3 reasons I added my passport to my Google Wallet (and why you should too)
Traveling is almost always a little stressful. I’m constantly checking to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything important and I’m always juggling too many things in my hands when I get to the security checkpoint.
Adding my passport to Google Wallet didn’t solve these problems, but it helped me relax a little.
It makes traveling faster and less stressful
Less panic at the airport
The biggest immediate benefit is simple: I don’t have to look for my ID card as often.
On more than one occasion, I dropped my phone, keys, or wallet while reaching for my ID as I approached the TSA security checkpoint. I’m not alone: I see him at least once every time I fly.
Instead, I can just pull out my phone, which already has my boarding pass on it. This is an extremely practical addition.
More and more airports accept them
Digital IDs are now accepted at more than 250 airports in the United States through Google Wallet, a significant increase in just a few years.
Instead of handing over your passport and waiting for someone to check it, you simply tap or scan your phone on a reader, much like you would scan a boarding pass or using pay-per-click.
TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is a separate service that uses biometrics to verify your identity. You don’t need to save your passport to your wallet to use it.
Digital ID is useful beyond the airport
Even outside of traveling, having a digital version of your passport can be handy.
There are situations where you need to verify your identity but don’t really want to carry your passport with you all day. In these cases, it’s good to be able to verify your identity without at the risk of losing your passport.
More and more services are expanding their support for digital ID so it can be used to verify your identity if you need to recover an account, access your medical records, or verify your profile.
7/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua screen
- RAM
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8 GB
- Storage
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128 or 256 GB
The Google Pixel 10a is a barely updated version of the Google Pixel 9a, with a slightly brighter screen and an upgrade from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. Google shaved the remaining few millimeters off the camera bump, making it completely flat. Unlike previous versions of the Pixel a series, this model year does not share the same Tensor processor as the main Pixel 10.
It adds a backup in case you lose your passport
Digital ID does not completely replace a physical passport
Every time I travel, I am always worried about losing my passport. It’s the only ID I have that can get me through airport security, even when traveling within the United States.
Having a digital copy doesn’t totally replace your digital passport, as you can’t use your digital passport for everything, and it completely deactivates if you’re outside the US or UK.
The United States Department of State will invalidate your old passport as soon as you report it lost or stolen to prevent identity theft.
Is a digital passport really secure?
Your phone is more secure than you think
At first glance, storing something as sensitive as your passport on your phone seems like a huge risk. However, in practice I would say it is more secure than carrying your physical passport.
Your phone is protected by biometrics like fingerprint or face unlock, and you must unlock your digital ID before you can view or share it. When you don’t open it, your digital ID is stored encrypted on your phone and is not uploaded to the cloud.
Additionally, you are also displayed Exactly What information will be shared when you tap or generate a code. On the other hand, handing someone your physical passport gives them “full access.”
If you lose your phone, you can wipe your ID remotely to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, even if they somehow manage to break your device’s encryption. No physical ID offers this level of control, making your digital passport more secure than a physical passport in many ways.
Add your passport to your phone
Installation only takes a few minutes
Adding your passport isn’t much more difficult than adding a credit card. To get started, open Google Wallet and look for the option to add an ID card, then scan your passport photo page.
Once done, tap the security chip inside your passport with your phone as you would with a Tap-to-Pay terminal. My Pixel 8 Pro was able to read the NFC chip from about an inch away, but if you’re having trouble, remove your case and place your phone directly on the back cover of a US passport. If you are using a British passport, the chip is on the front cover.
Finally, you need to upload a quick video used to verify your identity. Authentication will take a few minutes, but once done, your digital passport is ready to use.
There are still some limits
You cannot leave your physical ID at home
As useful as digital IDs are, the TSA still requires that you carry a valid physical ID when traveling. Your digital passport makes the process faster and smoother, but it is not a complete substitute.
And even though more than 250 airports now accept digital IDs, there are still many places that don’t do it accept it. Be sure to double check.
Not everyone is eligible
To use a digital passport, you must have a valid United States or United Kingdom passport. It is not available to anyone else at the moment.
On top of that, you’ll need a phone running Android 9 or newer.
An alternative that
Digital ID has come a long way, and the security benefits combined with convenience can make traveling less stressful and a little more convenient than it normally is.
Just be sure to keep your real physical passport with you. You might be able to go through TSA 20 times with your digital passport without a problem, but if something goes wrong, you’ll need it as a backup.
