Shubham Sawarkar
People can add their digital driver’s license and states IDs to Apple Wallet in their iPhone and Apple Watch in these 8 states: including Arizona, Georgia, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah, whereas Arizona and Georgia are the first major states to getting this feature among others, said Apple. And this feature will be shipped with a new software update which will release this fall.
However the states are not currently making digital IDs, but it will be once they do. The Transportation Security Administration said it will allow travelers to use them at checkpoints and security lanes at select airports.
“The addition of driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “We are excited that the TSA and so many states are already on board to help bring this to life for travelers across the country using only their iPhone and Apple Watch, and we are already in discussions with many more states as we’re working to offer this nationwide in the future.”
“This new and innovative mobile driver’s license and state ID initiative with Apple and states around the country will enable a more seamless airport security screening experience for travelers,” said David Pekoske, TSA Administrator. “This initiative marks a major milestone by TSA to provide an additional level of convenience for the traveler by enabling more opportunities for touchless TSA airport security screening.”
Once it is available, the digital driver’s license and State IDs are easy to add to their Apple Wallet just as you add debit or credit card to Apple Wallet in their iPhone and Apple Watch.
For further security, Apple said, “The customer will then be asked to use their iPhone to scan their physical driver’s license or state ID card and take a selfie, which will be securely provided to the issuing state for verification. As an additional security step, users will also be prompted to complete a series of facial and head movements during the setup process. Once verified by the issuing state, the customer’s ID or driver’s license will be added to Wallet.”
The company also said, “customers can present their driver’s license or state ID to the TSA by simply tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the identity reader. Upon tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch, customers will see a prompt on their device displaying the specific information being requested by the TSA. Only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested identity information released from their device, which ensures that just the required information is shared and only the person who added the driver’s license or state ID to the device can present it. Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.”
