Important Information for New Students

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

Why wait in line? Send your photo ahead of time. Email your picture to watphoto@uwaterloo.ca along with your full name, student ID number, and home address.

If you email in your photo, you will also receive a FREE card holder and lanyard to help you keep your WatCard safe and handy at all times.

Please note that you must bring government issued photo ID when you come to pick up your WatCard even if you have sent in a photo.

Guidelines for electronic pictures:

Your photo must be in colour .jpg format and should be less than 500 KB.
We cannot accept photos with hats or sunglasses.
Your photo must have a neutral background (ie - a white wall).
Your photo 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.
If you can't imagine the photo on your passport, you should send a different one.

These are examples of unacceptable photos:

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.

If you are a Distance Education student, please contact them directly for inquiries regarding your ID card at distance@uwaterloo.ca. 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.