Apple has officially launched Digital ID, a new feature that allows users to securely create and store an identification card in Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport. The feature lets travellers present their ID using an iPhone or Apple Watch, offering a private and convenient alternative to carrying physical cards.

At launch, Digital ID will begin rolling out in beta for in-person identity verification at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across more than 250 airports in the United States. Additional uses for Digital ID are expected to follow in the coming months.

According to Apple, Digital ID provides an option for those who may not have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID. However, it does not replace a physical passport and cannot be used for international travel or border crossings.

“With the launch of Digital ID, we’re excited to expand the ways users can store and present their identity, all with the security and privacy built into iPhone and Apple Watch,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “Since introducing the ability to add a driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet in 2022, we’ve seen how much users love having their ID right on their devices. Digital ID brings this secure and convenient option to even more users across the country, as they can now add an ID to Wallet using information from their U.S. passport.”

The new capability builds on Apple’s earlier support for adding driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet, currently available in 12 states and Puerto Rico. Digital ID is particularly useful for users whose states do not yet support digital driver’s licenses or who lack a REAL ID.

Setting up a Digital ID involves a few verification steps. Users can tap the plus icon in the Wallet app, choose Digital ID, and scan both the photo page and the chip on their physical passport. Apple will then prompt users to take a selfie and perform a brief facial verification to confirm their identity.

To present a Digital ID, users can double-click the side or Home button on their iPhone, select their Digital ID in Apple Wallet, and hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near an identity reader. Apple says the process is encrypted, ensuring that it cannot see when or where a user displays their ID, nor access the data shared during verification. Importantly, users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to confirm their identity.

While Apple has not yet disclosed which specific airports will support the feature, the company says users will soon be able to present their Digital ID at select businesses and organisations as acceptance expands.

Digital ID was first announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year and was originally slated for release with iOS 26 before being quietly delayed. With its official rollout now underway, Apple continues to push its vision of making digital identity both secure and seamlessly integrated into everyday life.