Apple has confirmed that users will soon be able to add a digital version of their U.S. passport into Apple Wallet as part of its Digital ID features. The rollout is expected later in 2025 and is intended to enable more seamless identity verification at select TSA checkpoints for domestic travel.
What Apple Has Announced
- According to Apple’s official features page, users will be able to create and add a Digital ID using their U.S. passport in Apple Wallet.
- The digital passport feature was not included in the initial release of iOS 26, and Apple indicates it will arrive via a future update.
- Apple emphasizes that the digital passport will not replace the physical passport, and cannot be used for international travel or border crossing. Its intended use is for identity verification at TSA checkpoints for domestic flights.
- The feature will rely on Apple’s existing privacy and security frameworks, including Face ID or Touch ID, and is intended to meet REAL ID standards.
How It Will Work
- A user will scan their physical U.S. passport and its embedded chip via NFC.
- The user will complete a biometric liveness check, likely involving face movements or a selfie, to prove the identity.
- Once stored in Wallet, the digital passport can be presented at participating TSA-approved security lanes during domestic travel.
- Because not all airports or checkpoints are equipped yet, the availability will depend on infrastructure rollout and TSA adoption.
Benefits & Limitations
Pros:
- Streamlines domestic travel by reducing the need to pull out physical documents at security points.
- Centralizes identification in one digital, secure location (Wallet) alongside driver’s licenses and state IDs.
- Uses Apple’s existing security infrastructure (biometric authentication, encryption) to protect users’ identity data.
Cons & Caveats:
- Not valid for international travel—physical passports remain necessary for border crossings.
- Availability will be limited initially by airport support and TSA reader infrastructure.
- The timing of rollout is uncertain; the digital passport feature has been delayed past the initial iOS 26 release.
What to Watch
- Which airports and TSA checkpoints will first support the digital passport feature
- Which iPhone and Apple Watch models will be eligible
- The precise iOS version (e.g. 26.1 or 26.2) that activates the feature
- How adoption by TSA and airport authorities will scale
- User experience, privacy audits, and any security incidents after launch
Apple’s plan to add digital U.S. passports to Wallet marks a major advance for digital identity in travel. While it won’t replace physical passports for cross-border use, it has the potential to simplify domestic verification and further integrate travel and identity into a single device.
