Apple is finally delivering on its promise to bring passport-based digital IDs to Apple Wallet, allowing U.S. travelers to breeze through select TSA checkpoints without fumbling for physical documents. The feature, announced Sunday at the Money 20/20 conference, comes as Real ID enforcement creates headaches for millions of travelers with inadequate state licenses.
Apple just threw travelers a lifeline. The company's long-awaited passport-based digital ID feature for Apple Wallet is finally coming "soon," addressing a gap that's left many Americans scrambling since Real ID enforcement began in May.
Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, broke the news Sunday at the Money 20/20 USA conference, where she also revealed some eye-opening stats about how completely Apple has infiltrated American commerce. The digital giant now commands 90% of U.S. retail acceptance - a stunning leap from the mere 3% who took Apple Pay when it launched 11 years ago.
But it's the passport integration that could prove transformative for the 130 million Americans who travel domestically each year. While Apple Wallet already supports government IDs from 12 states and Puerto Rico - covering roughly a third of U.S. license holders - the passport feature fills a critical void. Many state licenses don't meet federal Real ID standards, leaving travelers stuck in longer security lines or, worse, unable to board flights.
The timing isn't coincidental. Since TSA began strictly enforcing Real ID requirements in May 2025, airport security has become a minefield for unprepared travelers. Suddenly, that driver's license from Texas or Michigan might not cut it anymore, forcing millions to dig out dusty passports for domestic flights.
Apple's solution won't replace your physical passport - TSA still wants the real thing for international travel. But for domestic flights, the digital version promises the kind of seamless experience Apple's built its reputation on. Tap your phone, verify with Face ID, and you're through.
The feature was originally slated to launch with iOS 26, but Apple held it back, citing the need for additional testing with government partners. That caution makes sense given the stakes - a glitch in airport security software isn't just embarrassing, it's potentially dangerous.
While Bailey didn't provide a specific timeline beyond "soon," the announcement suggests Apple's finally cleared whatever regulatory hurdles were blocking the rollout. The company's track record with sensitive government partnerships - from its FBI encryption battles to its careful dance around Chinese data laws - shows it doesn't rush these things.