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
- Open Wallet on your iPhone.
- Tap the “+” (Add) button in the top‑right corner.
- Choose “Driver’s License or ID Cards”.
- Select “Digital ID”.
2. Scan your passport
- Use your iPhone camera to scan the photo page of your physical U.S. passport.
- 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
- Take a selfie within the flow.
- 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
- Once verification is complete, the system approves your submission and your Digital ID card appears in Apple Wallet.
- 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:
- 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]
- 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]
- 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.
- 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.
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
