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Apple recently introduced Digital ID. This feature allows users to create a digital identification card in Apple Wallet using information from their US passports. The new technology enables travelers to verify their identity securely and privately with their iPhone or Apple Watch.
At launch, Digital ID will roll out in beta at more than 250 TSA checkpoints across US airports. This will allow it to be used for in-person identity verification during domestic travel. Apple plans to expand Digital ID’s use cases beyond airport checkpoints in the future.
Digital ID allows users to add an official form of identification directly to Apple Wallet by scanning their US passports. The process begins by tapping the Add (+) button in the Wallet app, selecting Driver’s License or ID Cards, and then choosing Digital ID. Users are guided through a secure setup that includes scanning the photo page of their passport and reading the chip embedded in it using their iPhone to ensure authenticity.
Next, Apple’s verification system requires users to take a selfie and perform a series of facial and head movements for biometric confirmation. Once verified, the Digital ID is added to Wallet, ready to be presented securely at supported locations.
Apple emphasized that Digital ID follows the company’s existing privacy and security standards to ensure that users’ personal information remains encrypted and accessible only through biometric authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID. The technology also prevents users from sharing unnecessary personal data when verifying their identity while keeping only the essential information visible to authorities or institutions.
Digital ID is not a replacement for a physical passport and cannot be used for international travel or border crossings, but it provides a valuable option for travelers who may not have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID. The feature builds on Apple’s ongoing rollout of driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet, which are currently supported in 12 US states and Puerto Rico. Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Ohio, along with Puerto Rico are all included. For the first time, Japanese residents can also add their My Number Card to their iPhones.
With Digital ID, Apple continues to integrate identity verification into its growing Wallet ecosystem, which already supports mobile payments, transit passes, event tickets, and keys. The addition of passport-based identity creation could pave the way for broader adoption in travel, hospitality, and government services.
Anthony’s Take: I’m waiting for Illinois to allow me to add my driver’s license. The rollout of this technology at US airports signals a major step forward for contactless, privacy-first identification that offers millions of travelers a faster, more secure way to confirm who they are with just a tap of their iPhone.
(Image Credits: Apple.)
(H/T: Running With Miles.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
