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Elderly People With Income of Up to Two Minimum Wages Are Entitled to Free Passages and 50% Discount Fares on Interstate Transportation. See How It Works, Who Is Entitled, and What to Do When the Company Refuses.
Brazil has 33 million people aged 60 or older. Yet, one of the most powerful rights of the Elderly Person Statute remains hidden in plain sight: the possibility of traveling for free to any state in the country, without paying for a ticket, without extra fees, and without excessive bureaucracy. The rule is clear. The law guarantees two free seats on all interstate buses, and when these are exhausted, the elderly person automatically receives a minimum discount of 50%, including on the boarding fee. Despite this, thousands of people continue to pay what they shouldn’t. Many only discover their right when they have already missed trips that could have been free.
What the Law Really Says (and What Companies Try to Hide)
The right is in the 40th article of the Elderly Person Statute (Law 10.741/2003) and was reinforced by ANTT regulations, especially by Resolution 6.131/2024.
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- Elderly people aged 60 or older
- With income of up to two minimum wages
- Are entitled to two free seats per interstate bus
When these seats are already occupied:
- The elderly person must receive 50% mandatory discount
- On the entire fare, including the boarding fee
And there is no such thing as “extra fee,” “administrative fee,” “reservation fee,” or any hidden charges. Charging any additional amount is illegal.
Which Documents Are Accepted to Prove Income (and What to Do If You Don’t Have Any)
ANTT is straightforward: there can be no abusive demands.
Accepted as proof:
- INSS Statement
- Pay Stub
- Benefit Card
- Handwritten declaration if the elderly person does not have recent documentation
The declaration written by the passenger themselves is completely valid. The agency created this mechanism precisely because many elderly people live far from banks and have difficulty printing proof.
How to Request the Free Pass in Practice and Why Many Elderly Give Up in the Process
Requesting the benefit should be simple, but in practice, there are still companies that try to make it difficult.
The procedure is:
- Go to the ticket counter with a minimum of 3 hours in advance
- Present a photo ID and proof of income
- Request the free seat or the discount
- Demand that the company consults the electronic system
- Request proof when the company claims there are no seats available
The problem is that many companies:
- Say “it’s all gone,” without even checking the system
- Try to push for alternative schedules
- Invent documents that do not exist
- Claim that the benefit only works on weekdays
- Block elderly people by putting names on unofficial internal lists
All of this is irregular and can result in fines.
When the Company Refuses to Comply With the Law: What to Do Right Away
The elderly person can immediately report the carrier through ANTT channels:
- Phone 166 (available 24/7)
- ANTT Website
- Consumidor.gov.br
In more serious cases, ANTT can:
- Impose a fine
- Demand immediate correction of the system
- Temporarily suspend the sale of tickets for that line
And yes, this happens. Companies have already been fined for denying rights at bus stations in major capitals.
Why So Many People Don’t Know About This Right and the Huge Impact It Has
The right has existed since 2003, but it is hardly publicized. Neither ANTT nor companies have a vested interest in promoting the benefit.
The result is that millions of elderly people miss out on traveling:
- To visit children and grandchildren
- To seek healthcare treatment in other cities
- To revisit places from their youth
- To work or supplement income at fairs and events
- For religious activities
- To explore Brazil
The free trip becomes an instrument of freedom, autonomy, and mental health, as mobility reduces isolation, depression, and improves quality of life in old age.
A country ages better when it allows the elderly to come and go without relying on anyone.
Final Reflection to the Reader
If you are over 60 or know someone in that age group, it is almost certain that you have already paid for a trip that should have been free. This right has existed for over two decades, but it remains inaccessible to millions, not due to a lack of law, but due to a lack of information.
The question is straightforward:
why do so many elderly people still pay for something that the law guarantees as a right?
And you, reader, have you ever seen any company deny this benefit? Have you helped any elderly person demand their free passage? Your experience can help others finally enforce what is already provided by law.
Antt tem agência na rodoviária do Tietê??
20 anos de lei mas sem nenhum avanço na padronização de como solicitar o benefício (especialmente de forma digital).
Fui pegar passagem gratuity com 5 dias de antecedencia não tinha mais queria comprar a com 50% fui informada que so seria validada de terça quarta-feira e quinta feira achei estranho