Apple says it will soon introduce an Apple Wallet feature that will allow US users to create a digital ID using their passport, which can then be used at select TSA checkpoints for domestic travel. The feature, previously was announced as part of it iOS version 26it comes on the heels of Apple’s expansion of Wallet as more than just a payment mechanism or ticket holder, but a secure place to store a user’s digital identity.
Currently, support for government IDs in Apple Wallet has been rolled out to 12 states and Puerto Rico, or about one-third of license holders in the US. However, the passport-linked Digital ID feature didn’t come with the debut of iOS 26, as Apple said it would come in a future software update.
While the new digital IDs won’t replace a US passport, they could allow travelers to move more quickly through TSA checkpoints, alongside Wallet’s existing support for digital boarding passes.
Change is a particularly urgent given the Real ID ruleswhich went into effect in May, making many government IDs insufficient for TSA checkpoints.
The upcoming launch of passport-related digital identities was was announced on Sunday by Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, at US 20/20 Money conference, where the CEO also shared other statistics about Wallet adoption.
For example, he noted that Apple Pay was now live in 89 markets worldwide, with more than 11,000 banks and networks supporting Apple Pay, including 15 domestic networks. Additionally, 90% of US retailers support Apple Pay, up from 3% at launch 11 years ago.
Bailey also pointed out other non-payment features for the Wallet app, such as the ability to store car keys, transit cards, hotel keys, and more. Transit options are supported in more than 250 regions and 800 cities worldwide, and over 2 million hotel room keys have been provided, supporting more than 65,000 hotel rooms. In addition, 29 car manufacturers and over 300 models now support Car Key in Wallet, according to the exec.
