International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is an internationally recognized proof of full-time student status. Unlike most services in this series, it is not primarily a developer or software benefit. For web development students, its main value is broader student identification and access to travel, transport, culture, shopping, education, and other international student discounts, while software-focused programs such as the GitHub Student Developer Pack or JetBrains are usually more relevant for development tools.
One developer-related benefit is student verification: JetBrains accepts a valid ISIC card as one of the methods for verifying eligibility for its free student license. See our JetBrains student guide for the other verification options.
How to Apply
ISIC is available to full-time students at eligible schools, colleges, and universities. You will normally need to provide proof of your current student status, identification, and a photo.
Start from the official ISIC website and select your country to see the available application methods. Depending on your location, you may be able to apply online or through a local ISIC issuer.
The price, card format, validity period, and application process can vary by country and local issuer. If you study through an open or distance-learning program, eligibility depends on the rules of your local ISIC issuer.
ISIC also provides a digital card in its app, so you can prove your student status without carrying the physical card where digital verification is accepted.
Before paying for a card yourself, check whether your university, bank, student organization, or another institution already provides ISIC cards for free or at a reduced price.
Things to Know
Check Your Local Issuer's Terms
ISIC is a global program, but cards are issued locally. Fees, validity periods, renewal rules, card formats, and the way individual offers accept ISIC can vary by country and issuer. Check the terms of your local provider before purchasing, especially if you want the card for a particular discount.
Check Whether Your School Already Provides ISIC
Some universities, banks, student organizations, or other partners may include ISIC with their own student cards or provide it for free or at a reduced price. Check what is already available to you before buying a separate card.
Review the Offers You Actually Need
A long discount list does not automatically make the card worthwhile. Offers differ significantly between countries and can change over time, so look at the discounts you are realistically likely to use and compare the savings with the cost of obtaining or renewing the card.
What You Get
Depending on your country and the offers available to you, an ISIC card can provide:
- International proof of student status: Use ISIC to demonstrate that you are a student with participating organizations and services.
- Travel and transport discounts: Offers may include flights, buses, trains, accommodation, tours, and other travel services.
- Culture and entertainment discounts: Museums, attractions, cinemas, events, and other cultural activities may offer student pricing.
- Shopping and everyday discounts: Participating businesses can provide discounts on food, retail, services, and other student expenses.
- Education and career offers: Depending on your location, offers may include services such as Kickresume, OnTheHub, learning platforms, productivity tools, and career-related services.
- Student verification for other services: Some companies use ISIC as an independent way to confirm student status. For example, JetBrains accepts ISIC as one of its student verification methods.
Because available offers vary by location, search the ISIC website or mobile app for your country before deciding whether the card is worth purchasing.
For students mainly looking for web development tools, software, hosting, IDEs, and technical learning resources, start with the GitHub Student Developer Pack and our JetBrains student guide. ISIC is more useful as a broader international student card that may complement those programs rather than replace them.