Iowa Brings mDLs to Apple Wallet

Iowa residents can now add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to the Apple Wallet app on their iPhone and Apple Watch. The digital ID feature, implemented as of October 24, 2024, allows Iowans to use their electronic identification in place of a physical card in various situations.

The digital ID is accepted at select TSA checkpoints, including Des Moines and Eastern Iowa Airports, as well as at some business venues and within certain apps when ID verification is required. Additionally, Apple Stores across the United States now accept Iowa’s digital ID in Apple Wallet.

To add their license or state ID to Apple Wallet, Iowans can simply open the Wallet app, tap the “+” button, and follow the on-screen instructions and verification process. Businesses in Iowa have the capability to accept digital IDs through iOS apps such as Tap2iD Mobile, VeriScan, and Mobile ID Verify for in-person age verification purposes.

Iowa joins several other states in implementing support for digital IDs in Apple Wallet, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, California, and Ohio. In addition to Apple Wallet, Iowa’s digital credentials are also available on Samsung Wallet and the Iowa Mobile ID app, providing residents with multiple options for digital identification.

The news comes as the TSA has just published a final rule that extends the acceptance of mDLs at airport security checkpoints and federal buildings beyond the REAL ID enforcement date of May 7, 2025. REAL ID is a federal standard established by the REAL ID Act of 2005 that sets minimum security requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, which will be required for accessing certain federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and boarding commercial flights within the United States beginning May 7, 2025

The rule, effective from November 25, 2024, allows states to apply for temporary waivers from certain REAL ID requirements, enabling their mDLs to remain valid for TSA identity verification purposes.

The decision bridges the gap between traditional ID enforcement and digital technologies while maintaining REAL ID security standards. Currently, TSA accepts mDLs from 11 states at 27 airports with specialized readers, with plans to expand nationwide.

Sources: WQAD8, KIWA

October 25, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team