Good timing as I need to renew my passport before it expires early next year.
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Apple Announces Launch of U.S. Passport Feature in iPhone's Wallet App
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I suppose you still do your tax return on paper and hand it to the IRS in person as it could get lost by the USPS...
You can say the same about wallets. You lose it, then you lose everything. ID cards, credit cards, etc. One difference is a phone can be remote wiped, can’t say the same for anything in a wallet.
But technically, you aren’t even supposed to travel through TSA without a physical ID, even if you can use the digital ID option. The TSA at their discretion can ask for your physical ID, same for gate agents. So not really a huge change because you’d have ID anyway. You just get an option to tap your phone instead of pulling an ID out of your wallet. Still basically baby steps, even if we’re years into the tech, one problem was just that a small portion of the US even had an option to use their driver’s license but now everyone who has a passport can use this.
Yes, this was easy and quick to do. I doubt I'll use it for quite a while, but hey, it is a start.
Everyone who adds their passport immediately receives a secret link to purchase the new HomePod Mini 😂
We already have this in my country since some time via the BankID-app. Never used the passport though. The BankID app is the best thing ever though; you can use it when you log in to your bank for all your transactions (has been standard procedure for the last 15 years and I never walked into a bank ever since). Also when you pick up deliveries or if asked for ID. Just very useful and I never carry a wallet or cards anymore.
Apple today announced that iPhone users can now create a Digital ID in the Apple Wallet app based on information from their U.S. passport.
To create and present a Digital ID based on a U.S. passport, you need:
To create a Digital ID, tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner of the Wallet app on the iPhone, and then select Driver's License or ID Cards. Next, select Digital ID and follow the on-screen instructions to start the setup and verification process.
- An iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.1 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 26.1 or later
- Face ID or Touch ID and Bluetooth turned on
- An Apple Account with two-factor authentication turned on
- A valid U.S. passport that is not expired
- Your device region set to United States
During the setup process, one must use their iPhone to scan the photo page of their physical passport. They will also be asked to use their iPhone to read the chip embedded on the back of their passport, to ensure the data's authenticity. From there, they are asked to take a selfie for verification, and as another security step, they will also be prompted to complete a series of facial and head movements during the setup process.
After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you can present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for age and identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple said it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.
At launch, Apple said Digital IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports in the U.S., but the company said the feature is still in public beta.
To present a Digital ID in person, double-click the iPhone's side button and select Digital ID. Then, hold the iPhone near a scanner, review the information being requested, and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. The feature is also available on the Apple Watch.
In the future, Apple said users will be able to present their Digital ID at select stores for identity and age verification in person, as well as in supported apps and online on supported websites. No specific timeframe for this was shared.
Apple said Digital ID data is encrypted, and it ensured that iPhone and Apple Watch privacy and security features help protect against tampering and theft. Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their Digital ID.
This feature builds on the existing driver's license feature in the Wallet app, which is currently available in 12 U.S. states, as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Japan's My Number Card can also be added to the Wallet app.
More details about the passport feature are available in an Apple support document.
Article Link: Apple Announces Launch of U.S. Passport Feature in iPhone's Wallet App
This is approach already becoming obsolete. TSA is testing a camera-based approach to its Touchless ID system at 15 airports. The camera-based test requires flights on participating airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, and United. It requires uploading passport data and photos to the airlines. It might require membership in their frequent flyer programs.
At TSA, you briefly stand in front of a tablet equiped with a camera and showing your head. Takes one second. No other ID needed. For some international flights, at least for United, it is sometimes used for boarding at the gate as well.
No doubt many will have concerns about privacy/security. In any case, this will likely expand in the future, at least for folks who have passports and in the long term perhaps for anybody with a drivers license.
US citizen living in Italy. Changed region to US and added my US passport in 3 minutes. Switched region back to Italy, Digital ID still in my wallet. Easy.
The people who say things like that invariably walk around with hundreds in (irreplaceable) cash.
Irreplaceable, but works everywhere and always, even if my phone is dead 😉
The app?? Go into your Wallet and hit the + at the top. Then select "Digital ID" It will walk you thru each step.
No issues scanning for me...first it opens the camera app to scan the main passport/photo page, then at the end of the process it asks you to set your phone on last page of Passport to read the chip (you set your iPhone on this page)
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Show this ID and, if the government wants to search your phone, you'll have a hard time saying you forgot your passcode.
Touchless PreCheck is about the easiest way to get through security these days. Went through O’Hare last month and from the curb to getting through security, it took me less than 5 minutes.
Was thinking the same thing. I use this at DCA all the time and it's amazing, but as you said it's only a few airports, only a few airlines, and requires enrollment in TSA PreCheck which is a huge pain by itself.
I was concerned about privacy for about a second, until I realized the government already has all my personal info, many photos of me, and is recording every step I take at the airport anyway.
Do you...think Apple Pay requires an internet connection? 🤨
did you read the article...its literally the first thing it says.
"Everywhere and always" except in the many, many places that don't accept cash at all.
And Apple Pay has worked when your phone is dead for a decade now.