3 Ways to Find Your Number Without the Card

1. The Official ISTP Portal (Most Reliable)

Since your pass was purchased through a dedicated student system, your account stores the card details even if you haven’t registered the card on the main PTV app yet.

1. Go to the International Student Travel Pass Website.
2. Log in using the email and password you created when you first used your university discount code.
3. Click on “Manage Your Profile” or “Order History.”
4. Your current 15-digit myki number will be listed next to your active pass details.

2. The PTV Mobile App

If you previously registered your card or moved it to your digital wallet (Apple/Google), the number is hidden in the settings:

• Digital Card: Open your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, tap on the myki, and look for “Card Information” or “Account Details.”
• Physical Card (Registered): Open the PTV App, tap the ‘myki’ icon at the bottom, and log in. Swipe through your cards to see the full 15-digit number.

3. Check Your “Order Confirmation” Email

Search your student inbox for emails from “Transport Victoria” or “PTV.” When your ISTP was first processed in 2026, the confirmation email typically included the card number assigned to your account before the physical plastic was even mailed.

Why You Need This Number Now

The April 2026 “Free Month” Sync

Even though travel is free in April 2026 for the Metro Tunnel opening, PTV is encouraging students to link their ISTP numbers to the PTV App now. By doing this, you ensure that the 30-day extension (granted to compensate for the free month) is correctly applied to your account.

If You Can’t Log In

If you’ve forgotten your ISTP portal password and lost your card, you cannot use the “Forgot Password” tool easily because it often asks for the card number as verification.

• The Fix: Call the PTV International Student Team at 1800 800 007. Once you verify your identity (Name, DOB, and University ID), they can read the number out to you over the phone.

How to Transfer Your Pass: Step-by-Step

Scenario A: You Use a Mobile myki (Digital Only)

In 2026, if your pass is already digital, it is linked to your Apple ID or Google Account.

For iPhone (Apple Wallet):

1. On your OLD phone: Open the Wallet app, select your myki, tap the three dots (More), and select “Remove Card.” This moves the card to your iCloud “archive.”
2. On your NEW phone: Open the Wallet app, tap the (+) Add button, select “Previous Cards,” and choose your International Student Travel Pass.
3. Wait: It may take up to 24 hours for the pass to fully reactivate on the new device.

For Android (Google Wallet):

1. Ensure you are signed into the same Google Account on the new phone.
2. Open the Google Wallet app. Your myki should appear automatically under “Transport Passes.”
3. If it doesn’t appear, open the PTV App, go to “My myki,” and select “Move to this device.”

Scenario B: You Use a Physical Card

If you have a physical iUSEpass card and want to move it to your phone for the first time:

1. Open the Wallet app (Apple or Google).
2. Select “Add Transport Card” and choose “Melbourne / myki.”
3. Choose “Transfer Existing Card.”
4. Enter your myki number and follow the prompts to scan the card with your phone’s NFC reader.
   • Warning: Once you transfer a physical iUSEpass to a phone, the physical card becomes permanently deactivated. You cannot switch back and forth.

Critical “Do’s and Don’ts”

The “One Device” Rule

In 2026, a single International Student Travel Pass can only be active on one device at a time. You cannot have the same pass on your iPhone and your Apple Watch simultaneously. You must “move” it between them in the Watch app.

The April 2026 “No-Touch” Month

If you are transferring your phone during April 2026, remember that the Victorian Government has declared this a “No-Touch” month for pass holders.

• Pro-Tip: You can still transfer your card to a new phone, but you don’t actually need to tap on/off to travel this month. However, getting it set up now ensures you are ready when the 30-day extension kicks in in May.

Lost Phone? Use the ISTP Website

If you lost your old phone and can’t “Remove” the card manually:

• Log into the International Student Travel Pass website.
• Select “Report Lost/Stolen” for your mobile myki.
• This will de-authorize the old device and allow you to link your pass to a new one.

Regional Coverage: Where Your Pass Works

In 2026, the iUSEpass is not restricted to Melbourne’s Zones 1 and 2. It is a State-wide authority that covers:

1. V/Line Commuter Trains

Your pass covers all V/Line “commuter” services that use myki. This includes popular routes between Melbourne and:

• Geelong
• Ballarat
• Bendigo
• Traralgon
• Seymour

Note: If you are traveling further (e.g., to Albury, Bairnsdale, or Warrnambool), your pass covers the portion of the journey within the myki zones. You will need to pay a paper-ticket fare for the remaining “long-distance” leg.

2. Regional City Bus Networks

If you live or study in a regional city, your iUSEpass works on local buses in:

• Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong (myki-enabled).
• Smaller Town Buses: Even in towns that don’t use myki (like Mildura or Shepparton), your physical International Student Travel Pass card is recognized as a valid “Student Pass” for local town bus travel.

3. SkyBus (The Exception)

It is important to remember that the SkyBus (to Melbourne or Avalon Airport) is a private service. The International Student Travel Pass cannot be used for SkyBus travel.

Maximizing Your Regional Travel

The “Weekend Free” Bonus

In early 2026, Victoria introduced a weekend promotion where all regional travel was significantly reduced. However, as an iUSEpass holder, you are already at the lowest possible fare. You don’t need to do anything extra; just touch on and off as usual.

The 485 Visa Transition

If you have finished your studies and are applying for a 485 Graduate Visa, remember that your iUSEpass remains valid until its expiry date, even if you are no longer “enrolled.” This makes it an incredibly cheap way to travel for job interviews in regional Victoria during your transition period.

How to “Touch On” for Regional V/Line

When using your iUSEpass on a V/Line train, always touch on at the platform validator before boarding. If you are traveling to a station that doesn’t have a myki gate, the conductors in 2026 carry handheld devices to verify your pass.

The short answer is state government policy. Public Transport Victoria (PTV) eligibility rules currently define “students” as those enrolled in primary, secondary, or undergraduate tertiary courses (like Bachelors or Diplomas).

The Official Reasoning

The Victorian Government has historically argued that:

• The Health Care Card System: Domestic postgraduate students on a low income should apply for a Low Income Health Care Card through Centrelink. If you have this card, you can get a concession myki.
• Financial Independence: There is a long-standing (and often criticized) assumption that postgraduate students are more likely to have professional experience or part-time work to fund their travel compared to younger undergraduates.

The 2026 Reality for International Postgrads

If you are an international postgraduate student, the situation is even tougher. You are not eligible for a Health Care Card, and the International Student Travel Pass (which offers a 50% discount) is strictly reserved for undergraduate students.

3 Ways You Might Still Get a Discount

While the standard “Student Concession” is blocked, check if you fall into these categories:

1. The Low Income Health Care Card (Domestic Only)

If you are a domestic student earning below a certain threshold (roughly $700–$800 per week in 2026), you can apply for this card. Once granted, you can buy a Concession myki and pay 50% fares.

2. University-Specific Travel Grants

Some institutions, like the University of Melbourne, offer “Student Travel Awards” or emergency financial aid. These aren’t myki discounts, but they can provide up to $3,000 for travel related to conferences or research placements. Check your specific faculty’s “Scholarships and Grants” page.

3. The “Commuter Club” (Through Your Employer)

If you work part-time while studying, check if your employer is part of the PTV Commuter Club. This allows employees to buy a yearly myki pass at a 10% discount through payroll deductions.

The “Fares Fair” Movement

There is ongoing advocacy from groups like the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) to change these rules. In 2026, many students are signing petitions to bring Victoria in line with states like NSW and QLD, which offer at least partial concessions to postgraduates.

• Pro-Tip: If you are a PhD or Masters by Research student traveling for a specific placement or internship, ask your university if they can issue a “Clinical Placement” travel letter, which occasionally grants temporary concession access for that specific period.