Get Your New Student Id: University Of Iowa Guide

where to get new student id university of iowa

University of Iowa students, faculty, and staff are eligible to receive an Iowa One Card, which serves as their student/staff identification card. The first card is free, and individuals must present a valid, government-issued photo ID to receive their card. The Iowa One Card can be obtained at either of the University of Iowa's office locations, and photos must meet the university's requirements.

Characteristics Values
University Name University of Iowa
ID Card Name Iowa One Card
Who is eligible for the ID Card? Students, Faculty and Staff
Where to get the ID Card? At either of the two office locations of the University
Requirements for getting the ID Card A valid, approved form of government-issued photo ID
Cost of the first ID Card Free
Cost of replacement ID Card Not mentioned
Online application available for New Undergraduate Students admitted for Fall 2025 and registered for SOAR
Online application available for First-year undergraduate students who have registered for or participated in a SOAR program

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Visit the UI Service Centre on the Iowa City campus

To get a new student ID at the University of Iowa, you can visit the UI Service Centre on the Iowa City campus. Here is some detailed information about this process:

Location

The UI Service Centre is located at 2700 University Capitol Centre, 200 South Capitol Street, on the second floor above CVS in the Old Capitol Mall.

Requirements

To receive your UI photo ID card, you must present a valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. The university will not accept photocopies or photos of an ID on a mobile device; the original document is required.

Photography

The university will take your picture for your ID card. If you are a new undergraduate student who has registered for or participated in a SOAR program, you can use the online card request application to submit a photo and request your Iowa One Card. However, photos must meet the university's requirements and are subject to approval. If your previous photo is over two years old or no longer resembles you, a new photo will be taken.

Online Options

Before visiting the UI Service Centre, you can check your Admissions Profile in MyUI and scroll down to "Your Next Steps" to look for instructions in the "Iowa One (University ID) Card" section.

Other Information

There is no charge for the first Iowa One Card. If you are a distance student, you may request a limited-privilege, non-photo ID card using the Non-Photo Student ID Request Form. If you have any issues with your card, you can contact the university by calling, emailing, or using the Contact Us form on their website.

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Bring a valid government-issued photo ID

To obtain a student ID card from the University of Iowa, you must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. This is a mandatory requirement, and your application will not be processed without it.

A valid government-issued photo ID is an original, physical document that can prove your identity. The University of Iowa accepts the following as valid forms of identification:

  • Driver's License (including U.S. state-issued and U.S. territories)
  • Non-Driver Photo ID (including U.S. state-issued and U.S. territories)
  • U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Passport Card
  • Foreign Passport
  • U.S. Military ID Card
  • U.S. Military Dependent's ID Card
  • Tribal Card

Please note that photocopies or photos of IDs on mobile devices will not be accepted. Additionally, your chosen form of identification must be valid and not expired.

If you are a student at the University of Iowa and do not possess any of the aforementioned forms of identification, you may consider applying for a REAL ID. Beginning on May 7, 2025, all persons must have a REAL ID-marked card to board commercial flights within the United States, access certain federal buildings, and enter nuclear facilities. To obtain a REAL ID, you must schedule an appointment at the DMV and present documents that prove your identity, date of birth, Social Security number, and Iowa residence and residential address.

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No charge for the first card

Students, faculty, and staff at the University of Iowa are eligible to receive an Iowa One Card, which serves as their university ID. There is no charge for the first card, but individuals must present a valid, approved form of government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to receive their Iowa One Card. Photocopies or photos of an ID on a mobile device are not accepted.

For new undergraduate students admitted for Fall 2025 and registered for SOAR, as well as first-year undergraduate students who have registered for or participated in a SOAR program, an online card request application is available. These students can submit a photo and request their Iowa One Card through this online process.

For all other students, the Iowa One Card can be obtained in person at either of the two office locations. If a student does not have a photo on file, or if their prior photo is more than two years old and no longer resembles their current appearance, a new photo will be taken when they visit the office.

Students taking UI courses, whether online, on campus, or at official off-campus sites, can receive a UI student ID card with full privileges by visiting the UI Service Center at the Iowa City campus. All individuals must present valid government-issued photo ID to obtain their UI photo ID card.

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Submit a photo online if you're a new undergraduate

If you are a new undergraduate student at the University of Iowa, you can submit your photo online through the convenient online card request application. This applies to students admitted for Spring 2025 who are also registered for a SOAR program.

To submit your photo online, you must first review the University of Iowa's ID photo requirements. Your photo should resemble a passport-style photo, and there are specific guidelines you need to follow to ensure your photo is accepted. These include requirements for the format, background, lighting, head and face position, hair, pose, and expression.

For the format, your photo should be a digital image file in .jpg or .png format, and it must be a color photo with a resolution of 150 dpi or higher. Regarding the background, choose a solid, light, neutral color. It is important that the lighting highlights both sides of your face equally, so ensure that the light source is in front of you. Your head and face must squarely face the camera and be centered in the photo frame, with your eyes and entire face visible. Adjust your hair so that it does not obscure your face.

The pose and expression should be natural and resemble a passport photo. Face forward, and ensure that your shoulders, head, and the top of your head are visible. A natural facial expression is preferred, with both eyes open, and smiling is permitted.

Once you have a photo that meets all the requirements, you can proceed to upload it using the online card request application. You will also need to complete the identity verification steps, so have your government-issued photo ID ready. After submitting your photo, watch your email for confirmation of whether your photo has been approved or rejected. If your photo is rejected, you will need to submit a different photo that meets the requirements.

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Contact the university if your card is not working

If your University of Iowa ID card is not working, you should contact the university as soon as possible. The University of Iowa's ID Card Programs webpage provides a number of options for getting in touch. You can call, email, or send a message through the Contact Us form on the website. When you make contact, the university may ask you to bring your card to one of their offices so that they can test it. They will also ask you some questions about your use of the card, such as where and when you were trying to use it when it failed, what you were trying to do with it, and when and where you were last able to use it successfully.

The University of Iowa has two office locations where you can obtain your Iowa One Card. These are:

  • UI Service Center, 2700 UCC (Old Capitol Mall, 2nd Floor above CVS), Iowa City, IA 52242
  • UI Service Center - University ID Card Programs, 200 South Capitol Street, 2700 University Capitol Centre, Iowa City, IA 52242

If your card is no longer working due to normal wear and tear, with no visible defects or damage, the university will replace it at no charge. However, if you have had multiple replacements within a 12-month period, you may be subject to a $35 replacement fee.

If you have reported your ID card as lost or stolen, you must visit one of the office locations in person with a government-issued photo ID so that the university can reactivate your card. If you find an older card that was previously terminated, this is considered a "dead card" and cannot be reactivated.

Frequently asked questions

Students can obtain an Iowa One Card in person at either of the two office locations. The first is at 2700 University Capitol Centre, 200 South Capitol Street (Old Capitol Mall, 2nd Floor above CVS) on the Iowa City campus. The other is at C110 General Hospital, 200 Hawkins Drive (1st floor, near Elevator B, East at the Compass).

To obtain a new student ID, students must bring a valid, approved form of government-issued photo ID. Photocopies or photos of an ID on a mobile device will not be accepted.

There is no charge for the first Iowa One Card. However, there is a replacement fee for IDs printed due to a name change.

Lost cards should be reported immediately to the university. You will be responsible for any purchases made with your card until it is reported lost or stolen. You can report your lost or stolen card online by clicking on the Life @ UNI tab in MyUNIverse and then using the link under Report My ID Card Lost.

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