Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025

Digital ID, the iOS 26 feature that lets U.S. passport holders add their passports to the Wallet app, is coming later in 2025, Apple confirmed today.

ios 26 digital id passport wallet
Apple updated the release timing wording of Digital ID on its iOS 26 features page. "Digital ID will be coming later this year with US passports only," it reads.

Prior to today, the footnote for the feature said "Digital ID will be available in a software update with U.S. passports only," with no associated release timeline.

Curiously, Apple removed the mention of a software update, but in all likelihood, Digital ID will be introduced in an iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2 update before the end of the year. Apple has already seeded the first beta of iOS 26.1 to developers and Digital ID support is not included, but it could be added later in the beta testing period.

Digital ID builds on driver's license integration in the Wallet app. It allows U.S. iPhone users to add their passports to Wallet, with the digital passport able to be used in lieu of a physical passport for domestic travel at TSA checkpoints.

As with state driver's licenses and IDs, Digital IDs will work for age and identity verification in apps, retail store locations, and websites. The option to add a passport to Wallet for use as an ID option will expand digital identification features to many more ‌‌iPhone‌‌ users in the U.S., but Apple has not mentioned if the feature will eventually expand to other countries.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

gtmead09 Avatar
14 weeks ago

I mean .. I guess?

I sure wouldn't go traveling internationally without my actual passport, though, so I'm not really sure what the point is.
This is going to be more then a passport bigger picture. Yes you can use it at airport check points as they roll out to validate who you are. But I could also see other uses such as websites that need age verification online. Shipt when you order alcohol and they have to get your ID at the door.

Part of this is to work around the extremely slow adoption of driver licenses in Apple Wallet. It's been multiple years and they have like 10-15 states signed up. This works around the states by going to the Federal level and giving you a virtual ID.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
257Loner Avatar
14 weeks ago
So if we upgrade to the worst user interface redesign iOS has ever had, we might get the ability to store our passports in our digital wallets later this year?

Hard pass. For the first time ever, I've turned off Automatic Updates to avoid Liquid Glass.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordArchie Avatar
14 weeks ago
This is years away from actual real world, wide spread use. I fly 20 times a year, internationally, often with domestic stops. LAX has never had their Drivers license readers (RealID) working. Also in places like DFW and starting no at LAX, they are doing Touchless TSA where it's all facial recognition. Same way it works when I enter the country with Global Entry, no passport or wallet ID scan, all facial recognition.

I would like it to "be a thing" but until everyone gets on the same page, it won't happen
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
14 weeks ago

A “bug” will auto upgrade you to the latest, fo shizzle
Install those tvOS profiles folks!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maxoakland Avatar
14 weeks ago
I would not trust this feature seeing how authoritarian many governments have become
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jaytv111 Avatar
14 weeks ago

Great as an emergency backup to a physical passport when traveling internationally.
Let me stop you right there. Digital ID will not be accepted when traveling through international checkpoints. It will only be accepted when going through the TSA checkpoint at check in, and in only a few airports nationwide, and sometimes the readers aren't working or the agent just simply asks for your physical ID at their discretion. The TSA says you must have your physical ID with you even when using digital ID. And again, cannot be used for international travel (ie going through actual customs). So you need that passport still, unless it's a domestic flight, in which case you need some acceptable photo ID card (realID compliant) even when using digital ID.


Handing my unlocked phone to the immigration brown shirts, on the other hand, is...
Fortunately, the tech here does not have you hand your phone over to anyone, when it is accepted. You scan it like Apple Pay at a terminal.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)