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Mobile YU-card FAQ

Students must present a YU-card as identification during their examination period. During the Spring/Summer exam period, a passport will also be accepted as identification, but as of Fall 2025, only physical or mobile YU-cards are considered acceptable forms of identification. 

Faculty/staff can follow the following technical guidelines when using mobile YU-card identification for students. Students have been advised to follow the guidance of the exam invigilator/instructor on the use of mobile YU-cards and the placement of mobile phones.

Mobile YU-cards can only be verified through the mobile wallet. A screenshot of a mobile YU-card is not verifiable and should not be accepted as identification for an exam. To verify a student’s mobile YU-card, have the student open their digital wallet on their phone, and ask them to tap the top right corner icon (…) on Google Wallet on an Android phone or (i) on Apple Wallet on an iPhone. (See screenshots below.) The student number will then be displayed, along with other information. Scanners (“pull-up” readers) may be requested through the YU-card office for larger exams to help verify mobile YU-cards quickly.

YU-card on an Android phone

YU-card on an iPhone

Please note: The above icons will only appear when the mobile YU-card is opened from the digital wallet app. Payment shortcuts (e.g. double tapping the power button on an iPhone) will not give these options. See below for images of the Apple Wallet (iPhone) and Google Wallet (Android phones) icons.  

Apple Wallet icon

Google Wallet icon

Mobile credentials provide a more secure solution that can effectively help to mitigate the risks of counterfeiting and other fraudulent activity. Staff are recommended to follow recommended verification practices to ensure authenticity. 

Wearable devices should be packed away during exams and will not be accepted in exam spaces. Students have been advised to follow the guidance of the exam invigilator/instructor on the use of the mobile YU-card and the placement of mobile phones during exams.

A passport is an accepted alternate form of government-issued photo ID for exams only until the end of the Summer 2025 term. As of Fall 2025, passports will no longer be accepted as a valid form of identification for exams. Instructors, Course Directors, and TAs also have access to the YU-card validation tool, which allows them to look up individuals who have forgotten their IDs or are unable to present them.  Please contact yucard@yorku.ca to learn more about this web app.