Apple has announced that digital passport support will be introduced in iOS 26, extending its digital wallet capabilities. The new feature, unveiled during WWDC 2025, will allow iPhone users to store a digital version of their passport in Apple Wallet. Though it will not replace the physical passport for international travel, it marks a milestone in digital identity technology and travel convenience.
How Apple’s Digital Passport Will Work
Available this fall with iOS 26, the feature enables users to generate a digital passport by scanning the data page and embedded NFC chip of their physical document using an iPhone camera. Identity verification is completed via Face ID or Touch ID. The data is then cryptographically re-signed by the U.S. Department of State, transforming the credential into an ICAO-compliant Digital Travel Credential Type 1 (DTC-1). This version of the passport is stored in the iPhone’s Secure Element, with a “tap-to-present” feature that allows users to share only the required fields with verifiers such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The TSA has confirmed it will accept Apple’s digital passport at more than 250 supported checkpoints across the United States for domestic air travel. However, travelers must still carry a physical passport or other government-issued ID. The digital passport cannot yet be used at border control kiosks or international e-gates. It serves as a supplementary credential, particularly helpful for domestic travelers navigating airports that support mobile ID verification.
According to Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, the feature was designed to streamline identity verification without compromising security. “This feature streamlines domestic travel and identity verification while maintaining the security standards that travelers expect,” Federighi said during the keynote.
A Competitive Mobile ID Landscape
While Apple’s initiative has drawn attention, it follows moves by competitors. Google Wallet began piloting a similar passport-based ID feature in late 2024. Apple’s update brings it into parity with that effort. Apple Wallet already supports digital driver’s licenses and state IDs in a limited number of U.S. states – currently eight – and this expansion reflects a broader push toward digital identity adoption in light of the REAL ID Act enforcement date on May 7, 2025.
Internationally, Apple has begun expanding its digital ID program beyond the U.S., with Japan launching support for official My Number IDs in Apple Wallet starting June 24. The company says it is actively working with travel hubs in Europe and Asia to expand digital identity validation, although no specific international partners have been announced.
The digital passport feature will initially support iPhone 11 and newer devices, leveraging the Secure Element introduced with Apple’s A13 chip. However, the list of supported models remains provisional pending the final release. Developers can begin testing through the beta version of iOS 26 starting this week, with a public beta rollout expected next month.
Apple has not yet confirmed which agencies will issue the digital passport credentials, but involvement from the State Department, TSA, and Customs and Border Protection is expected. As with existing digital IDs, Apple does not retain access to credential data or usage logs; only the issuing authority receives confirmation of use during a verification event.
Sources: Jalopnik, TechCrunch, Phone Arena
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June 10, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy
