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iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature is Still Not Available

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Apr 12, 2001
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iOS 26 will be widely released tomorrow, but the new feature that lets you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app is still not available.

ios-26-digital-id-passport-wallet.jpg

The "Digital ID" feature is not functional in the iOS 26 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, despite being listed on the iOS 26 features page in the present tense. Hopefully, it is either enabled with a server-side update when iOS 26 is released tomorrow, or Apple provides an update on when it will be available.

Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

The passport-based Digital ID can also be used for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

Apple said the feature would also be available on the Apple Watch, starting with watchOS 26.

Article Link: iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature is Still Not Available
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/14/ios-26-passport-feature-still-not-live/
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This is such an awesome new feature that Apple has added to iOS 26

I currently live in Rhode Island, and we don’t have the mobile drivers license feature (as of yet) but the ability to use a passport in place of a drivers license at the airports that do accept this feature will be great to have

I fly to Cleveland Hopkins airport pretty regularly to visit my relatives so I’ll be able to use this when I fly there in the future
 
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I think the feature will be turned on sometime this week as apple didn’t announce it was delayed unlike when digital id’s was back in 2021

Edit: Looks like the passport feature has been delayed. Probably until ios 26.5 or .4
 
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As long as digital IDs continue to have "you should still carry physical ID card" or something along those lines in the terms of service, the value remains 0.

For example: I do have a digital California DL (both the Apple Wallet and DMV app versions). They sometimes are accepted at TSA checkpoints. Sometimes they are not. With this, I would never go to airport without a physical ID.

Either it is accepted 100% of the time or it is useless.
 
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jole said:
As long as digital IDs continue to have "you should still carry physical ID card" or something along those lines in the terms of service, the value remains 0.

For example: I do have a digital California DL (both the Apple Wallet and DMV app versions). They sometimes are accepted at TSA checkpoints. Sometimes they are not. With this, I would never go to airport without a physical ID.

Either it is accepted 100% of the time or it is useless.
Click to expand...
No one is saying you can go without a physical ID card. It’s not useless because sometimes it can be used; however since the tech is new it still has times when the readers aren’t working, or the TSA agents don’t know the system, or whatever.

This is like going back to 2015 and saying if Apple Pay isn’t accepted 100% of the time it’s useless. And it still isn’t accepted at Walmart! Stupid Walmart.
 
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I hope they come up with a better "card" design than what was shown. Yawn.
I'm also curious who designs the digital IDs based on driver's licenses. Each platform seems to have its own design.
 
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jole said:
As long as digital IDs continue to have "you should still carry physical ID card" or something along those lines in the terms of service, the value remains 0.

For example: I do have a digital California DL (both the Apple Wallet and DMV app versions). They sometimes are accepted at TSA checkpoints. Sometimes they are not. With this, I would never go to airport without a physical ID.

Either it is accepted 100% of the time or it is useless.
Click to expand...
You can also use it for apps and web apps to verify your age.
 
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Doesn’t matter because even the places that “accept”’ it won’t know what to do with it.

I’ve had my DL in the Apple wallet for over 3.5 years (March 2022) and haven’t used it a single time. Oh I’ve tried to, but TSA agents have no idea what to do with it.

Passport will be no different. The ability to add it is a talking point with no functionality at this point in time.
 
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Well, iOS 26 Developer Beta and Public Beta have been nightmares, and the Release Candidate is nowhere near being ready for release.
 
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lol let’s see how the USA beta testing go, hopefully those agents received the new update on phone id in time. I mean look at how efficient the towers are and how up To date they are.
 
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augustrushrox said:
Well, iOS 26 Developer Beta and Public Beta have been nightmares, and the Release Candidate is nowhere near being ready for release.
Click to expand...

This is not accurate, been using it since beta 4 and currently on the RC. Some things here and there, but is is no where near a nightmare. It is ready to go tomorrow and I would imagine a .0.1 will follow in a week or two.
 
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I am wondering how that it is going to work if you already have a physical passport card as I do. I have the passport but I also have the passport card and when I travel to Canada or Mexico I just present the card and I then clear customs without an issue. I have the actual passport with me in my bag if there is further questions but have never been required to produce it. The actual passport card is acceptable for travel to Mexico and Canada
 
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Mikeske said:
I am wondering how that it is going to work if you already have a physical passport card as I do. I have the passport but I also have the passport card and when I travel to Canada or Mexico I just present the card and I then clear customs without an issue. I have the actual passport with me in my bag if there is further questions but have never been required to produce it. The actual passport card is acceptable for travel to Mexico and Canada
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It is no different for a passport card; however the digital ID system is not going to be accepted for customs use. It can be used for TSA check in, but not for customs.

In addition, when you travel, you are told that you must also have valid photo ID on you even if you can use the digital ID system. Of course it’s a fallback in case the reader doesn’t work or your phone died/is lost, but the TSA can also ask you to see your physical ID under the discretion of the officer. It is not correct to travel with just digital ID on you.
 
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Just because TSA and CBP don't know what to do with this, and will be slow to adopt (of course!), doesn't make it useless. Simply having a safe place to safe my passport info is valuable. Now, every time I need to apply for or renew a visa application, for example, I don't have to go retrieve my physical passport. Just like I don't have to retrieve physical credit cards when I need that info for something. Heck, even checking into a hotel in another country you need to provide passport info. Usually you don't need to show it, just the number, etc. I'd rather retrieve that info from Wallet than pull out my passport at the hotel desk. Not useless.
 
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This feature will be great…to quickly access needed information when completing a customs form for entry into other countries such as Mexico…otherwise, this is useless for presentation to a federal government that has not adopted digital passports and/or trained their customs agents…which is likely plentiful.
As for TSA, most of those agents have to remind themselves to breath 12-15 times per minute…so there is minimal chance they’d know what to do with a digital passport
 
MacRumors said:


iOS 26 will be widely released tomorrow, but the new feature that lets you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app is still not available.
Click to expand...
iOS 26 will be released tomorrow, and the feature is "still not available", the day before... . Am I missing something? lol

Are you guys new to this? Many new iOS features have switches that don't get flipped until the Public Release is out for everyone. I guess you can repost this tomorrow afternoon if you need to.

edit: I meant this to be more humorous and less likely to be interpreted as angry. I'm not angry, I just think it is funny when things that have not been released are reported as "not available" or "not working". Literally, they are not available, and still not available. lol (indicating I find it funny)
 
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