iPhone users can now add their U.S. passport details to Apple Wallet for faster, more secure identity verification at TSA checkpoints
Apple has launched a new feature that allows iPhone users to store their U.S. passport details in their digital wallets, providing a quicker and more secure way to verify one’s identity at an airport checkpoint. This “Digital ID” system will “roll out first in beta” at over 250 U.S. airports for in-person identity verification during domestic travel.
“You can breeze through more than 250 TSA checkpoints faster and more securely than ever before,” the TSA website states.
The Digital ID feature is aimed at streamlining domestic air travel, especially for those who don’t have a Real ID or prefer not to carry their physical passport around. However, Apple clarified that the Digital ID does not replace a physical passport and with that, cannot be used for international travel or border crossings.
To set up the Digital ID, iPhone users must open up their Wallet app, tap the plus sign, and select the “Digital ID” option. They will scan their passport’s photo page and authenticate the date by placing the iPhone on the chip embedded in the passport’s back page. Users will then complete identity verification by taking a selfie and performing specific head movements like turning their head and/or closing their eyes.
Once the setup is complete, travelers are able to present their Digital ID at TSA checkpoints by double-clicking the power button on their iPhone or Apple Watch, bringing up the Wallet app, and holding the device up to the TSA reader. The machine will take a photo for verification, and users will confirm their identity through Face ID or Touch ID.
Apple emphasized that all passport data is encrypted and stored securely on one’s device, ensuring the company cannot view when or where the Digital ID is used. This biometric security ensures that only the passport owner can release the information when they need it.
The Digital ID feature is expected to start easing into airport security, specifically before the busy holiday travel season, and is part of Apple’s larger push to integrate digital identity features. While currently available in beta, it is a step toward expanding mobile IDs for various forms of identification, with more states already accepting mobile IDs at TSA checkpoints.
More information is available on the TSA’s website. Click here to view.
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Melissa Houston
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