Apple Says U.S. Passport Feature on iPhone is Coming Soon

You will "soon" be able to add a digital version of your U.S. passport to your iPhone, according to Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

ios 26 digital id passport wallet
Bailey reiterated that the feature is coming soon during her keynote at the Money20/20 USA conference in Las Vegas on Sunday.

On its iOS 26 page, Apple says the delayed feature will be "coming later this year."

Apple's website previously said a software update would be required to use the feature, but it no longer mentions that. As a result, it is unclear if the feature will require an update like iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2, or if it will be enabled with a server-side update.

After creating a digital passport in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

It will also be possible to use the Digital ID feature for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

Apple says the feature will be compatible with U.S. passports only. However, perhaps it will expand to additional countries in the future.

Other details mentioned by Bailey:

  • Apple Pay is available in 89 countries and regions
  • Apple Pay is accepted by 90% of retailers in the U.S.
  • Apple Wallet's car key feature is available in more than 300 vehicle models across 29 brands
  • Apple Wallet app's hotel key card features works with more than 65,000 hotel rooms
  • Tap to Pay on iPhone is live in 48 countries and regions
Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

212rikanmofo Avatar
3 weeks ago
Enough with all this SATANIC digital ID, AI crap. It's just leading us one step closer to mark of the beast. All this crap under the guise of "convience, quick, for our safety, etc.". Yeah right, the truth is much further than that.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jole Avatar
3 weeks ago

Do not put digital IDs on your phone, for any reason.

""But if you hand over your unlocked phone to a police officer and offer to show them something, “it becomes this complicated factual question about what consent you’ve granted for a search and what the limits of that are,” Brett Max Kaufman, a senior staff attorney in the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, told The Verge. “There have been cases where people give consent to do one thing, the cops then take the whole phone, copy the whole phone, find other evidence on the phone, and the legal question that comes up in court is: did that violate the scope of consent?”"
Never hand over your phone. Ever.

(Digital ID does not require nor imply handing over your phone)
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrono1081 Avatar
3 weeks ago

Data hoarding end-game right there!
No it isn't. You're just fear mongering for no legitimate reason. You do realize this is the EXACT same data already present on a physical passport (which you scan) correct? No one is getting any additional information from this.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Powerguru Avatar
3 weeks ago
It’s great that it will be available in US this year. ?? I can just imagine the work that goes behind something like this to secure and work right everytime. Only possible is America ??
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nickerbocker Avatar
3 weeks ago
I have had a state issued digital ID for two years now that I haven't used once. I tried last time I flew at TSA because they said they took them but then their machine wasn't working and after 3 tries I just handed them my physical ID because I was holding up the line.

It might be cool if they ever get the system worked out.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FlavorfulTreat Avatar
3 weeks ago
Do not put digital IDs on your phone, for any reason.

""But if you hand over your unlocked phone to a police officer and offer to show them something, “it becomes this complicated factual question about what consent you’ve granted for a search and what the limits of that are,” Brett Max Kaufman, a senior staff attorney in the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, told The Verge. “There have been cases where people give consent to do one thing, the cops then take the whole phone, copy the whole phone, find other evidence on the phone, and the legal question that comes up in court is: did that violate the scope of consent?”"
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)