TSA Expands Virginia mDL Acceptance to All Equipped Airports Nationwide

The Transportation Security Administration has expanded its acceptance of Virginia’s mobile driver licenses (mDL) to all TSA checkpoints nationwide equipped with digital ID readers. The implementation allows Virginia residents to use TSA-approved digital IDs for identity verification at more than 230 airports that feature credential authentication technology units. The expansion follows similar rollouts in West Virginia and marks a significant step in the TSA’s broader initiative to modernize airport security screening.

Virginia residents seeking to obtain an mID must possess a valid Virginia driver’s license or ID card and download the Virginia Mobile ID application, available on both the Apple Store and Google Play platforms. The digital ID functions as an electronic version of a Virginia-issued driver’s license or ID card, offering a voluntary and secure alternative to physical identification during TSA screening procedures. The Virginia mID system complies with the ISO 18013-5 standard, ensuring interoperability and security across different verification systems.

At TSA checkpoints equipped with digital ID readers, travelers present their mID for verification. The credential authentication technology units incorporate a camera system that captures a real-time photograph to match the traveler’s face with their digital ID. Following successful verification, these photographs are deleted from the system. This is part of the TSA’s broader deployment of facial recognition systems across U.S. airports.

The authentication units can also verify same-day air travel tickets, eliminating the requirement for travelers to present boarding passes to TSA officers. However, travelers must still provide boarding passes to airline gate agents for flight boarding procedures. This streamlined process aligns with the aviation industry’s movement toward fully digital travel experiences.

While the digital ID system offers enhanced convenience, TSA recommends that travelers maintain possession of an acceptable physical form of identification, such as a card or passport, in addition to their mID. The number of airports equipped with this technology continues to expand weekly, as part of the agency’s preparation for the upcoming REAL ID deadline in 2025.

Source: TSA

–

January 28, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team