Yes. As of September 11, 2026, Apple Wallet Digital ID can be used to verify your identity at select Transportation Security Administration checkpoints before domestic flights in the United States. It is not accepted at every airport, terminal or screening lane, so carry an acceptable physical ID as a backup. Digital ID is a convenient option where a compatible reader is available, not a replacement for every travel document.
Apple made Digital ID available on November 12, 2025. Its initial rollout was in beta at Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, checkpoints at more than 250 U.S. airports. Apple’s current guidance still limits the passport-based credential’s TSA use to select checkpoints for domestic travel. A participating airport may not have a compatible reader in every terminal or lane.
What Apple Wallet Digital ID is and is not
Digital ID is created in Apple Wallet from information in an authentic, unexpired U.S. passport. It is separate from the eligible driver’s licenses and state identification cards that some states and territories allow residents to add to Apple Wallet.
| Apple Wallet credential | Created from | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Digital ID | An authentic, unexpired U.S. passport | At TSA, it can be used only at select U.S. checkpoints for identity verification before domestic flights. |
| Driver’s license or state ID | An eligible credential from a participating state or territory | Availability depends on the issuing jurisdiction and its eligibility rules. |
The passport-based Digital ID may be useful if your state does not offer an Apple Wallet driver’s license or state ID, or if you do not have a REAL ID-compliant state credential. However, it is not a digital passport. Apple states that it is not government-issued and cannot replace a physical passport for international travel or border crossings.
It also does not replace your boarding pass, airline check-in requirements or any documents an airline may require. Carry your physical passport for an international itinerary, including one that begins with a domestic connecting flight.
Requirements to create Digital ID
Create the credential before you travel, using the physical passport from which it will be made. Apple lists the following requirements:
- An authentic, unexpired U.S. passport
- An iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26.1 or later
- An Apple Watch Series 6 or later with watchOS 26.1 or later, if you want to add and present the ID on a paired watch
- Face ID or Touch ID and Bluetooth turned on
- An Apple Account with two-factor authentication enabled
- A stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection
- Your device region set to the United States
The passport holder must be at least 13 years old. You can have the Digital ID on one iPhone and one Apple Watch for each Apple Account at a time. Update your iPhone or Apple Watch before travelling, charge it fully and make sure the credential is visible in Wallet before leaving for the airport.
TSA does not generally require identification from children under 18 who are travelling within the United States. Airlines can set their own requirements, however, and an unaccompanied minor who is eligible for TSA PreCheck must show acceptable identification to use expedited screening.
How to add your passport based Digital ID
Set up Digital ID at home rather than at the airport. You will need the physical passport, a well-lit area and an internet connection.
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Add Card button.
- Select Driver’s License or ID Cards, then select Digital ID.
- Choose whether to add it to your iPhone only or to both your iPhone and paired Apple Watch.
- Follow the prompts to scan the machine-readable section of your passport photo page. Use a simple background and make sure the image is clear and in focus.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to read the passport chip with your iPhone.
- Take the requested selfie and complete the liveness check, which may include facial and head movements.
- Authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, then follow the prompts to submit the information.
Apple evaluates the passport and identity-verification information before approving or denying the request. Do not rely on the credential until it has appeared in Wallet. If scanning does not work, improve the lighting, place the passport on a plain surface and carefully follow the chip-reading position shown on screen.
If you use Voice Control, Switch Control or AssistiveTouch, Apple allows you to use a device passcode instead of Face ID or Touch ID to set up and use the credential. To add Digital ID to a paired Apple Watch later, open the Watch app on your iPhone, choose My Watch, then Wallet & Apple Pay. Find the Digital ID under Other Cards on Your Phone and select Add.
How to use Digital ID at a TSA checkpoint
Look for digital identity signage or ask a TSA officer whether the lane has a compatible identity reader. You do not need to unlock, show or hand over your iPhone or Apple Watch.
- On an iPhone with Face ID, double-click the side button. On an iPhone with Touch ID, double-click the Home button. Authenticate if prompted.
- Select Digital ID in Wallet.
- Hold the top of the iPhone, or the display of your Apple Watch, near the identity reader.
- Review the information requested on your device before it is shared.
- Give consent by double-clicking the iPhone side button, holding your finger on the Home button for Touch ID, or double-clicking the Apple Watch side button.
- Wait for the checkmark and Done message before moving the device away.
At TSA, the identity reader captures an image for comparison with the portrait presented from your Digital ID. TSA says it receives digital identity information only with the passenger’s consent. It also says it does not copy or store a digital ID, except in limited testing environments used to evaluate facial-comparison accuracy, where passengers are notified.
Apple says Digital ID data is encrypted and that it cannot see when or where you present the credential, or what data is shared. The device displays the requested information for your review before you authorise the presentation.
Why you should still carry physical identification
Digital ID availability can vary by checkpoint. A reader may be unavailable, out of service or located in another screening lane. Your iPhone or Apple Watch could also be lost, damaged or out of battery. Keep an acceptable physical ID in your carry-on baggage so that you can use the regular identity-verification process if necessary.
For travellers age 18 and over, TSA’s acceptable-ID list includes a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, an enhanced driver’s license, a U.S. passport, a U.S. passport card, a permanent resident card, a Department of Defense ID and Department of Homeland Security trusted traveller cards such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. TSA can change this list, so check it again shortly before departure.
If you arrive without an acceptable ID, a TSA officer may offer an identity-verification process that collects information such as your name and current address. If TSA confirms your identity, you may enter the checkpoint but can be subject to additional screening. The process is not guaranteed: TSA will not allow you through if your identity cannot be confirmed or if you decline to cooperate.
For an international trip, carry your physical passport throughout the journey. If you are planning travel to Europe, also review whether Americans need ETIAS for Europe in 2026. For a domestic flight, the practical approach is to set up Digital ID well ahead of time, bring a charged device and pack an acceptable physical ID as your fallback.
