Student Status expires. Status expiring on 31 October 2026 must be renewed and activated before expiry; an unencoded or expired status attracts adult fares.

If the status on a replacement card remains valid, replacement alone does not require another student-scheme application. Renew separately if it expires within 60 days. If you replaced a card while an add-status/renewal request was pending, call 2881 8888 with the new number to update the application.

First-time successful applicants receive HK$20 usable-value rebate; the HK$90 fee itself comprises deposit/administrative/service fees, not HK$90 travel credit. If the new card and letter have not arrived within 4–6 weeks, call Octopus 2266 2222 with the application number and postal address rather than paying for another application.