Apple allows users to store their US passports in the official Wallet app. This allows travelers to present this digital ID as valid identification at TSA check-in desks at the airport.
In other words, passport holders who have not yet converted their driver’s license to a real ID can board the plane without bringing a physical copy of their passport to the airport. This whole Real ID thing has caused frustration for many, so I appreciate any effort to make the journey a little easier.
This ID will be visible on both iPhones and Apple Watches, and Apple says the service will be rolled out at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports across the United States. It is only used as identification on domestic flights; If you plan to travel abroad, you still need a physical passport.
Additionally, not all TSA readers are yet equipped with the technology to scan this digital identification data. That’s why TechCrunch. For now, you may want to bring a paper passport so TSA and Apple can come to an agreement.
The company plans to expand this capacity beyond air transport. Apple says companies will eventually be able to accept these identifiers for age verification. First announced in iOS 26, this digital ID feature also adds passports to the list of existing government IDs supported in Apple Wallet.
Adding a pass seems simple. Just go to the Wallet app and follow the instructions. For security reasons, users must pose for a selfie and perform a series of facial and head movements.
The wallet platform also accepts driver’s licenses and ID cards, but only in 12 states and Puerto Rico. However, these do not apply to flights as there is no actual ID or passport present.
