Login.gov is accepting eligible mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs stored in digital wallets for identity verification, adding a phone-based credential option for people accessing government services.
The General Services Administration disclosed the broader availability this week, saying acceptance began last month. Login.gov’s current guidance lists Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet among the supported wallets, with eligibility depending on the user’s state, device and wallet.
The mobile credential is an additional option rather than a mandatory replacement for a physical document. Users whose state or wallet is not supported can continue with another accepted form of identification. Login.gov also accepts state-issued physical driving licences and non-driver ID cards, as well as U.S. passport books and cards for supported online verification workflows.
Mobile driver’s licenses use cryptographic checks to establish that a credential is valid and has not been altered. GSA says the process allows users to preview and share the attributes needed for identity proofing rather than providing an image of the entire document.
The agency describes the implementation as limited to identity proofing for access to government services. It says the approach adds protection against counterfeit identity documents and AI-generated deepfakes. Support for additional wallets is being developed.
Login.gov provides a shared sign-in and identity verification service used by government agencies. Identity proofing is a separate step from simply creating an account: some participating services require users to establish who they are before granting access. Login.gov asks for consent before sharing verified information with the relevant agency.
The expansion follows the Office of Management and Budget’s two-year deadline for federal agencies to adopt Login.gov for public-facing authentication. That directive includes earlier milestones for inventories of existing systems, digital identity risk assessments and implementation of GSA best practices.
State agencies also use the service. Alabama is making Login.gov its primary identity check for initial unemployment claims beginning September 30, with applicants required to complete verification within 10 calendar days of filing.
For users choosing the new credential option, availability remains tied to the combination of issuing state, mobile device and supported wallet. People using other accepted documents can continue through the existing verification routes, including an in-person option at participating Post Office locations where applicable.
Sources: Login.gov, Nextgov/FCW
–
By the ID Tech Editorial Team
