Apple plans to roll out a new Apple Wallet feature that will let users in the United States create a digital ID using their passport. Travelers will be able to use this digital ID at select TSA checkpoints for domestic flights. The update is part of Apple’s broader effort to make Wallet more than just a place to store credit cards or boarding passes. The company wants it to serve as a secure hub for digital identity.
So far, 12 states and Puerto Rico support government IDs in Apple Wallet, covering roughly one-third of U.S. license holders. The passport-linked digital ID didn’t appear when iOS 26 launched, but Apple confirmed it would arrive in a later software update. When released, it won’t replace a physical passport, but it will make it easier for travelers to move through airport security. The feature will work alongside existing tools like digital boarding passes in Wallet.
The update comes at a time when travelers are adjusting to new Real ID regulations that started in May, which made some state-issued IDs invalid at TSA checkpoints. Apple’s digital ID could help fill that gap by offering a faster, more reliable identification method for those already using Wallet.
Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, shared the announcement during the Money 20/20 USA conference on Sunday. She also highlighted how widely Apple Pay has grown since its debut. Today, Apple Pay operates in 89 markets across the globe, with over 11,000 banks and networks onboard, including 15 domestic networks. Bailey said 90% of U.S. retailers now accept Apple Pay, a huge leap from only 3% when it first launched 11 years ago.
Bailey also discussed how Wallet continues to evolve beyond payments. Users can already store car keys, transit passes, hotel keys, and other credentials. Transit options are now available in over 250 regions and 800 cities worldwide. More than 2 million hotel room keys have been added to Wallet, covering about 65,000 hotel rooms. The Car Key feature has also grown, now supported by 29 car manufacturers and more than 300 models.
With the coming passport-based digital ID, Apple Wallet moves one step closer to becoming a complete digital identity platform. Apple’s vision is clear, to make Wallet an everyday essential that securely manages everything from payments and travel to identification in one place.
