Frequently asked questions about HSL tickets for exchange students

Can I add the discount in the HSL app?
Only with Finnish strong electronic identification. If you don't have Finnish online banking credentials, you can instead add the student discount entitlement to a physical HSL card.

How much does an HSL card cost?
€5. This is a one-time fee, not a deposit — you don't need to return the card, and you can simply dispose of it once you no longer need it.

Where can I load a season ticket onto my card?
A 30-day or 90-day season ticket can be loaded immediately at the Popup service point. After that, you can load tickets free of service fee at the HSL service point in Mall of Tripla, Pasila, or with a small service fee at R-kioski, Alepa, Prisma, and S-market stores. The ticket must be paid in full at the time of purchase.

What tickets can I use the student discount on?
Only season tickets. The discount is not available for single tickets or day tickets.

How long is my student discount valid?
The discount is added to your HSL card according to the validity period granted by your educational institution, which is typically until 31 December for the autumn semester and until 31 May for the spring semester. If you buy a season ticket while your entitlement is valid, the discount applies for the whole validity period of that ticket.

Which travel zones does Helsinki use?
Travel in Helsinki takes place within zones A and B. Read more about zones in the HSL area. 

Do I need to validate my zone when boarding?
No. With a valid season ticket, just present your card to the reader when required. On the metro, commuter trains, trams, and trunk route buses (orange buses) you generally don't need to show the card to the driver at all; on other buses, show it when boarding through the front door.

What if I travel outside my season ticket's zones?
You can use the stored value on your HSL card to buy a single ticket for the extra zones, either via a card reader, the HSL app, or a ticket machine. Tickets from different sales channels can be combined for the same journey.

Is there an app I should use?
Yes — the HSL app is recommended for checking routes and timetables, and it also shows which zones you'll need for your journey.

Can I load more than one season ticket at a time?
Yes. Your HSL card can hold both a currently valid season ticket and a future one at the same time: for example a 30-day ticket plus a 90-day ticket, giving four months of travel in total. The next season ticket can start no later than 60 days from the date of purchase.

Which ticket does the card reader show if I have two loaded?
It always shows the ticket that's currently valid. If you've loaded a 30-day ticket followed by a 90-day ticket, the reader shows the 30-day ticket's validity first; once it expires, the 90-day ticket activates automatically.