Your phone goes with you everywhere. So does your driver’s license. If you’re in the right state, you can now put your license right on your iPhone, in the Apple Wallet along with your boarding passes and concert tickets.
It’ll be handy for a number of other things, like getting through TSA checkpoints at the airport. You’ll be able to swipe your ID and boarding pass back to back on your iPhone for a snappier security check experience. That’s where we’re at now, but once it’s adopted at a larger scale, this could become the default way you present a form of ID everywhere.
It’s going to take some time before all states have a digital ID system up and running. Below, we’ll cover what states currently support digital IDs via Apple wallet and how to add one to your iPhone. Plus, we’ll go over some of the new features headed to Apple Wallet once iOS 26 is released later this fall.
For more, don’t miss our visual comparison of iOS 18 to iOS 26.
What states currently support digital ID in Apple Wallet?
Only a handful of states support digital IDs in Apple Wallet, and a key factor is how the state implements its Mobile Driver’s License system. For instance, Louisiana, New York, Utah and Virginia all support mobile driver’s licenses but require separate apps to add and present digital IDs.
States and regions that support digital IDs in Apple Wallet:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maryland
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Puerto Rico
Some states were originally announced to support Apple’s digital ID, but haven’t quite got there yet.
The number of states supported in Apple Wallet is about half of what the TSA currently allows. Collectively, it accepts digital IDs across Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet and state-based mobile apps in 15 states.
How to add your ID or driver’s license to Apple Wallet
If you live in a state that supports digital IDs for Apple Wallet, it’s easy to add it. After it’s added, you’ll need to verify your identity, which can take a little longer, but is still a straightforward process.
- Open Apple Wallet
- Tap the Add button
- Tap Driver’s License or ID and select your location
- If applicable, choose whether you want to add your ID to your iPhone only or both your iPhone and your Apple Watch.
- Follow the steps to scan your license or ID
(Make sure you scan your ID in a well-lit environment and the photo is in focus.)
Once it’s scanned, you’ll be prompted to confirm your identity with a selfie photo. According to Apple, you may be asked to complete a number of facial or head movements for identification purposes.
To ensure an easier verification process, Apple suggests that you:
- Stand in front of a plain background with neutral, light paint
- Be in a well-lit area, ideally indoors
- Take off sunglasses, masks, hats or other accessories that could block your face
- Hold your iPhone steady
When you’re finished, submit your information by confirming with Touch or Face ID. Your biometrics will be bound to the ID, so only you can use it.
Transferring your ID to another iPhone
If you upgrade your iPhone, you’ll need to transfer your ID or driver’s license to it.
- During initial setup, tap Wallet
- Select your ID
- Follow the steps
- Tap to confirm you want to move your driver’s license or ID to the new device
You’ll soon be able to create a digital passport in Apple Wallet
Creating a digital ID from your physical passport is coming to your iPhone later this year.
While states are taking time to implement digital ID systems, Apple announced a new feature coming in iOS 26 later this year: You can add a digital passport to Apple Wallet.
When that feature is available, iPhone users will be able to scan their passports to create a digital version for identity verification during domestic travel. You won’t be able to use it for international travel, and it’s not a full replacement for a physical passport (so keep your physical one on you), but it should work at the 250-plus supported TSA checkpoints.
During the WWDC keynote earlier this month, Apple said that the digital ID made from your passport can also be used “in apps and in person,” but it didn’t give any specifics.
This is essentially what can be done on Android through Google Wallet.
Verify with Wallet will make proving your age easier on your next Uber Eats order
Also headed to iPhones this fall is an easier way for you to prove your age using your digital ID. Say you want to have a bottle of wine sent to your place via Uber Eats. Typically, when the driver arrives, you’ll need to present your ID and have it scanned to complete the transaction, but with the new Verify with Wallet, your stored digital ID will be used to verify your age. (I do wonder if things might get more complicated when the delivery arrives if you’re not the one receiving it.)
Verify with Wallet will be supported by Chime, Turo, Uber Eats and U.S. Bank.
For more, don’t miss what you should know about flying domestically without a Real ID in 2025.
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