Apple Wallet Digital ID Support Expands to 10 US Regions, Including Puerto Rico

[12/17/24 Editor’s note: This article has been altered to more clearly indicate the status of California’s digital driver’s license pilot.]

Apple Wallet’s digital driver’s license and state ID support has expanded to 10 locations across the United States and its territories, with New Mexico and Puerto Rico being the latest to join the roster of supported regions this month. The expansion represents a significant milestone in the broader adoption of mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) that comply with ISO 18013 standards.

The complete list of supported locations now includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, and Puerto Rico. The addition of Puerto Rico marks the first U.S. territory to participate in Apple’s digital ID program, signaling growing momentum for digital identity adoption across diverse jurisdictions.

Users seeking to add their digital IDs to Apple Wallet must meet specific technical requirements. These include using an iPhone 8 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, running the latest operating system version. Additional prerequisites include activated Face ID or Touch ID, two-factor authentication on the user’s Apple Account, and possession of a valid license or ID from a participating jurisdiction. The device must also be set to the United States region.

California is also preparing for a wider launch of its digital ID beyond an ongoing mobile pilot program. The initiative will enable residents to store their identification credentials in both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. While the exact launch date remains unannounced, the program is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Currently, mobile IDs are accessible to pilot participants through the California DMV Wallet application, which incorporates biometric identity verification technology for enhanced security.

The practical application of digital IDs currently faces certain limitations. While they are accepted at various airport TSA checkpoints, including Los Angeles International Airport, and select retailers for age verification purposes, these digital credentials are not yet recognized by law enforcement or state government agencies. This limited acceptance is consistent with the TSA’s broader digital transformation roadmap, which aims to gradually expand digital identity verification capabilities across various use cases. Users must continue to carry their physical identification cards alongside digital versions until broader acceptance is achieved.

The expansion of digital ID support comes as other major technology companies, including Google and Samsung, have also entered the digital identity space. Google recently launched support for digital US passports in Google Wallet, while several states have begun integrating with multiple digital wallet providers to offer residents more choices for digital identification.

Sources: 9to5Mac, LAist

–

December 13, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy