WildCARD

Every student, faculty and staff member at Northwestern University is issued a WildCARD. Other members of the NU community are eligible for NU-issued ID Cards. Find out how to obtain your card:

• Students
• Faculty/Staff
• Affiliates
• Spouses/domestic partners of faculty/staff
• Part-time/temporary employees
• Authorized contractors
• Spouses/domestic partners of students
• Custom badge orders

Students

• Cards are free to students, but the replacement cost for lost or stolen cards is $15 (or $25 for Indala contactless smartcards).
• Student records will not appear in the WildCARD system until approximately 45 days prior to the beginning of an academic quarter. You are encouraged to obtain your WildCARD early; however, services to the University Libraries, Health Services and Sports & Recreation facilities (SPAC) will not become active until the start of the academic quarter for which you are registering. Call the WildCARD office to check your status at 847-467-NUID (6843) (Evanston campus) or 312-503-0548 (Chicago campus).
• Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

Faculty and Staff

Bring your picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) to the WildCARD office on either campus. 

• You cannot pick up your WildCARD until Human Resources has entered you in the system. Call the WildCARD office to check your status at 847-467-NUID (6843) (Evanston campus) or 312-503-0548 (Chicago campus).
• Cards are free to faculty and staff, but the replacement cost for lost or stolen cards is $15 (or $25 for Indala contactless smartcards).
• Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

Affiliates

Bring your picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) to the WildCARD office on either campus. 

• Cards are free to affiliates, but the replacement cost for lost or stolen cards is $15 (or $25 for Indala contactless smartcards).
• Affiliates include GME Residents and Physician Assistants, employees of the Office of University Chaplains, and employees of The Family Institute.
• Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

Other

• Spouses and domestic partners of faculty and staff
  • The initial fee and the renewal fee for a spouse WildCARD is $10. The replacement cost for lost or stolen spouse cards is $15.
  • Faculty/staff member must be present at the time of spouse/partner card issuance and present their own valid WildCARD.
  • Spouses must show a picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) and one of the following documents:
    • Marriage certificate (If necessary, we may request a notarized translation of your marriage certificate. These are available at your country's consulate or international travel bureaus.)
    • Spouse visa
    • J-1
    • J-2
  • Domestic partners must show a picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) and a copy of their civil union certificate or the Faculty/Staff Declaration of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship Form  (pdf). Further documentation is also required -- see the form for details.
    • If a domestic partner relationship terminates, you must submit a Termination of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship Form  (pdf).
  • Note: All documents must be in English.
  • Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

• Part-time/temporary employees
  • The employee's supervisor/administrator must submit a Part-Time/Temporary Employee ID Form  (pdf) to the WildCARD office. Forms can be mailed in or emailed directly from the PDF. Note: This form must be submitted; emails from supervisors will not be accepted.
  • The part-time/temporary employee should go to the WildCARD office with their employee ID number and a picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) to obtain the card.
  • Cards are free for part-time/temporary employees, but the replacement for lost or stolen cards is $15 (or $25 for Indala contactless smartcards).
  • Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

• Authorized contractors working within the University community
  • Authorized Department Approvers must submit a Contractor ID Form  (pdf) to the WildCARD office. Forms can be mailed in or emailed directly from the PDF. Note: This form must be submitted; emails from supervisors will not be accepted.
  • Cards are free for contractors, but the replacement for lost or stolen contractor cards is $15 (or $25 for Indala contactless smartcards).
  • Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

• Spouses and domestic partners of students
  • The initial fee and the renewal fee for a student spouse/partner ID card is $5 (or $10 for Indala contactless smartcards). The replacement cost for lost or stolen student spouse/partner cards is $15 (or $25 for Indala contactless smartcards).
  • Student must be present at the time of spouse/partner card issuance and present their own valid WildCARD.
  • Spouses must show a picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) and one of the following documents:
    • Marriage certificate (If necessary, we may request a notarized translation of your marriage certificate. These are available at your country's consulate or international travel bureaus.)
    • Spouse visa
    • J-1
    • J-2
  • Domestic partners must show a picture ID (driver's license, state ID, or a valid, unexpired passport) and a copy of their civil union certificate or the Student Declaration of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship Form  (pdf). Further documentation is also required -- see the form for details.
    • If a domestic partner relationship terminates, you must submit a Termination of Same-Gender Domestic Partner Relationship Form  (pdf).
  • Note: All documents must be in English.
  • Photo requirements: No hats or sunglasses allowed. Facial features must be visible.

Custom Badge Orders

The WildCARD Office can create custom 2-1/8” x 3-3/8” plastic badges/ID cards for your school/department. For more information, visit the Custom WildCARD/Badge Orders page.

WildCARD Policies

Your WildCARD/NU-issued ID Card is non-transferable and is the property of NU. Your card must be surrendered upon request. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the WildCARD Office. You will be liable for the card replacement fee and any wrongdoing that may arise from the improper use of the card.