As soon as possible

It will take about two weeks to receive your LU-Card, so request one as soon as you receive notification that you are fully registered as a student. 

Requirements

To request a LU-Card you must have:

• an activated Leiden University student account (ULCN);
• a Dutch address.
  
  No Dutch address? 
  • Arriving in The Netherlands soon?
    Provide your Dutch correspondence address as soon as possible then request a LU-Card. 
  • Studying online from abroad?
    You cannot request a LU-Card. 

• Log into Account Services using your student account (ULCN).
• Go to 'My profile' and make sure your Dutch correspondence address is (correctly) entered.
  • Is it incorrect or missing? Update your correspondence address. Note that it will take a couple of days for your address update to be processed. Only go to the next step once your correct address is shown in Account Services. 
• Go to 'My profile' and upload a passport photo. Make sure your photo meets standard passport photo requirements. 
• Is this your first LU-Card? No further action is needed. You will receive your LU-Card by post at your Dutch correspondence address within 5 to 10 days. 
• Have you previously had a LU-Card connected to this account? After uploading your photo, you must also request a new card by sending an email to lu-card@leidenuniv.nl or visiting a LU-Card helpdesk (see contact details on this page). After doing so, you will receive your new LU-Card by post at your Dutch correspondence address within 5 to 10 days. 

Exception for HOVO students

HOVO students can request a LU-Card at the University Library.

Activating your LU-Card

Before using your LU-card, you first need to activate it. To do so, you need to be able to confirm your identity using the ReadID Ready app. To complete activation you will need all the following: 

• Your new LU-Card
• Your ULCN credentials
• Your valid identity document
• A suitable smartphone
  • iPhone 7 or newer
  • Android OS 5.0 or higher with NFC enabled

What if I do not have a suitable smartphone?
Try to borrow a smartphone that meets the above requirements. It doesn’t matter if you don’t own the phone; it is simply a means to be able to perform the verification. After verification, no data remains on the mobile phone.

If you do not have the necessary means to activate your LU-card in this way, visit a LU-Card helpdesk for assistance (see contact details on this page). 

How to activate

1. Have a mobile phone and your identity document ready.
2. Download the ReadID Ready app on your mobile phone.
3. Go to the LU-Card activation page and log in using your ULCN credentials. 
4. You can find the link to the LU-Card activation page on the the letter you received with your LU-Card.  
5. A QR code will appear on screen.
6. Click on the QR code to open the ReadID Ready app.
7. Scan your identity document with the camera of the mobile phone.
8. Hold your identity document against your phone.
9. Upon successful verification, you will see a confirmation on the mobile phone.
10. Your LU-Card will be activated within a few minutes.

If online activation fails, visit a LU-Card helpdesk (see contact details on this page).

Status
Do you want to see the status of your LU-Card? Sign in to Account Services with your ULCN credentials. On your profile page, the LU-Card tab shows the status of your card. If the status is valid, activation is complete.

Report the loss or theft at a LU card helpdesk. Your card will then be blocked and you can request a new card for a fee of 15 euros.

If you are able to show a police report (proces-verbaal) your new card will be free of charge.

If you mistakenly hold your LU-Card and OV-card (travel pass) against a card reader at the same time problems can occur. Always keep your LU-Card and OV-card separate and never hold them against a card reader together.

Your LU-Card does not serve as official proof of student registration. If you need to demonstrate that you are registered as student of Leiden University, you must show your student or registration card or an official statement of registration.

When taking exams, you must identify yourself with your LU-Card, accompanied by a valid ID document such as your passport or EU identity card.

When you graduate, your account will be converted to an alumnus account and your LU-Card will be automatically blocked. If you want to continue using the LU-Card, please contact the Student Affairs Front Office to have your LU-Card unblocked. ​