1. Registration
  2. Student Cards

Student Cards

The Registrar's Office is responsible for the issuance of Student Cards.

As part of registration, all on-campus students are required to have a student card when they first come to ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´.

  • It is to be kept for the duration of their studies and is to be used only by the person to whom it is issued
  • Cards will be automatically validated provided students are enrolled 
  • A fee will be charged to replace a lost or damaged student card

2026-2027 Student Card! 

Mock Student Card

Your card serve as a form of identification and as your passport to a number of on-campus services, including those provided by:

  • The Office of the University Registrar
  • Campus Security
  • Faculty offices and departments
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ Libraries
  • The Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC)
  • Numerous student services, including pre-purchased meal plans and bus service
  • Photos of students are also provided to authorized university staff on an as-needed basis (e.g. campus security, residences, and instructors)

The tap sign and magnetic stripe on the back of the student card can be used to purchase items at various campus facilities.

The barcode on the front of the student card is used for Library Services.

  • If your card will not scan at the library, check the date issued on your card to make sure you are using the most recent card issued to you. Library staff can key in your barcode number and retrieve your file

ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ campus exam venues require a student card. The charge for not having your student card is $50 per exam. View the exam rules and regulations. 

STEP 1: Prepping your Photo 

Photograph Guidelines

  • Head and shoulders only
  • Taken within the last 6 months
  • Good quality - clear image and in colour
  • Looking at the camera
  • Nothing in the background
  • We encourage smiles!

Photo Format: .jpg or jpeg format, as an attachment, 500k or less in size.

Photos with the following Items WILL NOT Be Accepted

  • Wearing sunglasses, hats or other items that obscure the face
  • Including other people or pets
  • Not looking at the camera – profile shots
  • Making funny faces
  • Digitally altered
  • Black & white, or sepia toned
  • Bad quality (lines through image)
  • Busy background
  • Full body
  • Printed on regular paper

STEP 2: Watch your Queen's email for a photo request

Ahead of the start of each academic term, the Office of the University Registrar prepares the system for photo collection. Students who are required to submit a photo will be sent an email to their @queensu.ca email account with details on how to upload their photo when it is the appropriate time to do so.

This email will come from registrar@housing.queensu.ca

Receiving Your New Card

First-year students will receive a tap-enabled student card upon coming to Queen's. Returning students continue to use your previously issued tap-enabled card.

Photo ID Student Cards

All on campus students are required to pick up their Student Card - cards will not be mailed. Please watch for an email to your @queensu.ca email account letting you know that your activity guide is available in SOLUS to upload your photo.

In-Person Pick Up

  • School of English: pick up from the School of English*
  • Bachelor of Education: pick up at the Faculty of Education* 
  • Post Graduate Medical Education: pick up at Kingston Health Sciences Centre*

*You will be contacted via email by the office handing out cards with the schedule.

All other on-campus students:

Beginning May 1 from 9:30 am - 4pm, Monday - Friday, cards will be available at 74 Union Street - Gordon Hall, Room 125

By Mail

Beginning in mid-May, student cards for new online (distance) students will be mailed. You must be enrolled in your course(s) before your card can be mailed. 

In order to mail student cards and verify the identity of each student, we will require a copy of government-issued photo ID in addition to the photo to be used to produce your student card. Please follow the instructions outlined in the activity guide in SOLUS.

Please ensure your primary address is updated in SOLUS no later than May 1 to wherever you will be receiving your mail while enrolled for summer term. 

All students new to Queen's will receive a tap-enabled student card. The tap features can be utilized for various services on campus, including the dining halls, retail food locations, and Kingston Transit. Some locations on campus will continue to require the use of the magnetic stripe and/or barcode

In July, all eligible students will be sent an email to their at @queensu.ca email account letting them know how to submit their student card photo. This email will come from registrar@housing.queensu.ca

 

In-Person Pick Up

  • Residence Students: Students living in residence will receive their student card when they collect their residence keys during move-in.
  • Non-residence Students: Information about student card pick-up will be available by mid-August.

Returning students received communication about tap cards last semester. To learn more about Tap-Enabled Student Cards see our Tap Card webpage.

Returning students who did not collect their tap-enabled card last semester (Winter 2026) will receive information about student card pick-up by mid-August.


Replacement Cards

Lost or damaged student cards can be replaced for a $20 fee*. Please complete the to request a new one.