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1h ago

Apple Launches Passport‑Based Digital ID in Wallet for TSA Checkpoints

The beta relies on passport chip scans plus on‑device encryption with biometric consent, limited to domestic screening.

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Digital ID joins Apple Wallet. It’s a passport-based ID on iPhone and Watch.
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Overview

  • Acceptance begins today in a public beta at more than 250 U.S. airports, though some checkpoints may not yet support mobile IDs, so travelers are still advised to carry a physical ID.
  • Setup requires scanning the passport photo page and embedded chip, taking a selfie, and completing liveness checks before an ID is added to Wallet.
  • At screening, users open Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch, hold the device near a reader, review requested fields, and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID without unlocking or handing over the device.
  • The feature is not a replacement for a physical passport and cannot be used for international travel or border crossings.
  • Apple says future use cases include age and identity verification in person, in apps, and online via APIs, building on existing Wallet support for driver’s licenses in 12 states and Puerto Rico and Japan’s My Number Card.