Apple rolls out Digital ID to make identity verification easier
It could give iPhone users a seamless, private way to present their ID anywhere it’s accepted.
It can be frustrating when the only thing standing between you and your travel plans is an ID sitting in a drawer at home. In our last coverage, we talked about how Apple wants to turn the iPhone into a digital passport. That idea is now taking a more concrete step forward with the official launch of Digital ID.
The feature lets users create an ID inside Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport. Once set up, you can present it at TSA checkpoints using your iPhone or Apple Watch, replacing the need to show a physical ID in those situations.
For now, Apple is starting where it makes the most sense. Digital ID will work at more than 250 TSA checkpoints across the U.S., giving Apple a controlled environment to test digital identity in real-world travel before expanding to other everyday situations.
But of course, Digital ID isn't a replacement for a physical passport and can’t be used for international travel or border crossings yet. Instead, it offers a secure alternative for users who don’t have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, or who want a simpler way to confirm their identity in Apple Wallet.
Apple Pay and Wallet VP Jennifer Bailey said the new feature expands what users can do with Wallet while keeping the company’s privacy commitments intact. She explained that the rollout builds on Apple’s earlier support for adding driver’s licenses and state IDs to Wallet, a feature that has seen strong adoption since 2022.
To create a Digital ID, you can simply scan the photo page of your passport, verify the passport chip, and take a quick selfie to confirm identity. Once set up, presenting your Digital ID is straightforward. Double-click the side or Home button, select your ID, and hold your device near an identity reader. You don't need to hand your phone over.
Emmanuel Umahi
Behind this process is the same privacy and security foundation powering the rest of Apple Wallet. The ID stays encrypted on the device. Apple can’t see how or where it’s used, and every interaction requires verification through Face ID or Touch ID. Users also see exactly which pieces of information are being requested before anything is shared.
This launch also adds another piece to Apple’s evolving approach to digital identity. The ability to add a driver’s license or state ID is already live in 12 states and Puerto Rico, and recently expanded to Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Apple has even extended support beyond the U.S., with Japan’s My Number Card available in Wallet.
The takeaway
Digital ID is Apple’s latest step toward a world where your iPhone replaces the documents you normally dig through your bag to find. It’s not ready to replace a passport, but it shows how identity is gradually shifting from plastic cards to secure, everyday digital tools.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
