·  ·  · 

Apple Digital ID Launches: How to Add Your U.S. Passport to Apple Wallet and Use It at TSA (November 13, 2025)

November 13, 2025
by
Apple Digital ID Launches: How to Add Your U.S. Passport to Apple Wallet and Use It at TSA (November 13, 2025)

Apple’s latest Wallet upgrade turns your iPhone and Apple Watch into a passport‑based digital ID for domestic air travel — but it’s not a full passport replacement yet.

Apple’s Digital ID goes live: what changed this week

As of November 13, 2025, Apple’s new Digital ID feature is rolling out to iPhone and Apple Watch users in the United States, letting travelers store a U.S. passport–based ID directly in Apple Wallet and present it at TSA checkpoints for domestic flights. [1]

Announced yesterday (Nov. 12) in an Apple Newsroom update, Digital ID lets you create a secure, device‑stored identity card using data from your physical passport. At launch, it’s being accepted in beta at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 U.S. airports for in‑person identity verification before domestic flights. [2]

Financial and tech outlets, including Nasdaq, Axios, CNET, TechTimes, and The Points Guy, have all confirmed the rollout and highlighted that this is Apple’s biggest expansion yet of its digital identity ambitions, which began with driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet back in 2022. [3]

Where and how you can use Apple Digital ID today

TSA checkpoints first, domestic travel only

For now, Digital ID has one primary use case: speeding you through identity checks at TSA security for domestic U.S. flights.

  • Apple and TSA say the feature will be usable at 250+ airport checkpoints nationwide as part of a beta program. [4]
  • The TSA hasn’t yet published a full airport list, but Apple and news outlets consistently describe the rollout as broad, not limited to just a few hubs. [5]

Crucially, Digital ID is not a passport replacement:

  • You cannot use it for international travel or border crossings.
  • A physical passport is still required for immigration and any context where law demands the physical document. [6]

Think of it as a digital companion to your passport, not a substitute.

Which states and IDs are supported?

Digital ID is built to work even if your state hasn’t rolled out a digital driver’s license, by using your U.S. passport as the authoritative data source. [7]

In parallel, Apple continues to support driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet in a growing number of states:

  • Apple says 12 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico currently support adding a driver’s license or state ID to Wallet. [8]
  • Reporting based on TSA and Apple documentation lists support for Wallet IDs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, West Virginia and Puerto Rico, though not every jurisdiction has full TSA digital ID support yet. [9]

If your state doesn’t support a digital license, you can still create a Digital ID as long as you have a valid U.S. passport.

Requirements: who can use Apple’s Digital ID?

From Apple’s documentation and today’s coverage, you’ll need: [10]

  • Device:
    • iPhone 11 or later, running the latest iOS (currently iOS 26.1 as referenced in several how‑to guides)
    • and/or Apple Watch Series 6 or later with the latest watchOS
  • Account & security:
    • An Apple Account with two‑factor authentication enabled
    • Face ID or Touch ID set up, with Bluetooth on
  • Document:
    • An unexpired U.S. passport (for Digital ID)
    • Or an eligible state driver’s license/ID in states that support Wallet IDs
  • Region:
    • A U.S.‑based Apple device with the relevant region settings

If you don’t meet these requirements, the option to add a Digital ID may not appear in Wallet.

How to add your U.S. passport as a Digital ID in Apple Wallet

Apple and multiple tech outlets describe the setup flow in similar terms. Here’s the process, summarized and paraphrased from those instructions: [11]

1. Start in Apple Wallet

  1. Open Wallet on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the “+” (Add) button in the top‑right corner.
  3. Choose “Driver’s License or ID Cards”.
  4. Select “Digital ID”.

2. Scan your passport

  1. Use your iPhone camera to scan the photo page of your physical U.S. passport.
  2. Hold your iPhone against the passport’s embedded chip (in the cover) so the phone can read and verify the data via NFC.

3. Verify your identity with biometrics

  1. Take a selfie within the flow.
  2. Follow prompts to complete a brief “liveness” check — typically a series of facial and head movements to confirm you’re a real, present person and not a static photo.

4. Wait for approval

  1. Once verification is complete, the system approves your submission and your Digital ID card appears in Apple Wallet.
  2. If you have an Apple Watch paired to the same account, you can mirror the Digital ID to the watch so you can present it from your wrist.

Apple stresses that the underlying passport data is encrypted and stored on your device, not in a central Apple identity database. [12]

Using Apple Digital ID at TSA: what to expect

At the airport, the experience is designed to feel similar to using Apple Pay:

  1. At the TSA ID checkpoint, open your Digital ID:
    • Double‑click the side button (or Home button on older‑style devices) to bring up Wallet.
    • Tap your Digital ID card. [13]
  2. Hold your device near the TSA identity reader.
    • You don’t hand over the phone — you simply hold it near the reader (iPhone) or present your Apple Watch near the reader face. [14]
  3. Review what you’re sharing.
    • A prompt displays the specific fields TSA is requesting (for example: your name, date of birth, and ID photo).
    • You confirm sharing using Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
  4. Get a confirmation.
    • Once verified, you’ll see an on‑screen confirmation (such as a checkmark), and the TSA officer visually compares you to your on‑screen photo — just like with a physical ID. [15]

Do you still need to bring a physical ID?

Even Apple‑friendly coverage strongly recommends bringing your physical ID as a backup, especially during the beta phase:

  • Not every TSA lane or airport will have the necessary reader active.
  • Government guidance about digital IDs is evolving and occasionally out of date online (even TSA’s own digital ID page has been noted as lagging behind real‑world deployments). [16]

Bottom line: Digital ID is a convenience feature, not a guarantee. For now, smart travelers treat it as a speed‑up, not a full replacement.

Security and privacy: Apple’s pitch vs public skepticism

Apple’s privacy promises

Apple is leaning heavily on privacy messaging to convince users that putting passport data on their phones isn’t reckless:

  • On‑device storage: Passport data for Digital ID is stored locally on the device, not in Apple’s cloud. [17]
  • End‑to‑end protections: Digital ID uses the same hardware‑backed security and encryption stack that powers Apple Pay and other Wallet passes. [18]
  • Limited data sharing: Each time you present your Digital ID, only the minimum required fields are shared, and you see and approve them before anything is transmitted. [19]
  • No Apple tracking: Apple says it cannot see when or where you present your ID, or what exact data was shared at each presentation. [20]

From a technical standpoint, this is closer to a cryptographically signed pass than a centralized “Apple ID card.”

Concerns from users and privacy watchers

Despite that, public reaction has been mixed:

  • Lifestyle coverage and social media posts collected by outlets like People show some users joking — and worrying — about scenarios like getting locked out of vital documents if they lose access to their Apple or iCloud account, or the risk of phone theft turning into “identity theft in one step.” [21]
  • Tech commentators such as The Register point out that Digital ID could expand far beyond airports — to bars, online age checks, and more — raising long‑term questions about tracking and surveillance, especially if governments or private services start to require digital IDs. [22]

So far, there’s no evidence that Apple is collecting granular usage data on Digital ID, but critics note that any digital ID system, even one designed with privacy in mind, can be repurposed by future policy changes or third‑party demands.

How Digital ID fits into the broader identity race

Apple isn’t alone in pushing digital IDs:

  • Google Wallet has already supported digital passports in some contexts, and TSA documentation has referenced Google’s implementation for domestic U.S. travel. [23]
  • Globally, the EU Digital Identity Wallet framework is laying groundwork for cross‑border electronic IDs that work across EU member states. [24]

Apple’s move is significant because of the sheer size of the iPhone base and the tight integration of Wallet with hardware security features.

In an interview highlighted by The Points Guy, Apple Pay & Wallet VP Jennifer Bailey framed the long‑term ambition clearly: Apple wants Digital ID to evolve into a standard robust enough to support border crossings and everyday identity checks, from hotel check‑ins to rental cars and age verification. [25]

We’re not there yet — but this week’s launch is a major milestone on that road.

Quick FAQ: Apple Digital ID, answered

Is Apple Digital ID a passport replacement?

No. It’s not a legal replacement for your physical U.S. passport. It’s currently a digital credential for TSA identity checks during domestic U.S. travel only. You still need a physical passport for international flights and border control. [26]

Can I use Digital ID for international flights?

Not for immigration or border control. You may be able to use it at domestic TSA checkpoints within the U.S., even when beginning or ending an international trip, but border authorities will still require the physical passport. [27]

Which iPhones and Apple Watches support Digital ID?

  • iPhone 11 or later with the latest iOS (around iOS 26.1 at launch).
  • Apple Watch Series 6 or later with the latest watchOS. [28]

Do I have to use Apple Digital ID to fly?

No. Digital ID is optional. TSA still accepts physical IDs (like passports and driver’s licenses), and will continue to do so. This is an alternative, not a mandate. [29]

Is it safe to put my passport in Apple Wallet?

Apple’s design keeps Digital ID data encrypted and stored on your device, protected by Face ID/Touch ID and hardware security features. Apple says it cannot see when or where your ID is used. [30]

However, as with any digital ID system, there are broader privacy and dependency risks — including reliance on your Apple account and device — that critics urge users to consider.

Bottom line:

On November 13, 2025, Apple’s Digital ID officially moves from slide deck idea to real‑world feature. If you’re a frequent U.S. traveler with a recent iPhone, it could mean one less card to dig out at TSA — as long as you treat it as a convenience upgrade, not a magic replacement for your passport or wallet.

Apple Digital ID for Passports is Out! - How It Works
Watch this video on YouTube.

References

1. www.apple.com, 2. www.apple.com, 3. www.nasdaq.com, 4. www.apple.com, 5. www.axios.com, 6. www.apple.com, 7. www.apple.com, 8. www.apple.com, 9. www.theregister.com, 10. www.apple.com, 11. www.apple.com, 12. www.apple.com, 13. www.apple.com, 14. www.axios.com, 15. www.axios.com, 16. www.theregister.com, 17. www.apple.com, 18. www.apple.com, 19. www.apple.com, 20. www.apple.com, 21. people.com, 22. www.theregister.com, 23. www.theregister.com, 24. en.wikipedia.org, 25. thepointsguy.com, 26. www.apple.com, 27. www.apple.com, 28. www.axios.com, 29. m.economictimes.com, 30. www.apple.com

Mateusz Brzeziński

Technology News

  • Verizon Expands Nationwide Access with Affordable Home Internet Lite for Small Businesses
    November 14, 2025, 2:40 AM EST. Verizon launches Home Internet Lite to reach underserved small businesses with affordable, fixed-price internet. Priced at $25/month for a limited time and available with a three-year price lock, the plan targets customers with limited connectivity options. It runs on Verizon's extensive 5G network, delivering up to 25Mbps download speeds for web browsing and video conferencing. A data cap of 150GB may trigger post-cap speed reductions, so high-volume users should evaluate fit. The package includes a self-install, free router to minimize downtime. Verizon also highlights assistance through Verizon Forward for eligible programs like SNAP, and potential savings under the New York Affordable Broadband Act. While promising for cost-conscious small businesses, users should weigh usage patterns against the data limit and potential need for higher-speed plans.
  • macOS Tahoe 26.2 adds Edge Light for video calls in beta
    November 14, 2025, 2:38 AM EST. Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta adds Edge Light, a ring-light style feature for video calls in FaceTime and other apps. It draws a light border around the display to improve illumination, powered by the Apple Neural Engine to detect your face and position the light, and it fades out when you move the cursor to reveal content. Users can adjust the color with a warm-cool slider and enable automatic lighting on Macs with Apple silicon when ambient light is low. Edge Light works with built-in or external cameras and is accessible in video conferencing app settings alongside tools like Backgrounds, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Voice Isolation. Developers can try the feature now, with a public macOS Tahoe 26.2 release planned for December.
  • Harvard-led Breakthrough Advances Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing with Scalable Architecture
    November 14, 2025, 2:36 AM EST. Harvard researchers, in a Nature paper, demonstrated a fault-tolerant quantum system that detects and corrects errors below a key threshold using 448 atomic qubits in an integrated architecture. The work combines physical entanglement, logical entanglement, entropy removal, and quantum teleportation to preserve information and move toward scalable, error-corrected quantum computation. Led by Mikhail Lukin with collaborators from MIT and QuEra Computing, the team argues this architecture is conceptually scalable, setting a foundation for practical large-scale quantum machines, even as it notes remaining challenges before millions of qubits become routine.
  • DreamPark Takes Mixed Reality Theme Parks On The Road
    November 14, 2025, 2:34 AM EST. DreamPark, led by Brent Bushnell and Aidan Wolf, aims to replace fixed real estate and heavy hardware with a portable mixed-reality platform delivered via Quest headsets and a simple scanning workflow. The system installs in hours and works indoors or outdoors, with an optional operator app that lets staff manage maps, camera feeds, and controls without wearing a headset. A compact road case unlocks a full themed environment, letting venues-from arcades to zoos to museums-expand play spaces. The business model sells tickets wholesale at about $5 and resells for $15-$30. Early deployments, including a Long Island mall, expanded a 5,000 sq ft space to 20,000 sq ft and encouraged sharing via watermarked videos from guests.
  • Google to let experienced Android users sideload unverified apps amid new identity verification feature
    November 14, 2025, 2:32 AM EST. Google is rolling out an optional path for experienced users to sideload unverified Android apps even as it tests a new identity verification flow for developers outside the Play Store. In early access, developers distributing outside the Play Store can try the verification process, while Google says the advanced flow will let power users acknowledge the risk of installing software that isn't verified. The move responds to feedback from power users who want to retain sideloading, while Google warns attackers could misuse the practice with scams that imitate banks. The company emphasizes warnings to prevent bypassing protections. The feature won't ship widely until late 2026. The change aims to make malware distribution harder by tying app distribution to real identities, even as sideloading remains possible for select users.