SNCF Annual Leave Ticket: How to Get a Round Trip at 25% Off?

SNFC offers its travelers the opportunity to travel at a reduced fare once a year within France thanks to the annual leave ticket, allowing for a more relaxed holiday departure.

The “annual leave ticket” allows certain SNCF line users to travel within France with a discount ranging from 25% to 50% off the full fare. This measure dates back to… 1936! To benefit from this reduced fare, you must download the form from the SNCF website and submit it at a station at least 24 hours before departure.

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

Who Benefits from This Discount?

The 25% discount applies to 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 reduction:

• Employees residing in France (or abroad);
• Public service agents;
• Home workers, artisans, and farmers (under certain conditions);
• Unemployed individuals receiving unemployment benefits;
• Vocational trainees;
• Retirees and pre-retirees receiving a pension from social security (survivor’s pension, disability, minimum pension).

The 50% discount is applied if at least half of the annual leave ticket is paid with holiday vouchers.

Additionally, the ticket allows for companions, provided they are paid for all travelers at once. They can only hold or accompany the ticket once per year.

The following persons can be listed on the ticket:

• The partner you live with (marriage, PACS, or cohabitation);
• 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 can one travel?

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

• The full leisure fare and the regulated fare on trains with mandatory reservation;
• The standard second class fare on trains with optional or no reservations (excluding any additional charges).

The 50% discount applies under the following cumulative conditions:

• Subject to seat availability, on trains with mandatory reservation;
• For any journey starting during the “blue period” on the traveler calendar, on trains with optional or no reservations.

These discounted fares are based on the full fare in second class, even if part of the journey is undertaken in first class.

What is the procedure to benefit from this annual leave ticket?

To travel with a “annual leave ticket,” the following steps must be followed:

• Download and print the application form from the Service Public website or via this link ;
• Fill in the intended route and any accompanying persons;
• Attach any proof of eligibility for the ticket (e.g., employer’s certificate, unemployment benefits certificate);
• Attach documents proving kinship with other persons on the ticket (if traveling with more than one passenger);
• Submit the completed form at an SNCF station at least 24 hours before departure.

Also read: Cheap train tickets, which subscription or discount card to choose?