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Last week I kept getting some forwards from a couple of my friends, and all of it had the same subject – ‘The International Student Identity Card.’ I am not going to lie and say, “Ooh it caught my interest the first time I saw it.” Let me be honest, the first one I must say, I barely read, the second one, I skimmed through, but when I got the email again, I got very curious, and actually read it, which is when it caught my interest.
I just spoke to the people, who were handling it and got more information about it! The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a card that does a lot more than provide identification. What is it? Backed by UNESCO, these cards are somewhat of a reward for students, youth and teachers, providing value offers and discount opportunities. Considered the only internationally-accepted student ID card, it gives access to a global network of affordable and specialised student services. The benefits This card gives you access to a global network of 5000 travel organisations that specialise in the needs of student and youth travellers in 106 countries. It will get you low-cost, flexible airline tickets for international as well as domestic flights. When you are travelling, accommodation is most often very pricey, but this card will help you get reductions at many hotels and hostels across the world. Also one thing you should consider is the fact that as an ISIC holder, you become part of a worldwide community of over 4.5 million students, who share a passion for travel, adventure and discovery. Discounts at restaurants and retail shops, student entry prices to museums, cultural and historic sites and special rates for bus, coach, train and ferry tickets… these are definitely offers that are worth having. More importantly, this card gives you access to the 24-hour ISIC Emergency Help Line. Who issues this card locally? As of now they have established 15 benefit providers in and around Colombo. By the end of the year, they plan on increasing the number of providers, thereby ensuring that students receive discounts at all key student locations islandwide. They are at the moment in the midst of negotiating discounts with Pizza Hut, Deli France and the Vijitha Yapa Bookstore. How to get it First of all there are two types of cards – the student card and the youth card. To get a student card you need to be between 12 and 26 years old, and enrolled in full-time studies. You can either be in secondary school or in post-secondary studies. If you are not a full-time student, but aged under 26 or you are a full-time teacher or professor, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) or International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) could be for you. The IYTC and ITIC offer similar benefits, services and savings to the ISIC card. If you are interested in getting this card, there are two options. The first option is to go to their office, situated at the World Trade Centre, where it would only take literally ten minutes to get the card. You have to take a passport size photograph, along with a letter stating that you are a student. You can fill the application at the office, and they will hand over the card to you immediately. For those of you who can’t go over to their office, you could apply for it online on www.statravel.lk. Afterwards you have to mail your passport size photograph and the letter stating that you are student, with a bank draft for the card, and they will mail it to you immediately. The cost of the ISIC card is Rs.1000, and it is renewable. All cards are regulated by the International Student Travel Confederation, of which STA Travel is a leading member. While this card is yet to catch on here in Sri Lanka, it is a very popular card worldwide. So, trust me, having one of these cards is very beneficial, as you could enjoy all the rewards wherever you go.
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