Apple says US Passport digital IDs will be coming to Wallet ‘soon’

Apple says it will soon introduce an Apple Wallet feature that will allow US users to create a digital ID using their passport, which will then be able to be used at select TSA checkpoints for domestic travel. The feature, previously announced as part of the iOS 26 release, comes on the heels of Apple expanding Wallet as more than just a payment mechanism or ticket holder, but also a secure place to store a user’s digital identity.

Currently, support for government IDs in Apple Wallet has been extended to 12 states and Puerto Rico, or approximately one-third of US license holders. However, the digital ID feature linked to the passport did not arrive with the debut of iOS 26, as Apple said it would come in a future software update.

While the new digital IDs won’t replace the US passport, they could allow travelers to move through TSA checkpoints more quickly, alongside Wallet’s existing support for digital boarding passes.

The change is particularly urgent given Real ID rules, which took effect in May, making many state IDs insufficient for TSA checkpoints.

The upcoming launch of passport-linked digital IDs was announced Sunday by Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, at the Money 20/20 USA conference, where the executive also shared other statistics about Wallet adoption.

For example, she noted that Apple Pay is now in 89 markets around the world, with more than 11,000 banks and networks supporting Apple Pay, including 15 local networks. Additionally, 90% of US retailers support Apple Pay, compared to 3% when it launched 11 years ago.

Bailey also pointed out other no-pay features in the Wallet app, like the ability to save car keys, transit passes, hotel keys, and more. Transportation options are supported across more than 250 regions and 800 cities worldwide, and more than 2 million hotel room keys have been provided, supporting more than 65,000 hotel rooms. In addition, 29 car manufacturers and more than 300 models now support Wallet’s Car Key feature, according to the CEO.