The ISIC card is an international document that allows students to enjoy discounts in Poland and abroad. It is especially useful during travel, student exchanges, and shopping at stores offering special discounts for students. In 2026, the standard ISIC card costs 59 PLN zł, and the latest edition can remain valid until the end of December 2027. Is it worth getting one, what documents are required, and how is it different from a regular student ID card from ELS? We explain.
In short – the most important information:
ISIC is an abbreviation for International Student Identity Card, The International Student Identity Card was created for students who want to confirm their status while traveling and to take advantage of offers designed for the academic community.
The biggest advantage of ISIC is its international character. When traveling abroad, a Polish university ID card is not always recognized or accepted by the organizers of various promotions. The ISIC card, however, is part of an international program that is used by students in many countries.
With an important card, you can access, among other things:
However, it should be remembered that ISIC does not guarantee a specific discount in every store, museum, or means of transport.. Each program partner sets its own terms for using discounts.
The ISIC card is available to people who are 7 years old or older and have the status of a student or a university student.
In practice, they may apply for it, among others:
Can ISIC be obtained after the age of 26?
Yes. Unlike some statutory student discounts, the ISIC card does not have a general upper age limit for people holding the appropriate student or student-at-work status.
This means that a student aged 28, 35 or 40 can also apply for the document if he or she meets the conditions for obtaining it.
However, the right to possess an ISIC should not be confused with the right to statutory discounts. For example, exceeding 26 years of age still excludes the use of the statutory 51% rail discount granted to students based on age criteria.
Obtaining an international student ID card is relatively simple. You do not need to visit the dean's office or the administrative office, because you can order the card online.
Before starting the application process, prepare:
If you use the mStudent ID in the mObywatel app, check which forms of proof of status are currently accepted by the ISIC issuer.
You do not need to have a plastic ELS if you can present another accepted document confirming your studies.
Several options are available on the official ISIC website.
The most popular ones are:
If you need the document primarily to use discounts, a basic card may be sufficient.
Those planning a trip abroad, however, may consider a package with insurance.
Go to the official website ISIC.pl, Choose the appropriate type of ID and start the order.
Fill in the required information, add a photo and a document confirming your status as a student.
Before submitting the form, please carefully check the correctness of the information. Incorrect data may cause problems with the issuance or subsequent verification of the card.
After the złwedding, the chosen option must be paid for.
After a positive verification, you can use the virtual ID in the ISIC app.
If you prefer a traditional plastic card, you can order it for an additional fee.
The price depends primarily on the type of card and the insurance chosen.
According to the official price list for 2026, the following amounts apply:
Type of ISIC card | Price |
Standard ISIC without insurance | 59 zł |
ISIC with travel insurance up to 50,000 EUR | 130 zł |
ISIC with travel insurance up to 250,000 EUR | 225 zł |
ISIC with NNW insurance in Poland | 99 zł |
ISIC 360 without insurance | 69 zł |
Additional plastic card | 10 zł |
The amounts stated refer to standard offers available on the official program website. Prices may change in subsequent editions.
It depends on the intended way of using the card.
If you are studying in Poland and you primarily need access to discounts, the basic option for 59 PLN zł may be more than enough.
However, if you plan a trip abroad, it is worth comparing the options with travel insurance.
Before buying, pay attention to:
The mere presence of insurance in a package does not mean that it will be suitable for every type of trip.
One of the biggest advantages of ISIC is the relatively long validity period.
In September 2026, a new edition of the license began. The standard ISIC card issued in this edition is valid until December 31, 2027.
This means that the person who purchases the card in September 2026 can use it for a maximum of 16 months.
However, not every card has the same expiration date.
Type of card | Expiration period |
Standard ISIC – edition 2026/2027 | Until December 31, 2027. |
ISIC 360 | 12 months from the date of release |
Selected special variants | According to the terms of the product in question |
The validity of the document can be checked on the card and in the ISIC app.
After the standard ISIC card expires, it is necessary to order a new one. It cannot be extended using the holograms used on Polish ELS ID cards.
ISIC and the Polish student card have slightly different applications.
The Electronic Student Identity Card (ELS) and mLegitimation in mObywatel are documents issued under the Polish higher education system.
ISIC, on the other hand, is an international identification card that primarily provides access to specific discount programs.
Feature | ISIC | Polish ELS / mLegitimation |
Publisher | ISIC Organization and Authorized Partners | University |
Main application | International discounts and confirmation of studies | Confirmation of student status |
Is it paid? | Yes | The license is free of charge |
Mobile version | ISIC app | The mObywatel application |
The importance | Up to 16 months or 12 months, depending on the variant | According to the rules regarding student documents |
Legal concession for PKP in Poland | Only in certain cases | Yes, after fulfilling the conditions for the relief |
The most important thing is that the documents can complement each other.
You can have a Polish ID card to confirm your status at the university and to benefit from national discounts, and in addition, an ISIC card to get discounts when traveling.
This is a very important issue, because having an international student card does not automatically entitle you to the statutory rail discount in Poland.
A student from a Polish university cannot replace the national ELS or ISIC card during the verification of entitlement to the 51% discount.
Other rules may apply to people studying outside Poland.
According to the information from the Office of Rail Transport, ISIC can be used to confirm the right to a 51% discount if the student is studying at a foreign university and meets certain conditions.
This applies, among other things, to:
In addition, there is an age limit of 26 years and the requirement to present documents confirming identity and meeting the conditions for the discount.
Example: A student from a Polish university traveling from Warsaw to Krakow should present a valid ELS or mLegitymacja card. The ISIC card itself is not sufficient to confirm his/her statutory discount.
However, if a Polish citizen studies at a university in Germany, an ISIC card can be one of the documents confirming their entitlement to a discount on Polish railways.
ISIC holders can take advantage of special offers from the program's partners. The availability of discounts depends on the country, the specific company, and the duration of the promotion.
In October 2026, among the offers presented by the organizer, you can find promotions related to:
This does not mean that each of the listed discounts will be available throughout the validity period of the ID card.
Before taking advantage of the promotion, you should check its current terms and conditions, the discount amount, the required code, and any exclusions.
For people who travel regularly, ISIC can be particularly useful.
For example, a student going on Erasmus can check for discount offers on:
It is best to check the available offers in the destination country before departure.
If you save a total of 60 thanks to the discounts zł, the cost of the basic card for 59 will zł practically be recouped. However, this is not a guaranteed benefit – it all depends on the promotions actually used.
Yes. ISIC is available in a virtual version.
You just need to download the official ISIC app, log in, and link the issued card to it.
The application allows, among other things:
It is worth remembering that the ISIC app and Polish mObywatel are two different solutions.
mObywatel is used to store official student ID, while the ISIC application supports an international card and the associated discount program.
You do not need to have a plastic ID card with an updated hologram if you can confirm your student status with another document accepted by the ISIC organizer.
In Poland, starting with the 2025/2026 academic year, the basic document for students is the mLegitymacja in the mObywatel application.
The traditional ELS still operates, and its validity is confirmed by updating the data in the chip and placing the appropriate hologram by the university.
It is worth knowing that individual editions of such stickers are also of interest to collectors. They are available in our store. ELS student holograms in collectible versions, including various editions and graphic variations.
Collectible products do not, however, constitute proof of student status, do not replace official holograms, and are not used to obtain an ISIC card.
ISIC is not a mandatory document for students, so the decision on whether to purchase it should depend on whether you will actually use the benefits offered.
A license can be a good choice if:
On the other hand, if you study exclusively in Poland, you rarely travel and mainly benefit from the statutory discounts for public transport and rail travel; the national ELS card or mLegitymacja may be sufficient.
Before purchasing, it is best to review the promotional catalog and check if it includes offers that you actually intend to use.
The standard ISIC card without insurance costs 59 zł. The ISIC 360 variant costs 69 zł. More expensive packages are also available that include travel insurance or travel cancellation insurance.
Yes. A person over 26 years of age can obtain an ISIC card if they have the appropriate student status. However, this does not mean that they are entitled to all the statutory discounts, which may have their own age restrictions.
No. ISIC does not replace the national ELS or mLegitimation when confirming the statutory rail discounts for Polish university students. It is primarily an additional international document.
ISIC can confirm the right to the statutory 51% discount in certain cases for people studying abroad. Students from Polish universities should use the national ELS or mLegitimation card.
The standard ISIC from the edition launched in September 2026 remains valid until December 31, 2027. The ISIC 360 variant is valid for 12 months from issuance.
Yes. The organizer accepts proof of attendance in the form of an appropriate certificate from a school or university. You do not need to have a plastic ELS card with a hologram if you have another accepted form of proof of status.
The ELD doctoral degree certificate itself does not automatically mean that the requirements for the issuance of the ISIC are met. The program is intended for students, so the doctoral candidate should confirm their eligibility directly with the card issuer.
Yes. The virtual ID is available in the ISIC app, where you can also check promotions, use coupons, and monitor the document's validity.
If you have any questions about our products or need help choosing the right solution, please contact us. We are at your disposal by phone, email, and via the contact form.
The Hologramykolekcjonerskie24.com editorial team has been specializing in the topic for over 10 years. collectible holograms and patterns related to educational documents. We are preparing practical guides on ELS student holograms, doctoral ELDs and school-based ones, and their dates, variants, safeguards, and histories.
The published content is based on reliable sources regarding the Polish education system, applicable legal regulations, regulations of the relevant ministries, and official information provided by universities, schools, and public institutions. We regularly update the materials to reflect changes in regulations, document templates, and policies applicable in Polish education.
The website is informational and collector-oriented and is not affiliated with any university, school, ministry, or other public institution.
