The slow, inevitable death of the physical wallet just got a major nudge forward. For years, we’ve been able to tap our phones to pay for groceries, show a boarding pass, and even unlock our cars. Now, Apple is taking aim at one of the most secure documents we own: the passport.

In a new announcement, Apple has officially launched the ability for U.S. citizens to add their passport book to the iPhone‘s Wallet app, creating a new “Digital ID.” It’s a feature that builds on the mobile driver’s license program already active in several states, but using a passport—a federally issued document—marks a significant step up.

For now, the primary use case is focused on one of travel’s biggest hassles: the airport security line. But as with all things Apple, the launch is a mix of futuristic convenience and a few very important caveats.

The process of getting your passport onto your phone is, in typical Apple fashion, designed to be both secure and a little bit of a setup.

First, the requirements. You’ll need a relatively new device: an iPhone 11 or later running the brand-new iOS 26.1, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later on watchOS 26.1. You also need to have two-factor authentication on your Apple Account (which you should have anyway) and, of course, a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

1. You’ll tap the plus sign in the Wallet app and select the new “Digital ID” option.
2. The app will instruct you to scan the photo page of your passport, just like you do for a mobile check-in.
3. Next, you’ll have to use your iPhone’s NFC (Near Field Communication) reader to scan the chip embedded in your passport. On a U.S. passport, this chip is on the back cover. This step is crucial, as it proves you have the physical, authentic document in your possession.
4. Finally, you’ll go through a biometric verification process. The phone will ask you to take a live selfie, and then prompt you to perform a “series of facial and head movements.” This isn’t just for fun; it’s an advanced anti-spoofing measure to ensure you’re a live person and not just someone holding up a photograph of you.

Once all that data is sent, verified, and approved, your Digital ID, based on your passport, will live securely in your Wallet app.

Apple’s launch partner for this feature is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). At launch, Apple says this Digital ID will be accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 U.S. airports.

The process is designed to be even more secure than handing over your physical card. When you get to the TSA podium, you’ll double-click the side button on your iPhone (just like for Apple Pay), select your Digital ID, and hold your phone near the TSA scanner.

Here’s the key privacy feature: Your phone will show you exactly what information the TSA is requesting. You then authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to consent and transmit the data. Your information is sent digitally and encrypted. You never have to show your screen, unlock your phone, or hand your device over to the agent. The same tap-to-present feature also works on a paired Apple Watch.

Hold on, don’t throw away your passport just yet

This is the big, important, “read the fine print” part of the announcement. This new Digital ID cannot be used for international travel.

Let me repeat that: you absolutely still need your physical passport book to cross any international border.

This might seem confusing. Why add a passport if it’s not for travel? The answer lies in the difference between identity verification and border crossing.

• What Apple launched (mDL): This new feature is, technologically speaking, an extension of the mobile driver’s license (mDL) standard (specifically, ISO 18013-5). It’s a secure, state-and-federal-government-approved way to prove your identity and age domestically. The TSA is using it to verify you are who you say you are for a domestic flight.
• What international travel requires (DTC): International travel is governed by a different, more complex global standard from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) known as a Digital Travel Credential (DTC). This is the true “digital passport” that would one day let you enter another country, and it’s still in its very early stages.

So, for now, think of this new feature as a “federal REAL ID.” It’s for U.S. citizens to prove their identity at federal checkpoints (like the TSA) within the U.S.

Privacy and the end of the wallet

While the TSA is the main partner at launch, Apple was clear that this is just the beginning. The company plans to expand this to “select stores” for in-person age and identity verification, as well as for use in supported apps and websites.

The privacy implications are the most interesting part. Unlike showing a physical ID—where a bouncer or cashier sees your name, full address, date of birth, and more—a digital ID can share only the data that’s needed. For example, to buy alcohol, the reader could theoretically just ask the phone, “Is this person over 21?” Your phone, with your Face ID consent, could simply return a “Yes” or “No” without ever sharing your actual birthdate or home address.

This selective disclosure is a massive leap for privacy. Apple also emphasizes that the Digital ID data is encrypted and stored in the Secure Element of your iPhone (the same hardware vault that protects your Apple Pay credentials). Apple says it cannot see when or where you present your ID.

Of course, not everyone is sold on the idea of a digital-only identity tied to a corporate ecosystem. Privacy advocacy groups have raised concerns about creating centralized digital records and the potential for a new kind of tracking.

For now, though, Apple is treating this as a convenience, not a replacement. And while the feature is still technically in public beta, it’s a powerful glimpse into a future where fumbling for your wallet at the airport security line is a thing of the past.