Apple has officially launched the long-awaited Apple Wallet feature that allows users to store their driver’s license and state ID in the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch to be used at TSA airport security checkpoints.
Starting today, Arizonans can add their driver’s license or state ID to Wallet, and tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to use at select TSA security checkpoints in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Apple said additional states will offer driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet soon including Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah set to gain support next as part of a phased rollout.
“We’re thrilled to bring the first driver’s license and state ID in Wallet to Arizona today, and provide Arizonans with an easy, secure, and private way to present their ID when traveling, through just a tap of their iPhone or Apple Watch,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “We look forward to working with many more states and the TSA to bring IDs in Wallet to users across the US.”
Image: Apple
To add a driver’s license or state ID to Wallet, residents are required to undergo a verification process. Users will be asked to take a selfie and scan the front and back of their physical driver’s license or state ID card, which will be securely provided to the issuing state for verification. As an additional fraud prevention step, users will also be prompted to complete a series of facial and head movements during the setup process. The state, not Apple, is responsible for verifying and approving the user’s request to add their driver’s license or state ID to Wallet.
Once added to Wallet, users can present their driver’s license or state ID to the TSA at participating airport security checkpoints by simply tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the identity reader.
Apple says driver’s license and state ID in Wallet is available on iPhone 8 or later running iOS 15.4, and Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 8.4 or later.
To provide more information about the new feature, Apple has created a dedicated webpage with instructions on how to set up drivers licenses and state IDs in the Wallet app, as well as highlighting the security of Apple Wallet and data sharing. See the page here.