Your Fully Mobile OWLcard

The OWLcard is the official Temple University identification card for students, faculty, and staff. You can use your OWLcard to access a variety of services including building access, meal plan use, library services and health and recreation facilities. Temple University operates a Mobile First approach to our OWLcard and does not automatically print physical cards for students or employees.  Please visit the Mobile First website for step by step directions for downloading your OWLcard Mobile ID.

Ready for your first OWLcard?

Here's how to submit your ID photo online:

Students and employees submit their photo electronically as part of the Next Steps process on TUportal. Instructions on appropriate photo choices are detailed on OWLcard Photo submission requirements.

Professional/clinical students required to use a physical OWLcard, can visit the OWLcard Office, located in Suite 101 in the Howard Gittis Student Center, between 9:00am and 4:00pm. You will need your 9 digit Temple ID# and a government issued photo ID (driver's license, passport).  Other students may purchase a “Vanity” OWLcard for $50.

Not a Student? Follow these instructions to obtain your OWLcard

Faculty and Staff

Temple University Faculty and Staff who have had their photo approved through the upload process in TUportal, can then proceed to load their OWLcard Mobile onto their personal device.  Directions for this process are at our Mobile First website.  There is no charge for OWLcard Mobile.  If you desire a physical card, then visit the OWLcard Office in Suite 101 of the Howard Gittis Student Center. Your OWLcard is used to access buildings and spaces, and for identification on campus. It is University property and should receive the same care as your credit card and government-issued ID card.

Important: You may be asked to produce a valid Passport or a valid photo ID issued by a U.S. state, territory, or the U.S. Federal Government to receive your first OWLcard.

Alumni

Stay connected to the nest with your Temple Alumni Card. Cardholders have access to campus recreation, library resources, university online resources and more. Please note, if you need specific building access, you must secure that access through the department you want to visit.

If you have questions about how to get registered with the Alumni services, please contact the Alumni Office via phone at 215-204-7521 or email at .

Guests & Visitors

"Guests" are defined as individuals who are not current Temple University faculty, staff, or students. Guests include, but are not limited to, employees of Temple University Health System, visiting faculty, visiting scholars, contractors, vendors, volunteers, volunteer faculty who are not considered "faculty of record," temporary agency employees, and summer program participants. Access privileges for guests and visitors are detailed in TUportal

  • Guest Card - the Temple University Photo ID with a magnetic swipe/proximity sensor reserved for guests.  Once you have been provided a TUid#, visit the OWLcard Office, Suite 101, Howard Gittis Student Center for a photo and Guest Card.

Anyone needing assistance can reach out to the OWLcard Office at 215-204-3140 or .

OWLcard Mobile Checklist

Please make sure that all the following conditions have been met BEFORE you attempt to download your OWLcard.

OWLcard Mobile Checklist

Make sure that all the following conditions have been met BEFORE you attempt to download your OWLcard Mobile:

  1. You have an approved photo on file. Not sure? You can verify this in TUportal
  • Select Student Tools Tab
  • Select Get My TUid from the left-hand navigation.
  • If you see a photo of yourself on your OWLcard, you are good to go. If not, you will need to submit a photo or make an appointment to have a photo taken.
  1. New students must be registered for orientation or for the current/upcoming semester on a domestic campus.
  2. Your phone has NFC (specifically for Android) and it is enabled
  3. ApplePay or Google Pay is enabled

Apple iPhone Region setting is United States. ApplePay does not work in other regions.

  • Go to: General > Language & Region >Region and select United States

Apple iPhone Settings for ‘unrestricted access’

  • Go to: Screen time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restriction > Web Content and select unrestricted access

Be sure to set up Multi-Factor Authentication.

Checklist complete? Let's go to set up

Contact Us

The Main Campus OWLcard Office is located on the 1st floor inside the Howard Gittis Student Center (1755 N. 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19122)

Report lost or stolen OWLcards immediately to our office (215-204-3140) or to the Temple University Police (215-204-1234).

Email us: OWLcard@temple.edu