Overview
- Apple’s Digital ID is live in public beta, letting passport holders present ID on iPhone or Apple Watch at select TSA lanes, with TSA still advising travelers to carry a physical ID.
- The feature is not valid for international travel or border crossings, and it does not replace a physical passport.
- Setup requires scanning the passport photo page and NFC chip, completing a selfie with guided head movements, and storing the encrypted credential locally for Face ID or Touch ID–secured use.
- Presenting works like Apple Pay without handing over or unlocking the device, and Apple says it cannot see when or where IDs are used or what data is shared.
- Eligibility includes an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26.1 or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later with watchOS 26.1, two‑factor authentication, a valid U.S. passport, and U.S. region settings, with wider use cases like age checks in person and online planned next.