Apple Wallet Digital ID Program Expands Again

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If you’ve ever stood in a long TSA line wishing there was a faster way to show your ID, Apple is continuing to build toward that future.

Apple is expanding its digital ID program again, with seven more states now planning to support driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet.

The feature lets users store a digital version of their government ID on an iPhone or Apple Watch. Instead of handing over your physical license, you can present the digital ID using Apple Wallet and verify your identity with Face ID or Touch ID.

Apple also now lets users create a separate Digital ID derived from a U.S. passport for use at select TSA checkpoints, even if their state doesn’t yet support mobile driver’s licenses. We previously covered when Apple first announced passport support, and it’s now becoming a key part of the rollout.

Apple has been rolling out the program slowly since first introducing it in 2021, largely because each state has to work with Apple and its own DMV systems to support the secure digital credential.

States that currently support Apple Wallet IDs

Right now, residents of the following states and territories can add their driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• West Virginia
• Puerto Rico

Availability can vary even within those states, as some are still expanding the program.

Seven more states planning support

Apple also lists seven additional states that have committed to supporting digital IDs in Apple Wallet:

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• Utah
• Virginia

These states have announced plans to participate, although Apple hasn’t provided launch timelines yet.

Where you can actually use a digital ID

Even in states where digital IDs are available, their usefulness is still somewhat limited.

The main place they’re currently accepted is at participating TSA checkpoints at select U.S. airports. Instead of handing over your license, you hold your phone or Apple Watch near the TSA reader and approve the request using Face ID or Touch ID.

This rollout has been happening gradually, and we’ve already seen additional states get cleared to use digital ID at TSA checkpoints as the program expands.

Some apps, websites, and businesses also support digital ID verification for age or identity checks.

However, travelers should still carry a physical ID. Digital IDs aren’t yet universally accepted, and they can’t replace your driver’s license in situations like traffic stops.

Apple also added a digital passport ID

Apple recently introduced another option: a Digital ID created from a U.S. passport. This version can be used for identity verification at certain TSA checkpoints even if your state doesn’t yet support digital driver’s licenses.

It’s important to note that this isn’t a digital passport for travel. You still need your physical passport for international flights.

Final thought

The rollout of digital IDs has been much slower than Apple originally suggested. But with more states joining the program and passport-based Digital ID now available, Apple Wallet is gradually becoming a more realistic alternative for everyday identification — at least in certain situations.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary