Student Concession Card (Bus Card) Photo Requirements

The photo rules for SimplyGo student concession cards, used on buses and trains by students in Singapore, and how each school collects the photo.

Based on official sources · last checked

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Quick answer

What photo do I need for a student concession (bus) card?

SimplyGo asks for a colour JPEG photo of 240 × 320 pixels, about 150 KB, taken within the last 3 months against a plain white background without shadow, showing your full face without headgear. MOE students should wear school uniform with their hair neatly combed or tied up.

A student concession card, often called a student bus card, gives students cheaper bus and train fares. SimplyGo prints your photo on the card, so it asks for a colour JPEG of 240 × 320 pixels, about 150 KB, on a plain white background without shadow, taken within the last 3 months.

Concession card photo requirements

Size 240 × 320 pixels
File Colour JPEG with a .jpg extension, about 150 KB (SimplyGo's home-schooler forms say no more than 150 KB)
Background Plain white, without shadow
Taken within The last 3 months
Face Full face, with your facial features not hidden
Headgear None, except headgear worn for religious or racial customs that does not hide your face
MOE students School uniform, with hair neatly combed or tied up

SimplyGo says your photo must meet its requirements for printing on the card, and that a photo that does not can delay or get your application rejected.

How to make a 240 × 320 px concession card photo

  1. Take a photo against a white wall. Wear your school uniform if you are an MOE student, tie or comb your hair neatly, and have someone take the photo. See how to take a white background photo.
  2. Open the cropper with the concession size. Open our photo cropper, which is set to the student concession card size of 240 × 320 px.
  3. Line up your head and download. Drag and zoom until your head fits the guide, then download the JPEG. It will be well under 150 KB.
  4. Name the file if asked. ITE asks for the file to be named with your NRIC number, such as T1234567A.jpg. Rename the downloaded file before you upload it.
  5. Submit it the way your school asks. Upload the photo through your school's portal, the SimplyGo website or app, or the form your school gives you, as described below.

How each group sends its photo

StudentsHow the photo is sent
MOE primary and secondary schoolsThe School Smart Card is arranged through your school. Follow your school's instructions if it asks for a photo.
ITENew students upload a photo for the ITE Student Concession Card, named with their NRIC number. The photo cannot be changed once submitted. ITE says students applying from January 2027 will receive a SimplyGo Concession card.
Singapore Polytechnic (diploma)Freshmen submit a recent passport-standard photo when they enrol. SP passes their details to SimplyGo and sends application instructions through iChat, and the card is delivered to SP for collection after payment.
NTU (undergraduate)Freshmen apply in NTU's bulk application exercise (13 July to 30 August 2026). The photo must meet SimplyGo's printing requirements.
Other studentsApply on the SimplyGo website or in the SimplyGo app (Concession tab, then Apply New Concession Card), uploading your photo there.
Home-schooled studentsSend SimplyGo's application form with a 240 × 320 px photo of up to 150 KB: secondary-level home-schoolers to feedback_PEI@simplygo.com.sg, primary-level home-schoolers to PTEValidityChange@simplygo.com.sg.

Other polytechnics and universities publish their own concession card steps during enrolment; follow your institution's instructions.

Background not white?

The concession card is not an ICA document, so you can make the background white with a free tool such as 123PhotoTool or ChangeBackground.com, as long as it ends up plain white with no shadow. Our background guide shows how. Do not use an edited photo for your passport or NRIC.

Sample photos

Correct
Dark religious headwear
Coloured background
Shadows on face
Hair covering eyes
Head tilted
Blurry or pixelated
Open-mouth smile

For university matriculation card sizes, see our student card photo guide.

Concession card photo FAQ

240 × 320 pixels, as a colour JPEG file with a .jpg extension. SimplyGo's online guidelines say the file should be about 150 KB, and its home-schooler forms say it should not exceed 150 KB, so keep it at or below 150 KB.

Yes, if it was taken within the last three months on a plain white background without shadow. Crop it from 400 × 514 px to 240 × 320 px with our photo cropper. MOE students should use a photo in school uniform.

ITE asks you to name the photo with your NRIC number, for example T1234567A.jpg. You cannot change the photo once you have submitted it.

Yes. SimplyGo allows headgear worn for religious or racial customs, as long as it does not hide your facial features. Other headgear is not allowed.

The concession card is not an ICA document, so a background tool can work if the result is a plain white background with no shadow and looks natural. See how to change a photo background to white. A photo taken against a white wall is still the safest choice.

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Official sources

Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.