ATAC Discounts in Rome: Who Rides Free or at Reduced Fare in 2024
Under-19s, over-70s, people with disabilities, unemployed residents, and low-income households can ride Rome's public transport free or nearly free. Here's how.
In a Nutshell
In Rome, many people pay nothing for their public-transport pass — or very close to nothing. ATAC (Rome's public-transport operator) and Roma Capitale offer reduced fares for low-income households, unemployed residents, students, older adults, and people with disabilities. The standard annual pass costs €250; with concessions you can bring that all the way down to zero.
At a Glance
| Cost | Free to €160/year (vs €250 standard), depending on your category and ISEE level |
| Timeline | ISEE from a CAF: 5–10 days. Discounted Metrebus card: 10–15 days from application |
| Where in Rome | Online with SPID at atac.roma.it/abbonamenti or in person at ticket offices at Termini, Lepanto, EUR Magliana |
| Documents | ID document, Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID), ISEE certificate (where required), category-specific documentation |
Who Rides Free
Roma Capitale guarantees full free travel on the annual Metrebus Roma pass to the following categories of residents registered in the Comune di Roma:
Over-70s with an ISEE up to €35,000. If you are 70 or older, are registered as a resident in Rome, and hold a valid ISEE (income-and-wealth indicator used to qualify for means-tested benefits) certificate, your annual pass costs nothing.
Under-19s resident in Rome. Since 2024, anyone up to the age of 19 with registered residency in the Comune di Roma travels free, with no income limit. This applies from nursery age through to the end of secondary school.
People with a disability recognised under Legge 104. Anyone with a recognised disability of 67% or higher, or a serious disability under article 3, paragraph 3 of Legge 104/1992, receives a free pass. The concession also covers one designated carer. You will need the assessment report from the ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale — your local public-health authority) or INPS (Italy's social-security agency) medical panel.
Blind and deaf-mute passengers. Those with total blindness or partial sight loss above 80%, and those with deafness recognised under Legge 381/1970, travel free — blind passengers' carers are also included.
Workers or veterans with a work, service, or war-related disability of 80% or above. You will need certification from INAIL (Italy's workplace-injury insurance institute) or the Ministry of Defence.
Who Pays Less Based on Income
If you don't qualify for a completely free pass but you have a low income, the fare drops proportionally:
| Household ISEE | Annual Metrebus Roma fare |
|---|---|
| Up to €9,360 | Free |
| €9,361 to €12,000 | €50/year |
| €12,001 to €20,000 | €130/year |
| €20,001 to €28,000 | €160/year |
| Above €28,000 | €250/year (standard fare) |
Thresholds are updated each year — always check current orders on ATAC Agevolazioni.
Students, Unemployed Residents, and Other Cases
University students. If you are enrolled at Sapienza, Tor Vergata, Roma Tre, or another Rome university and are aged 26 or under, you pay €130 per year. You will need a current-year enrolment certificate.
Unemployed people registered at an employment centre. If you are registered at a Centro per l'Impiego (Regional Lazio employment centre) and your ISEE is up to €12,000, your pass is free or costs €50. The concession lasts 12 months and can be renewed if you are still unemployed.
Recipients of the Assegno di Inclusione (ADI). Those receiving the ADI — the inclusion allowance that replaced the Reddito di Cittadinanza (basic income scheme) from 2024 — are entitled to a free or heavily discounted pass. You will need the INPS acceptance letter.
Workers receiving NASPI (Italy's unemployment benefit) or Cassa Integrazione (CIG — state-funded temporary wage support when a company suspends or reduces work). These workers qualify for reduced fares based on their ISEE. You will need your latest INPS certification and a valid ISEE certificate.
Large families. Households with three or more dependent children and an ISEE up to €28,000 are entitled to additional discounts.
How to Get Your ISEE (It's Free)
The ISEE is the key document for almost every concession. You can get it in three ways:
Through a CAF (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale — CAF, a free assistance office for tax forms and benefits applications) affiliated with ACLI, CGIL, CISL, UIL, or CNA: completely free for the standard ISEE. CAFs also help foreign nationals who are residents in Italy.
Through the INPS portal with SPID or CIE: go to inps.it — DSU Precompilata, log in, fill in or confirm your DSU (the self-declaration of household finances), and download your certificate in 3–10 working days. It is free.
Through a commercialista (accountant): a paid option, around €50. Not necessary — the CAF provides the same service for free.
Your ISEE is valid from 1 January to 31 December of the year it is issued and must be renewed every year.
How to Apply
Online with SPID or CIE. Go to atac.roma.it/abbonamenti, log in with your digital identity, select the right category, and upload the required documents (passport photo, ID document, Codice Fiscale, ISEE certificate if needed, any specialist certificates). The system verifies your eligibility within 5–15 working days. The discounted Metrebus card is either posted to you or collected at a ticket office.
In person, without SPID or CIE. Go to an ATAC ticket office authorised to process discounted-pass applications. The main ones are at Termini (level -1), Lepanto (metro line A), and EUR Magliana (metro line B). Bring all documents in original and photocopy, fill in the paper form, and bring a passport-size photo. The card is issued on the spot or posted to you within a few days.
For minors. The parent or legal guardian submits the application with the child's ID document, the child's Codice Fiscale, and, where required, a school enrolment certificate.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to renew your ISEE in January. The certificate expires on 31 December. From January onwards it is no longer valid — CAF offices are swamped in autumn, so get ahead of the rush.
- Paying a private office for your ISEE. CAFs affiliated with ACLI, CGIL, CISL, UIL, and CNA produce the standard ISEE entirely free of charge. Be wary of anyone asking for €30–50.
- Using someone else's pass. The discounted Metrebus card is issued in your name and is non-transferable. If someone else uses it, there is a penalty.
- Assuming inspections don't happen. ATAC cross-references its data with INPS and Agenzia delle Entrate (Italy's tax-revenue agency). A false declaration is fraud against the state (art. 640 of the Italian Penal Code) and results in a criminal report, repayment of amounts received, and years of exclusion from all concessions.
- Not reporting changes in your situation. If you find a job or your income increases during the year, you must notify ATAC. Failing to do so is a violation.
Special Cases
You are a foreign national resident in Rome. All concessions apply equally to foreign nationals, provided you have registered residency (residenza anagrafica) in Rome, an Italian Codice Fiscale, and a valid document (ID card, passport, or permesso di soggiorno — residence permit for non-EU citizens). The ISEE can be requested by foreign residents too; a CAF will help you for free.
You are an asylum seeker or have international protection. With a permesso di soggiorno for asylum application or international protection you are entitled to all concessions on the same terms as other residents. A CAF that specialises in assisting foreign nationals can help you obtain your ISEE.
You lost your job mid-year. If you are receiving NASPI or have just registered at a Centro per l'Impiego, you can switch from a standard pass to a discounted one even during the year. Go to a ticket office with proof of unemployment status and an updated ISEE — the fare will be recalculated on a pro-rata basis.
You qualify under more than one category (for example, you are over 70 and also have a disability). Discounts don't stack, but the most favourable condition applies. Someone with a serious disability under Legge 104 travels free regardless of their ISEE.
You want the regional Metrebus Pass (which includes FL regional trains and COTRAL buses, not just ATAC). The Lazio Region offers equivalent concessions for people with disabilities, low-income pensioners, unemployed residents, and out-of-town university students. See Regione Lazio — Agevolazioni trasporto.
Official Sources
- ATAC — Passes
- ATAC — Fare concessions
- Roma Capitale — Subsidised public transport
- Regione Lazio — Transport concessions
- INPS — ISEE
- Ministry of Labour — Employment Centres
Legal references: Legge Regionale Lazio 30/1998, DPCM 159/2013, Legge 104/1992, Delibera Assemblea Capitolina 161/2017, Delibera Giunta Capitolina 53/2024.