Starting in 2026, the Madrid Region will introduce a new initiative: children under the age of 12 will be able to obtain the Carné Joven card free of charge. Previously, this offer was available only to teenagers aged 14 and older. Now, with the lowered age threshold, this decision will affect more than 700,000 residents of the region.
The initiative was presented by the regional government during discussions on key development priorities. Carné Joven is not just a plastic card, but a whole package of privileges for young people. It grants access to discounts in various areas: from transport and education to entertainment, restaurants, museums, and even major festivals. Overall, cardholders can take advantage of special offers at nearly two thousand locations throughout Spain and abroad.
The Carné Joven program has been operating for 36 years and brings together more than a thousand companies and organizations that work with authorities to support young people. Every year, the number of program participants steadily increases. Today, there are over 716,000 cardholders in Madrid aged 14 to 30. Over the past year, this figure has grown by nearly 7 percent, and with the lowered age threshold, the number of users is expected to rise even further.
Recently, the project received recognition at the European level: for conducting educational workshops, X Carné Joven was awarded the prestigious Excellence Awards. This honor highlights the importance of efforts to support youth and the social responsibility of all organizations participating in the program.
To obtain the card, you simply need to be a resident of the Community of Madrid and meet the age requirements. Carné Joven can be applied for online or at one of 75 designated distribution points. Up-to-date information on benefits and conditions is available on the official program website.
