Kau card | Karlstad University

The KAU card is a personal card that functions as a keycard, library card and print card.

The KAU card is a multifunctional card developed for increased campus security, as well as being practical to use. The card is personal and features your name, photograph, and date of birth (YYMMDD). It is not valid as identification. There are four different versions of the card that shows whether you are a student, an employee, from an external organization, or a guest.

Please note: employees order their Kau cards through the employee intranet.

New temporary routine for delivery and photography for Kau cards

For students ordering their first Kau card

The student orders their card in the Kau card portal
Log in with your KauID and order your card here
The student sends an e-mail to valkomstcenter@kau.se with a notification that they have ordered a Kau card. Attach a personal photo that clearly shows your face. Valid formats are JPG, PNG, and BMP.
The e-mail needs to be sent from the e-mail address registered in the student’s profile in LADOK.

When the Kau card is ready it will be sent to the student’s registered postal address in Ladok - make sure your profile is updated with your Swedish postal address! If you do not have a registered postal address in Sweden please contact the Welcome Centre.

Changing your code and blocking your card

For students who have previously held a Kau card but need a new one

The student logs into the Kau card portal and blocks the old card. After that a new card can be ordered in the same portal. When ordering a replacement card you do not need to send in a new photo. The card will be sent to the student’s registered postal address in Ladok together with payment information – a replacement card costs 100 SEK.

Service stations

In order to avoid queues and gatherings during Covid-19 the service stations are currently closed.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Kau card – STUDENTS

Am I required to have a Kau card?

No, having a Kau card is optional. The main entrances are open during office hours and you can reach most of the common lecture halls. If you want to use the facilities to study during evenings/weekends, or if your courses require you to use labs or computer rooms, then you will need a Kau card.

Which areas can I access with my Kau card?

Your accesses are connected to your course registrations. The keycard function of the card is only active when you are registered on a course, but you can use the library card and print card functions even if you are not registered.

All registered students have access to the main entrances, the reading room at the library, and the sports halls. Hallways, computer rooms, labs, etc depend on which courses you are taking.

During what hours do I have access with my Kau card?

Students can access all main entrances from 06:00 until midnight. For the sports halls the accesses are from 06:00 every day until 22:00 (Mon-Fri), 20:30 (Sat), and 22:30 (Sun). Certain national holidays the university is completely closed to students – this is posted on the website. Certain rooms can be exempt from this and have its own hours of access.

Employees always have access.

My card does not work

If you get an error message after you have put in your PIN code you need to update your PIN. Do this by logging into the Kau card portal with your KauID (link). Click “Credentials”, choose “Active”, and then “Change PIN code”. When you have changed your PIN it takes about 15 minutes until the new code works.

If you get an error message immediately when your hold your card to the reader you do not have access to the door. Double-check that you are registered for your courses, and then contact the Welcome Centre.

If the reader does not react at all when you hold your card to it, contact the Welcome Centre – note the door and the time you tried to access it.

I have forgotten my PIN code

You can choose a new PIN code by logging into the Kau card portal with your KauID (link). Click “Credentials”, choose “Active”, and then “Change PIN code”. When you have changed your PIN it takes about 15 minutes until the new code works.

My card is broken/lost and I need a new one

First you need to block your old card. You do this by logging into the Kau card portal with your KauID (link). Click “Credentials”, choose “Active”, and then “Block card”.

When you have blocked your card you order a new one under “Start”. Click “Order new card”. Please note that you do NOT need to take a new photograph when ordering a replacement card, just click “Next” and ignore that step. If you WANT to have a new photo you must contact the Welcome Centre before ordering your new card.

A replacement card costs 100 SEK.

I have found my lost card.

If you have not yet ordered a new card you can contact the Welcome Centre and they can unblock it for you.

I have changed my name.

Changing your name does not affect the function of your Kau card. If you want a new card with your new name you first need to confirm that your new information has been updated from The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) – you can ask in the Welcome Centre. Once your name change has gone through you can block your old card and order a new one according to the steps above.

Please note that you do NOT need to take a new photograph when ordering a replacement card, just click “Next” and ignore that step. If you WANT to have a new photo you must contact the Welcome Centre before ordering your new card.

You do not need to pay the replacement card fee when you have changed your name.

I have changed my personal identity number (personnummer)

Changing your personal identity number – or being assigned a Swedish personal identity number – does not affect the function of your keycard or your print card BUT it does affect the library card function. In order for your card to function correctly in the library after a change of your personal identity number you need to block your card and order a new one according to the steps above.

You do not need to pay the replacement card fee when you have changed your personal identity number.

Link to the terms of service.