You Can Now Add Your Passport to Your iPhone

In 2021, Apple announced a new feature for the Wallet app, which allowed users to add their driver’s license or state ID card to their iPhone. To me, this sounded like the beginning of the end of physical wallets. In reality, it was quite the opposite: not only are the apps limited, but even after all this time, only 12 states and Puerto Rico actually support the feature.

While the rest of us wait for our respective states to join in, many might have another option for these virtual documents. On Wednesday, Apple announced “Digital ID,” a new initiative that lets you create an ID in the Wallet app using your passport. This bypasses the waiting period for the 38 states that don’t yet support these ID features: if you have a passport, you can try this feature today. Even if your state supports driver’s license and state ID uploads to the Wallet app, you’ll miss out on features if you don’t have a REAL ID. However, if you have a passport, you can use that instead, opening the wallet’s ID feature to even more users than before.

However, like previous attempts at virtual ID, don’t expect to be able to use this digital ID anywhere you would normally show documentation. Currently, digital ID is primarily used for flying: According to Apple, digital ID is launching in beta at more than 250 airports for use at TSA checkpoints. It’s important to note that this feature only supports domestic flights, although it uses your passport. As such, do not rely on your digital ID when traveling outside the United States. You will still need your physical passport to validate your identity. However, in the future, Apple says you will be able to use this digital ID for other purposes, such as booking flights and hotels, as well as opening new accounts.

How to add your passport to your iPhone

To get started, you’ll need a valid US passport, an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26.1 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later with WatchOS 26.1. First, open the Wallet app on your iPhone, then tap the button (+) at the top of the screen. Here, tap on “Digital ID” under “United States”. Here you will see a pop-up window that informs you about digital identification. Tap “Continue,” then follow the on-screen instructions to scan different parts of your passport using your iPhone’s camera. You will then need to authenticate yourself by taking a live photo of your face. Once confirmed, you will need to capture more angles of your face and head, which the Wallet app guides you towards.

Once validated, the ID will live in your Wallet app. You can open the Wallet app or double-click the Side or Home button and then choose the ID each time you need to present it. When you’re in line at the TSA, for example, you can hold your iPhone with your ID activated near the reader: once both are connected, the reader will take your photo, while your iPhone will show you all the information you provide to the TSA, which can include things like your legal name, date of birth, gender, nationality, ID number, photo ID, expiration date, date the ID was added, and who checked identity. You will need to double-click the Side or Home button to confirm that you want to share this data.

Credit: Apple

Is digital identification secure?

Yes, at least according to Apple. The company says any identifying data you add to the Wallet app, whether it’s a passport, driver’s license, or state ID, is encrypted and stored on the device. This means that only you have access to this data, even Apple cannot see it. Additionally, Apple cannot see when you use your ID or what data you shared when signing in. You must also use Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate through this process. So even if someone steals your iPhone, they won’t be able to get these credentials.

As shown above, you will see a list of data that will be shared when authenticating with Digital ID. If you’re not comfortable sharing this data with, say, the TSA, you don’t need to double-click the Side or Home button and can instead choose another form of authentication. Plus, the way this feature is set up, you don’t need to unlock your iPhone or physically hand it over to confirm your iPhone. By double-clicking the Side button or Home button, you can access credentials without compromising your iPhone.

I’m pretty privacy conscious, but this is a feature I’d be willing to try, assuming I’m leaving an airport that supports it. I could see how this might be a bridge too far for some people, especially given the amount of facial scanning you have to do to validate identity. But Apple says in its Wallet app that this data is used to validate your identity and prevent fraud, and is only kept until the issuing authority approves or rejects your ID. In other words, whether the setup is successful or not, Apple will delete your facial scans once the process is complete. Since the rest of the data is encrypted, that might be enough for me to be comfortable testing this.