Apple Wallet Now Stores Digital Passports for TSA Checkpoints

Apple has announced a significant update to Apple Wallet that formally enables users to digitise their United States passports and store them directly within the Wallet app, allowing travellers to present a Digital ID on their iPhone or Apple Watch when boarding domestic flights and for identity verification at TSA checkpoints. According to Apple, the digital ID works across both iPhone and Apple Watch, with deployment already underway at TSA checkpoints across more than 250 airports in the United States.

The feature is limited to identity verification on US domestic flights, and travellers on international trips must still carry and present their physical passport at customs and border control. Not all TSA checkpoints have upgraded their scanners to read digital credentials, so travellers are advised to keep a physical passport on hand during the transition.

Apple Wallet already supports adding driver’s licences and state IDs in twelve U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and the setup process involves opening the Wallet app and following steps that include a selfie and facial movements to ensure authenticity and security.