Apple recently announced a major feature update for Apple Wallet, officially allowing users to...Digitizing the U.S. passportThe digital ID will be stored and used within the Wallet app. This will allow passengers to present this digital ID directly through their iPhone or Apple Watch when traveling on domestic flights in the United States, serving as valid identification when passing through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints.
Addressing the pain points of Real ID: A new option for those who haven't upgraded their driver's licenses.
The introduction of this new feature is undoubtedly a boon for many Americans who have not yet upgraded their driver's licenses to comply with "Real ID" standards.
This means that users with valid passports will no longer need to carry a physical passport when boarding a plane, or worry about their old driver's license failing security checks; they can simply use their mobile phones to complete identity verification and boarding. For many travelers who have been troubled by the Real ID policy, this effort will indeed make the travel process easier and more convenient.
Supports iPhone and Apple Watch, available at over 250 airports across the United States.
According to Apple, this digital identity feature will be able to be displayed on both iPhone and Apple Watch. The service is currently being deployed and implemented at TSA checkpoints in over 250 airports across the United States.
However, Apple also emphasized the limitations of this feature. Currently, the digital passport is only applicable to identity verification on domestic flights within the United States. If users plan to travel internationally, they must still carry and present a physical paper passport when going through customs and border checks.
Furthermore, despite Apple's efforts, according to a TechCrunch report, not all TSA site readers have been upgraded to support scanning these digital documents. Therefore, during the transition period, travelers are advised to carry their physical passports as a backup to ensure a smooth journey.
The initial setup requires a selfie verification, and will be expanded to include age verification for businesses in the future.
In terms of setup, Apple maintains its consistently simple approach. Users simply need to access the Wallet app and follow the instructions. During the process, the system will ask users to take a selfie and complete a series of facial and head movement detections to ensure security and identity verification.
This digital identification feature was first announced as part of a new feature in iOS 26. In addition to passports, Apple Wallet now also supports adding driver's licenses and state ID cards in 12 states in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Looking ahead, Apple plans to expand the use of this digital ID beyond air travel. Apple says that various merchants will also be able to accept these digital IDs for purposes such as age verification, further realizing its vision of a paperless wallet.
Google Wallet added support at the end of last year.
Besides Apple, Google also allowed U.S. residents to digitize their passport information at the end of last year.Stored in Google WalletHowever, not all airports in the United States currently accept digital passports as personal identification; similarly, only certain airports currently allow U.S. citizens to board domestic flights using digital identification cards.
