Passport information can now be used in digital wallet as identification with the launch of such technologies as Digital ID by Apple, which is a new way for users to create a form of official identification in Apple Wallet using information from their United States passports, and present it with the security and privacy of iPhone or Apple Watch.
Passport Information Can Now Be Used In Digital Wallet As Identification — But…
Acceptance of Digital ID by Apple will roll out at launch — first in beta at checkpoints that are operated by agents of the Transportation Security Administration at greater than 250 airports in the United States for in-person identity verification during domestic travel, with additional Digital ID acceptance use cases to come in the future.
The launch follows the capability for users to add an eligible driver’s license and official identification that is issued by a state to Apple Wallet. If users do not have a United States passport to create their Digital ID, they can still add an eligible driver’s license to Apple Wallet.
The Transportation Security Administration maintains a list of states in the United States and forms of digital identification which are officially eligible to be used at the security checkpoints at greater than 250 airports — including:
| Participating State/Issuing Authority | Eligible Digital ID |
|---|---|
| ID pass (United States Passport – domestic travel) |
Google Wallet |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Mobile ID, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| Arizona | Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| California | California DMV Wallet App, Apple Wallet, and Google Wallet |
| Colorado | Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| Georgia | Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| Hawaii | Apple Wallet |
| Iowa | Iowa Mobile ID app, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| Louisiana | LA Wallet |
| Maryland | Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| Montana | Apple Wallet, and Google Wallet |
| New Mexico | Apple Wallet, and Google Wallet |
| New York | NY MiD app |
| North Dakota | Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet |
| Ohio | Apple Wallet |
| Puerto Rico | PR Móvil, Apple Wallet, and Google Wallet |
| Utah | GET Mobile App |
| Virginia | VA MiD app |
| West Virginia | WV MiD app and Samsung Wallet |
Final Boarding Call
Despite acceptance of digital identification by the Transportation Security Administration, the government agency still advises that travelers should always carry a physical and acceptable form of identification — even Apple cautions that “Digital ID is not a replacement for a physical passport, and cannot be used for international travel and border crossing in lieu of a U.S. passport” — so do not be tempted to leave your passport at home while traveling.
All photographs ©2018 and ©2021 by Brian Cohen.
