Apple just rolled out a new feature called Digital ID, giving users a simple way to turn their U.S. passport information into a secure ID inside Apple Wallet.
This gives travelers the option to use their iPhone or Apple Watch at more than two hundred fifty TSA checkpoints during domestic travel, making airport verification quicker and a lot less stressful.
It is especially helpful for people who do not have a REAL ID license, though Apple makes it clear that Digital ID will not replace a physical passport and cannot be used for international trips.
Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said the goal is to expand how people store and show their identity while keeping Apple’s usual privacy and security in place. Users already enjoy carrying digital versions of their state IDs in Wallet, and this new feature brings that same convenience to anyone with a U.S. passport. It also builds on the existing option to add eligible state IDs or licenses for those who prefer that route.
Creating a Digital ID is simple. You open Wallet, tap the plus sign, choose the ID option, and select Digital ID. The phone guides you through scanning the photo page of your passport, reading the chip inside it, taking a selfie, and completing a quick movement check. Once the system confirms everything, the Digital ID appears in Wallet ready to use.
Showing your Digital ID works just as smoothly. You double-click the side or Home button, choose the ID, and hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the TSA reader. Before anything is shared, Apple shows you exactly what information is being asked for, and you approve it with Face ID or Touch ID. Your device stays in your hand the entire time and never needs to be unlocked or handed over.
Privacy stays at the front of this feature. Your passport data is stored directly on your device and encrypted. Apple cannot see when you use your ID or what information you share. Only the necessary details are presented, and you must authenticate every time to confirm it is you.
Digital ID joins Apple’s growing list of identity features. Driver’s licenses and state IDs are already supported in twelve states and Puerto Rico, with more places recently added, and Japan has its own version through the My Number Card.
With Digital ID, Apple is clearly moving toward a future where identifying yourself is faster, safer, and fully controlled by the user.
