Asger Risom
A new form of digital identification is beginning to appear at airport checkpoints across the United States.
A new form of digital identification is beginning to appear at airport checkpoints across the United States. Apple’s latest update brings the ability to create a passport-based ID directly on an iPhone or Apple Watch, marking a significant expansion of the company’s identity tools.
A New Chapter for Digital Identity
According to Apple’s Newsroom announcement on Nov. 13, 2025, Digital ID now allows U.S. users to generate an ID in Apple Wallet using the information stored in their passport. The feature can be presented with the built-in security protections of Apple devices and launches first in beta at TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports.
The Newsroom statement emphasizes that Digital ID is intended for domestic, in-person identity checks. It cannot replace a physical passport or be used for international travel. Apple notes that users without a REAL ID-compliant document now have another way to create a secure, device-based credential.
Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said: “With the launch of Digital ID, we’re excited to expand the ways users can store and present their identity — all with the security and privacy built into iPhone and Apple Watch.”
How Setup Works
Users start by tapping the Add (+) button in Wallet, selecting Driver’s License or ID Cards, choosing Digital ID and then following a guided verification process. Apple’s Newsroom lays out each step: scan the passport’s photo page, read the embedded chip with an iPhone, take a selfie and complete brief head-movement prompts.
Once verified, the Digital ID is added to Wallet and stored on the device. Apple says all data is encrypted and that “Apple cannot see when and where users present their ID, or what data was presented.” Access requires biometric authentication through Face ID or Touch ID.
Using Digital ID at Airports
At participating TSA lanes, travellers can present their Digital ID by double-pressing the side or Home button and placing the device near the identity reader. The TSA’s Credential Authentication Technology system compares a live photo with the digital or physical ID. Travellers must approve each data request before it is shared.
This avoids the need to unlock or hand over a phone — only the requested information is transmitted.
Expanding ID Options
Apple confirms that driver’s licenses and state IDs are already supported in 12 states and Puerto Rico, with recent expansions to Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia.
Eligible regions where residents can add digital state IDs are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico and West Virginia.
The Newsroom release adds that additional use cases — including identification in apps, online platforms and at select businesses — are planned.
Privacy Focus and Open Questions
Apple stresses that Digital ID inherits the same privacy framework as other Wallet IDs: encrypted storage, on-device data control and user-approved disclosures. Only the information required for a specific transaction is shared.
It’s worth nothing how earlier age-verification systems in the U.S. have faced security lapses, citing the Discord customer data breach. Whether Apple’s system will prove more resilient is not yet clear.
Original Analysis: What This Shift Could Mean
Digital ID’s debut signals a gradual move toward mobile-based credentials in domestic travel and everyday transactions. The system could streamline airport screening and reduce reliance on physical documents. But it also introduces new dependencies — from battery life to cross-platform compatibility — that agencies and businesses must prepare for.
Long-term adoption will hinge on whether regulators establish standards that allow digital credentials to work consistently across devices, carriers and service providers. For now, Digital ID is an early step in a broader shift toward secure, phone-based identity management.
Source: Apple Newsroom
This article is made and published by Asger Risom, who may have used AI in the preparation
