Students and employees getting a first ID card, or replacing a card that is more than 2 years old, MUST submit a NEW selfie online before visiting the ID Center.
Photo submission is required for students and employees. BYU affiliates who are not students or employees can have their photo taken at the ID Center.
New students - if you plan to get an ID card shortly before or at the start of the semester, please submit your photo at least 3-5 weeks before your first semester!
If you will not be attending classes on campus this term or semester, please wait to submit a photo until 1-2 months before you will be coming to campus.
• If you are unable to submit a photo, please email idcenter@byu.edu or call 801-422-5092.
New employees will not be able to submit until 1 day after the hire is fully processed.
• If your photo is rejected, please review requirements and resubmit.
STEP 1: Take a NEW WIDE SELFIE and a photo of your expiring BYU ID or government ID
Photo Requirements:
• Meet all BYU Dress and Grooming expectations.
• Take a NEW wide SELFIE of your head and full shoulders for your BYU ID card. Do NOT use a photo you already have. We can see the original photo and we will not accept a photo that looks like a senior, graduation, professional headshot, or other kind of photo not taken specifically for your BYU ID card. This is the #1 reason photos get rejected!
• We suggest you take a 2-handed landscape/horizontal/wide selfie to ensure it meets the next requirement...
• The photo will be cropped to a square - there must be space above your head with both full shoulders shown when cropped. This is the #2 reason photos get rejected!
• Do not edit the photo. The background will be removed when you load the photo. Use a high contrast background to make background removal sharper. For example, if you have dark hair, find a spot with a light color background and vice versa.
• Find a well-lit space facing full, bright all-around light; do not have light behind or to the side. There should be no shadows anywhere on your face. Use a ring light if you have one.
• Try different camera settings to compensate for indoor lighting. Avoid warm settings or lighting as these tend towards orange, yellow, or pink. No filters or other artificial enhancements. Make sure you look like you.
• Stand or sit with your whole body, including your shoulders and head, directly facing the camera. Look straight at the camera. This is an ID photo of your head and shoulders only.
• Use a natural smile or neutral expression with your eyes open.
• Wear glasses if needed but no sunglasses, headphones, earbuds, or other distracting items.
• Head coverings are acceptable for religious or medical reasons only.
We need a photo of you – how you look on an average day, today. If your photo doesn’t look like you when you come to pick up your ID card, you’ll have to submit again and there may be a $10 fee.
NEW Students and Employees
(getting first ever BYU ID card)
must also submit a color photo of your government issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, visa). Make sure it shows your picture and name in English. If you don't want other information on the ID to be visible, you can cover, blur, or crop out the rest of the ID.
CURRENT AND RETURNING Students and Employees
renewing an expired or soon to expire BYU ID card should submit a color photo of the expiring ID card instead of gov. ID, if prompted. You will need to turn in the ID card when you pick up your new card. Please renew no more than 1 month before your card expires.
If your card is lost, please submit a screenshot of your Y app digital ID card. Lost card replacements cost $10.
A new photo of you is required for the new ID card. Use the Edit button to update your photo submission.
STEP 2: Submit your photos at
idphoto.byu.edu CLICK HERE!
STEP 3: Pick Up your ID card
Photos are usually approved or rejected within minutes or hours during office hours, depending on the time of year. After-hours and near the start of a semester or term it will take longer, hours to days.
Make sure you get the "approved photo" email sent to your BYU email, login at outlook.byu.edu.
Once you receive the "approved" email, please wait 15 minutes and then visit the ID Center (student) or Benefits Office (employee) to have your ID card printed. No appointment needed. If you cannot visit right away, visit any day down the road at your convenience for up to 1 year.
BYU ID cards can also be picked up at the Salt Lake Center library 2 weeks before the start of the term or semester. See the SLC website for hours, http://slc.byu.edu/library.
Lost card replacements cost $10, even if the card is expired.
Pickup Requirements:
• BYU ID cards are "valid for campus use only" under state law and must be picked up by the cardholder only.
• Students and employees should meet Dress and Grooming expectations to get an ID card, even if the photo was already approved. If your dress and grooming do not align with principles and expectations, you may be asked make adjustments and come back or consult with the Honor Code office.
• You must present government ID when you pick up your first BYU ID card.
• You must pick up your ID card to use Cougar Cash or meal plans, ride UTA, takes tests, or open campus doors.