U-pas Utrecht: Who Qualifies and What the Credit Covers

This guide is for international residents of Utrecht on a lower income, with or without children, who have heard of the U-pas but are not sure it applies to them. You will learn who qualifies, how to apply or renew, and how to spend the credit on culture and sport.

• Who qualifies
• What the credit covers
• Applying or renewing
• Spending it on culture and sport
• Lost pass and where to get help
• FAQ

Who qualifies

The U-pas is a free pass for people on a low income. According to the official how-it-works page, it is available in the municipalities of Utrecht, De Bilt, Houten, IJsselstein and Stichtse Vecht. If you live in the city of Utrecht, you are in the right place. The whole household can take part, so it is not only for the person whose name is on the application.

There are two routes in. If you receive a benefit from the municipality, the pass is sent to you automatically each year. You do not need to apply or renew. If you do not receive a municipal benefit, you can apply yourself, provided your joint gross income falls within the income limit for your municipality. For Utrecht, De Bilt, IJsselstein, Stichtse Vecht and Houten, the page describes this as a joint gross annual income of up to 125% of the social minimum. Gross means the income on which you pay tax.

The limit depends on your household make-up, and the official pages show it in a table. I have not copied the amounts here because they can change. Check the table on the official FAQ page before you apply.

You may still qualify if your income is above the limit, in three situations:

• You are in debt restructuring (WSNP) or have an amicable debt arrangement.
• Your income has dropped below the limit in the last three months.
• You struggle permanently to make ends meet because of high costs or special circumstances.

Self-employed people can apply too. The assessment looks at profit from the business before the entrepreneur deductions, so have your figures ready.

What the credit covers

The pass carries a balance, called a credit, which you spend at U-pas partners. The official page says it lets the whole family join in sports and cultural activities, and gives discounts at museums, cinemas and tourist attractions.

The size of your credit depends on the municipality where you live and on your age. The official pages show current amounts in a table. I will not quote numbers from memory, because they change. You can see your own balance, and what you have already spent, in your personal Mijn U-pas account.

Two practical points. The pass year runs from 1 July to 30 June of the following year, so the credit is tied to that period. And the pass cannot be used for online purchases. You pay with it in person at the partner, using either the plastic pass or the digital pass in the app.

If you have children, the site also has a page on extra child credit, with options that differ per municipality. It is worth a look if you are planning sports club fees or swimming lessons.

Applying or renewing

Applications for the 2026/2027 pass year are open now, on the official application page. The process in Utrecht changed, so older advice you find online may be out of date. Since 1 November 2024, the municipality has required a valid DigiD for applications and renewals, and written applications are no longer possible. If you do not have a DigiD yet, arrange that first.

You then have two ways to apply in the municipality of Utrecht:

1. With DigiD directly. You log in with DigiD and upload the documents that are needed yourself.
2. With DigiD and the Ockto app. The Ockto app collects your income details automatically from government sources, which saves you gathering paperwork.

Some situations need extra information even if you use Ockto. These are a drop in income over the last three months, being self-employed, receiving a Wajong benefit, you or your partner reaching state pension age this year or last, a partner who died this year or last, and receiving partner alimony. After you finish the Ockto process you receive a confirmation email with a link for sending this extra information. If your income recently dropped, the official page says to include your payslips or benefit statements from the last three months.

If you live in De Bilt, Houten, IJsselstein or Stichtse Vecht, the application page has a separate online route for you.

If you cannot manage the digital route, you can visit the U-pasbalie, the help desk, at Stadsplateau 1, 3521 AZ Utrecht, on the ground floor of the Stadskantoor. On Wednesdays the desk is not at the Stadskantoor but in the libraries at Kanaleneiland and Overvecht. Opening times and appointment arrangements change, so check the official contact page for current details before you go.

Spending it on culture and sport

Choose an activity or offer from the U-pas programme, then pay at the partner with your pass. Your credit covers the amount to be paid, or part of it if the amount is larger. You pay the remainder by card or in cash. That makes it easy to use the credit gradually rather than all at once.

The official pages mention museums, cinemas, tourist attractions, and sporting and cultural activities, but they do not list specific venues, prices or opening hours. For any place you are interested in, the venue’s own website has the current details, including whether it accepts the U-pas and what the credit can be used for.

The pages do not split activities neatly into children’s and adults’ categories, so I will not pretend they do. What they do say is that the whole family can take part, and that your credit depends on your age. A sensible approach is to look at the partner offer in the app, see what suits each person in your household, and check the balance before you go.

The U-pas app is worth installing. It holds your digital pass, shows your balance, sends notifications and shows offers near your location. You can also create a Mijn U-pas account on the website by choosing log in, then create account, filling in your details and choosing a password.

Lost pass and where to get help

If you lose your pass, block it first in Mijn U-pas so nobody else can spend your credit. If you cannot get into Mijn U-pas, use the contact form and choose the subject “U-pas verloren/gestolen/kapot”. If you find the pass again before ordering a new one, you can unblock it through the same form by sending a photo of both sides, plus your full name, address and date of birth.

A replacement pass costs a small fee, which the official page says you can pay only from your U-pas credit. If your balance is too low, you must wait until your new credit arrives. The page states the exact fee.

For other questions, you can use the contact form or phone the U-pas team on 088-6006300. The site warns that the phone line is busy at times, so the form is often the quicker option.

FAQ

Do I need Dutch citizenship to get a U-pas?

The official pages do not mention nationality. They describe the pass as being for residents of the participating municipalities whose income is within the limit. The application does require a valid DigiD, so check that you have one. If you are unsure about your situation, ask the U-pas team through the contact form.

Can I apply if I am self-employed?

Yes. Self-employed people and entrepreneurs can apply if their joint gross annual income is within the limit for their municipality. The assessment looks at business profit before the entrepreneur deductions. You will need to supply extra information even if you use Ockto.

Can I use my credit to buy tickets online?

No. The official page states that the pass cannot be used for online purchases. You pay in person at the partner, with either the plastic pass or the digital pass in the app, and you cover any remainder by card or in cash.

What if I cannot apply digitally?

You can visit the U-pasbalie at the Stadskantoor, Stadsplateau 1, for help, or the libraries at Kanaleneiland and Overvecht on Wednesdays. The official pages say the desk has at times worked by appointment, so check the contact page for current arrangements before you go.

Official sources: u-pas.nl · u-pas.nl · u-pas.nl

Last checked: 13 November 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.