-25% thanks to the SNCF Annual Leave Ticket

SNCF offers a reduced fare once a year for purchasing tickets for travel within France.

The “annual leave ticket” allows certain users of SNCF lines to travel across the Hexagon with a discount ranging from 25 to 50% off the full fare. This measure dates back to… 1936! To benefit from this reduced fare, it will be necessary to download the form from the SNCF website and submit it at a ticket office at least 24 hours before departure.

This ticket is only valid for travelers moving within France, with the stipulation of a return journey occurring less than 2 months after the outbound travel date. SNCF specifies that stops along the way (both outbound and return) are permitted and tickets “completely unused” are refundable. This applies even before the return journey has been made. 

Who benefits?

The 25% discount applies for a round trip of at least 200 km in total, once per year. Travelers belonging to the following categories can fill out the form and thus benefit from the discount:

• Employees residing in France (or abroad),
• Public service agents,
• Home workers, artisans, and farmers (under certain conditions),
• Job seekers receiving unemployment benefits,
• Vocational training interns,
• Retired and pre-retired individuals, holders of a pension from social security (survivor, disability, minimum pension).

The 50% discount applies if at least half of the annual leave ticket is paid for using vacation vouchers.

Additionally, the ticket allows companions, provided that payment for all travelers is made in one transaction. They can only be holders or companions of the ticket once per year. 

The following individuals can be listed on the ticket: 

• The person you live with as a couple (married, PACS, or cohabitating),
• Your children under 21 years old,
• Your mother or father (if the ticket holder is single and the parents live in the same residence).

On which tickets?

The 25% discount allowed by the annual leave ticket applies to the following fares:

• The full leisure fare and the regulated fare on trains requiring reservation,
• The standard fare for 2^e class on trains with optional reservation or no reservation (excluding any additional fees).

The 50% discount is applicable under the following cumulative conditions:

• Subject to availability, for trains requiring reservation,
• For any journey started during the blue period of the travel calendar, for trains with optional reservation or without reservation.

These reduced fares are calculated based on the full fare in 2^e class, even if part of the journey is made in 1^re class.

How to obtain it?

To be able to travel on the “annual leave ticket,” you will need to follow the following procedure:

• Download and print the application form from the Service Public site or via this link,
• Fill out the journey details as well as any companions,
• Attach any proof of eligibility for the ticket (employer’s certificate, unemployment benefits statement for example),
• Attach documents proving the relationship with other individuals on the ticket (in case of travel with more than one traveler),
• Submit the completed document at an SNCF station at least 24 hours before departure.

Also read:  Here is the decoration of the future TGV M of 2025