I carried my bags to airport security and removed all the liquid. You can leave your passport and actual ID at home. The panic that could be set at this moment may soon be a thing of the past for Apple users.
On June 10, Tech Giant announced that iPhones and Apple Watches can store virtual copies of their passports and IDs. This makes it easy for travelers to pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints with a flash on the screen.
Apple previously launched its digital ID program in March 2022, but that version only worked with the driver license and the actual ID. This tool can now store your passport using the same real-time ID verification. According to the Apple News release, the new technology will be available as part of iOS 26 in fall 2025.
But don’t throw your actual passport yet. Apple’s new digital ID works only TSA spokespersons will be accepted “at selected TSA checkpoints” for domestic travel. “Not all airports can read digital IDs because there are no CAT-2 machines yet.” CAT (Certification Technology) is a tool that allows TSA agents to scan traveler photo IDs to automatically verify their identity. However, even airports equipped with CAT-2 machines are always likely to take them offline. If you don’t have a backup ID, your trip may stall before it starts. The TSA is telling us far away that travelers should keep physical documents handy, regardless of new technology.
In any case, you will need an international passport. In announcing the rollout, Apple said: “Digital IDs are not a physical passport replacement and cannot be used in place of US passports for international travel or border crossings.”
A TSA spokesperson confirms, “You can use your iPhone or Apple Watch (upload your passport) for your Real ID and Compliant Scene, even if you don’t have an actual ID issued domestically.”
Apple’s digital passports and IDs work at over 250 TSA checkpoints in the US, including major airports such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. In most states, iPhone 8 running at least iOS 16.5 or below must add an ID to your Apple wallet. But in California, the bars are a little higher. iOS 17.5 and later are required. And what if you’re in Puerto Rico? Create an iPhone XS with iOS 18.1 or higher. Translation: Software update time – or perhaps hardware time.
With the new development, Apple Wallets can compete more effectively with Google Wallets, and recently announced support for both US and UK passports. According to Google, Google Wallet allows residents to use their digital passports at TSA checkpoints for domestic flights. The same technology is not accepted at UK airports, but UK residents can use Google’s digital passport feature to see their identity, such as travelling on the National Rail.
Want to try out your Apple digital ID? Beta drops in July, offering sneak peaks before iPhone users a full rollout. But don’t get too far from that trustworthy little blue book until it’s everywhere (and accepted for everything).
