Apple has launched Digital ID, a way to carry your passport on your phone for use at TSA checkpoints

Apple Watch and iPhone owners in the US will now be able to carry a copy of their US passport on their devices, which they can then use at TSA checkpoints across more than 250 US airports when traveling domestically.

The feature, known as Digital ID, previously existed Announce As part of iOS 26 versionadds passports to the list of existing government IDs supported in Apple Wallet. The company has rolled out this feature in dozens of states in addition to Puerto Rico, and there are more on the way.

With a digital ID in Apple Wallet, users can create and provide an ID, even if they don’t have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID. Apple notes that the ID card does not replace a physical passport, and is not currently supported for international travel or crossing borders.

Users can add their passport to Wallet by tapping the Add button (+) in the Wallet app, then selecting Driver’s License or ID Cards. From there, select Digital ID and follow the steps to complete the setup process, which includes using your iPhone to scan the passport’s photo page and scanning the embedded chip on the back to ensure the passport is authentic. Users will also have to take a selfie for verification and then complete a series of facial and head movements for added security.

Support for IDs in Apple Wallet is the final hurdle standing in the way of making iPhones an alternative to a physical wallet, as they can now hold payment cards, loyalty cards, tickets, passes, and more.

Presenting Apple’s new digital ID in person is very similar to using Apple Pay. You can double-click the side button or home button to access your wallet, then select “Digital ID.” Your iPhone or Apple Watch must be held near the ID reader, and users will use Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate their information. Users will also be able to see what identity information is required before completing the verification process.

The feature is still in beta, as it has not been fully rolled out to all device readers at TSA checkpoints at this time. (The TSA website provides a list of states that currently support Mobile ID, but still advises travelers to carry their physical ID.)

Apple says users will eventually be able to present their digital identity to businesses and organizations where they need to verify their age, either in person or online.

This could include event venues or bars, where users need to present their ID at the door to check if they are of drinking age. Online, websites that restrict content to adults can also leverage Apple’s APIs to verify users’ ages. For example, if a user wants to order alcohol for delivery through a service like Uber Eats, they can verify their identity during the ordering process.

In both cases, users will be able to confirm that they are over 21 years old without having to share personal information such as name, address or date of birth.

Apple said it couldn’t know when or where a user provided their identity or what data was shared. Additionally, users don’t have to unlock or hand over their phone to provide their ID, because it works just like Apple Pay.