Getting your ID card

This is for you if your school, polytechnic or university has asked you to send a photo for your ID card. It takes about a minute.

1. Open the link in your email

You will have received an email with a Set up my account button. Tap it.

The link works once and expires after 48 hours. If yours has expired, ask your card office to send another — they can do it in a couple of clicks.

2. Choose a password

Pick something at least 12 characters long. A short phrase you will remember — purple tractor breakfast — is both easier to recall and harder to guess than P@ssw0rd!.

You will be signed in automatically once you have chosen it.

3. Send your photo

You have two options:

• Use my camera — takes the photo right there, with an oval guide showing where your head should sit. This is the easiest way on a phone.
• Choose a file — pick a photo you already have.

Before you send it, you will see a preview. If it doesn’t look right, tap Choose another and try again.

What makes a good photo

Do

• Face the camera straight on, with a neutral expression
• Use even, bright light — facing a window works well
• Stand in front of a plain, light-coloured wall
• Make sure your whole head and the top of your shoulders are in frame

Don’t

• No hats, sunglasses or headphones. Religious head coverings are fine.
• No other people or pets in the picture
• No filters, stickers or heavy editing
• Don’t photograph a printed photo, and don’t use a screenshot

The full guide with examples is in Photo guidelines.

If the app says something is wrong

The app checks your photo as soon as you send it and will tell you plainly what to fix — “the photo is too dark”, “the photo is sideways”. These are hints, not rejections; a person still looks at every photo.

4. Wait for approval

Someone at your organisation checks the photo. You will get an email either way, usually within a working day.

If it’s approved — nothing more to do. Your organisation will tell you when your card is ready to collect.

If it needs retaking — the email says exactly why. Open the link, upload a new one, and you are done.

Carrying your card on your phone

Some organisations let you keep your ID in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, alongside your bank cards and boarding passes.

If yours does, you will either see an Add to your phone section on your card page after signing in, or get an email with a link. Open that link on the phone you want to add it to — it will not work if you open it on a laptop and expect the card to appear on your phone.

Worth knowing:

• It updates itself. If your photo changes or your card is replaced, the pass on your phone changes too. You do not need to add it again.
• If your card is reported lost or stolen, or expires, the pass stops being valid — the same moment the plastic one does. It will show as expired.
• Some organisations issue a phone-only ID, with no plastic card. It is the same credential and works the same way; there is just nothing to collect.
• The link in the email expires, usually after 30 days. If it has, ask your card office to send a new one.
• Google Wallet is not available on iPhone, so on an iPhone use the Apple Wallet button.

Adding it to your phone does not replace your plastic card if you have one. Both work.

Checking on things later

Sign in any time at your organisation’s portal address to see:

• Your current photo and whether it has been approved
• Your card’s status and expiry date
• Your card’s serial number

You can also update your preferred name and contact details there.

Common questions

Can I use a photo of a photo? No. Cameras struggle with the reflections and moiré patterns, and it will almost certainly be rejected. Take a fresh one — it is quicker.

My photo was rejected and I think it was fine. Reply to whoever runs your card office. The rejection email tells you who reviewed it.

I have lost my card. Tell your card office straight away. They can mark it lost — which stops it working immediately — and order a replacement.

Do I have to smile? No. A neutral expression is preferred, and a slight smile is fine. What matters is that your face is clearly visible.

I don’t have an email address / never got the email. Your card office can take your photo at the counter instead. Check your junk folder first.

How long is my card valid for? Whatever expiry date your organisation set — it is printed on the card and shown on your card page.