The pickup instructions below are for new undergraduate and graduate students at UCSC. You only get one new card, created for your first quarter of enrollment at UCSC.
Students who never picked up their first card, and continuing students who need replacement ID cards, can obtain them from IDCS during our customer service hours.
To pick up any other ID cards please visit the staff & faculty or visitor pages for more information.
To pick up your new ID card, or get a replacement ID card, you (or your designate) MUST bring a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, passport card, state identity card, military ID, etc., so long as it is issued by a governmental entity and has your picture on it). We will not provide you a new or replacement ID card without you (or your designate) providing IDCS with a government-issued photo ID.
Winter Quarter 2026
All new students must submit an approved photo for ID Card Services to produce your ID card.
If you SUBMITTED an approved photo by Monday, December 1, 2025:
- For new students who will be living on campus Winter Quarter 2026:
- If you are moving in on Friday, January 2, 2026: pick up your ID card at your assigned move-in check-in location
- If you don’t pick up your ID card as part of your move-in (on January 2, 2026): pick up your ID card at the IDCS office beginning Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Prior to that, you can get a temporary card for your housing access from the Housing Office located where you live. For dining access until you get your new ID card, follow the instructions here.
- All Housing Offices’ hours of operation are from 9 am – 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
- If you are a new student living off campus Winter Quarter 2026
- Pick up your card at the IDCS office beginning Monday, January 5, 2026.
If you DID NOT SUBMIT an approved photo by Monday December 1, 2025, you will need to submit one before ID Card Services can produce your ID card:
- For new students who will be living on campus Winter Quarter 2026:
- Once you have submitted an approved photo you can pick up your ID card at the IDCS office beginning Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Prior to that, you can get a temporary card for your housing access from the Housing Office located where you live. For dining access until you get your new card, follow the instructions here.
- You will need to go to the Housing Office located where you live to get it coded for dorm/room entry prior to trying to use it to access your housing space. All Housing Offices’ hours of operation are from 9 am – 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
- Dining access will be available on your new card when we give it you.
- If you are a new student living off campus Winter Quarter 2026
- Once you have submitted an approved photo you can pick up your ID card at the IDCS office beginning Monday, January 5, 2026.
For Winter Quarter, if you submit an approved photo after Monday, December 1, 2025, your ID card might be ready for pick-up during move-in, but it is NOT guaranteed. All unclaimed ID cards with approved photos will be available at IDCS beginning Monday, January 7, 2026.
To pick up your new ID card, or get a replacement ID card, you (or your designate) MUST bring a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, passport card, state identity card, military ID, etc., so long as it is issued by a governmental entity and has your picture on it). We will not provide you a new or replacement ID card without you (or your designate) providing IDCS with a government-issued photo ID.
Spring Quarter 2026
Dates and locations to be determined.
Summer Session 2026
Dates and locations to be determined.
Fall Quarter 2026
Dates and locations to be determined.