iPhone users can now store US passport details in Apple Wallet
To set up the feature, users need to open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the plus (+) icon, and select "Digital ID"
Apple has introduced a new "Digital ID" feature that allows iPhone users to add their US passport information to the Apple Wallet app, offering a quicker way to verify identity at airports ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
Apple said the Digital ID system, launched on 12 November, will initially be available in beta at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports across the United States. It will allow travellers to confirm their identity during domestic flights even if they do not have a real ID.
However, the company stressed that the Digital ID will not replace a physical passport and cannot be used for international travel or border crossings.
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Apple already lets users in 12 US states and Puerto Rico add their driver's licence or state ID to Apple Wallet, while TSA accepts some type of mobile ID at airport checkpoints in at least 16 states and Puerto Rico.
According to TSA, travellers using Digital ID "can move through more than 250 TSA checkpoints faster and more securely."
How to add your passport to Apple Wallet
To set up the feature, users need to open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the plus (+) icon, and select "Digital ID". If it does not appear, searching "Digital ID" inside the app may help.
The process requires scanning the passport's photo page and then placing the iPhone on the passport's embedded chip for authentication. Users will then need to verify their identity with a selfie and complete a series of simple facial movements, such as turning their head or blinking. After the verification is completed, the Digital ID will appear in the Wallet.
How it works at airport checkpoints
To present a Digital ID at TSA kiosks, users simply double-click the iPhone's side button to open the Wallet app, select the Digital ID card and hold the device or Apple Watch near the reader. The machine will capture a photo, and the phone will show what information is being requested — such as name or date of birth. The user must then confirm the data using Face ID or Touch ID.
Security and privacy protections
Apple says all passport data added to the device is encrypted and stored securely. The company also cannot see where or when a Digital ID is used. The use of biometric verification ensures that only the device owner can release the information. Apple further notes that users do not need to unlock or hand over their device to present their Digital ID.
Where mobile IDs are accepted
TSA says more than a dozen states currently support mobile IDs at airport checkpoints. These include Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, along with Puerto Rico.
More details are available on the TSA website.
