Apple Launches A Digital Id And Says It’ll Be Accepted By The Tsa

Apple is launching Digital IDs, a characteristic that allows you to create and shop an ID successful Apple Wallet utilizing your US passport. In nan announcement, Apple says Digital ID acceptance will statesman to “roll retired first”at TSA checkpoints for home recreation successful complete 250 airports crossed nan US.

You tin coming your Digital ID successful spot of a REAL ID astatine TSA checkpoints utilizing your iPhone aliases Apple Watch. But Apple notes that it isn’t a replacement for your beingness passport, and that you can’t usage it for world recreation aliases separator crossings.

Apple already allows you to store your driver’s licence successful Apple Wallet successful 12 states and Puerto Rico, but nan caller Digital ID action offers an replacement for group whose location authorities doesn’t support integer driver’s licenses aliases don’t already person a REAL ID aliases authorities ID. Apple first announced Digital IDs during its Worldwide Developers Conference successful June, and nan characteristic was expected to get pinch iOS 26 earlier Apple softly delayed it.

To create a Digital ID, pat nan “plus” fastener astatine nan apical correct area of nan Wallet app, and past prime Digital ID. From there, Apple will inquire you to scan nan photograph page of your beingness passport, arsenic good arsenic nan spot embedded connected nan backmost of it “to guarantee nan data’s authenticity.” You’ll past person to return a selfie for verification, arsenic good arsenic complete facial and caput movements to corroborate that it’s really you.

You tin coming your Digital ID by double-clicking your iPhone’s broadside aliases Home fastener to unfastened Apple Wallet, choosing your Digital ID, and past holding your telephone aliases Apple Watch adjacent an personality reader.

Apple says nan characteristic is encrypted, meaning Apple can’t spot erstwhile you show your ID, aliases nan information you presented. You besides won’t request “to unlock, show, aliases manus over” your instrumentality to coming your ID — thing you shouldn’t do pinch integer driver’s licenses, either. 

It’s still not clear which airports will judge Digital IDs. Apple besides notes that users will soon beryllium capable to coming their Digital ID astatine “additional prime businesses and organizations” successful nan future.