Arkansas Adds Driver’s Licenses and State IDs to Apple Wallet

Arkansas residents can now add their driver’s licenses and state identification cards to Apple Wallet, extending the state’s mobile credential program to Apple’s platform. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration confirmed the rollout, which enables in-person, in-app, and online identity presentation from an iPhone or Apple Watch.

The Apple Wallet integration allows users to present their credential at participating locations by selecting the ID in Wallet and authenticating with Face ID or Touch ID. The system shares only the specific identity information requested by a verifier, rather than displaying the full contents of the license or state ID.

Arkansas launched mobile IDs in Google Wallet in October of last year through a partnership with IDEMIA, and has since expanded acceptance across state and federal touchpoints. The state’s mobile credentials are accepted at TSA checkpoints nationwide, allowing travelers to verify their identity using a phone instead of a physical card at airport security.

The Apple Wallet rollout makes Arkansas one of a growing number of U.S. states offering digital IDs across both major mobile platforms. States including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland have previously added driver’s licenses to Apple Wallet, while others have launched on Google Wallet or through standalone apps built with vendors such as IDEMIA and GET Group.

The Department of Finance and Administration said residents can add their credential through the Wallet app on an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16.5 or later, or on an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 9.5 or later. Users are required to scan the front and back of the physical card and complete a facial and head-movement check during enrollment.

The digital ID does not replace the physical card, which remains valid and may still be required at locations that have not adopted mobile credential acceptance. Arkansas says users control whether to share requested identity attributes during a transaction, giving the mobile credential a more selective disclosure model than handing over a physical license.

Sources: Arkansas DFA, Arkansas Advocate

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By Cass Kennedy