In the title compound, [Cu(C6H4NO3)(2)(H2O)(2)], the Cu-II ion lies on an inversion centre and has an elongated octahedral environment, equatorially trans-coordinated by two N,O-bidentate picolinate ligands and axially coordinated by two water O atoms. The complex molecules form layers, which are linked by O-H...O hydrogen bonds between the aqua ligands and neighbouring carboxylate groups. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the coordinated carboxylate O atom and the hydroxy H atom is also observed.