Important Information for New Students

When you come for your WatCard, be prepared to have your picture taken.

Alternatively, you can now send in your own picture for your WatCard. If you choose to send your own photo, please allow five business days after we receive your photo before picking up your card. Here's how:

Email your picture to watphoto@uwaterloo.ca along with your full name, student ID number, and home address.

Electronic pictures must be in colour jpeg format and should be less than 500 KB in size. Please keep in mind that we cannot accept pictures with hats or sunglasses. Your picture must show a clear image of your face and must have been taken within the last six months.

Only one copy of your photo is required.

The WatCard is the official identification card for the University of Waterloo. Identification photos must show a clear view of the face from the front with no hats, headbands, or sunglasses. We reserve the right to disallow inappropriate photos. No advertising or messages are allowed in the identification photos. When sending a photo, keep in mind it is for ID purposes. A good rule of thumb: If you can't imagine your photo on your Driver's Licence, you should send a different one.

The Distance Education department coordinates WatCard distribution for their students. Please be advised that Distance Education students will not be eligible for picture submission.

To pick up your WatCard, you MUST COME IN PERSON and bring government issued photo ID and your UW ID number.