Apple launches Digital ID, a way to carry your passport on your phone for use at TSA checkpoints

iPhone and Apple Watch owners successful the United States volition present beryllium capable to transportation a transcript of their U.S. passport connected their device, which they tin past usage astatine TSA checkpoints crossed much than 250 U.S. airports erstwhile traveling domestically.

The feature, known arsenic Digital ID, was previously announced as portion of the iOS 26 release, and adds passports to the database of existing authorities IDs supported successful Apple Wallet. The institution has rolled retired the diagnostic to a twelve states and Puerto Rico, with much connected the way.

Using Digital ID successful Apple Wallet, users tin make and contiguous an ID, adjacent if they don’t person a REAL ID-compliant driver’s licence oregon authorities ID. The ID does not regenerate a carnal passport, and it’s not presently supported for planetary question oregon crossing borders, Apple notes.

Image Credits:Apple

Users tin adhd their passport to Wallet by tapping connected the “Add” (+) fastener successful the Wallet app, past selecting “Driver’s License oregon ID Cards.” From there, prime Digital ID and travel the steps to implicit the setup process, which includes utilizing the iPhone to scan the photograph leafage of their passport and scanning the spot embedded connected the backmost to guarantee the passport’s authenticity. Users volition besides person to instrumentality a selfie for verification and past implicit a bid of facial and caput movements for further security.

Support for IDs successful Apple Wallet is the past obstacle lasting successful the mode of making iPhones a replacement for a carnal wallet, arsenic it tin present clasp outgo cards, loyalty cards, tickets and passes, and more.

Presenting Apple’s caller Digital ID successful idiosyncratic works overmuch similar utilizing Apple Pay. You tin double-click the broadside fastener oregon Home fastener to entree your Wallet, past prime Digital ID. The iPhone oregon Apple Watch should beryllium held adjacent an individuality reader, and users volition usage Face ID oregon Touch ID to authenticate their information. Users volition besides beryllium capable to spot what individuality accusation is being requested earlier completing the verification process.

Image Credits:Apple

The diagnostic is inactive successful beta arsenic it hasn’t afloat rolled retired to each the instrumentality readers astatine the TSA checkpoints astatine this time. (The TSA website offers a database of which states are presently supporting mobile ID, but inactive advises travelers to transportation their carnal ID.)

Apple says that users volition yet beryllium capable to contiguous their Digital ID astatine businesses and organizations wherever they request to verify their age, some in-person and online.

This could see lawsuit venues oregon bars, wherever users request to contiguous their ID astatine the doorway to verify if they’re of drinking age. Online, websites that restrict contented to adults could besides leverage Apple’s APIs to verify users’ ages. For instance, if a idiosyncratic wanted to bid intoxicant for transportation done a work similar Uber Eats, they could verify their ID during the ordering process.

In some cases, users would beryllium capable to corroborate that their property is implicit 21 without having to besides stock idiosyncratic accusation similar their name, code oregon birthday.

Apple said it can’t spot erstwhile oregon wherever a idiosyncratic presents their ID oregon what information was shared. Plus, users don’t person to unlock their telephone oregon manus it implicit to contiguous their ID, arsenic it works conscionable similar Apple Pay.