How to Add Your Driver’s License or Passport to Apple Wallet
Turn your iPhone or Apple Watch into a digital ID — here’s where it works and how to set it up.
Your Apple Wallet app can hold your credit cards and airline boarding passes, helping you make purchases and board flights quickly and easily.
But Apple Wallet can also hold a digital version of your driver’s license or state-issued ID if you live in a participating state. And now, U.S. passport holders can create a Digital ID in Apple Wallet for identity verification at select TSA checkpoints.
With your iPhone in your hand or your Apple Watch on your wrist, you can securely verify your identity at participating locations without handing over your physical ID. Here's what you need to know about adding and using a digital ID in Apple Wallet.
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Where you can use your digital ID
While more states are expected to adopt digital IDs, Apple Wallet currently supports driver's licenses and state-issued IDs from:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- West Virginia
- Puerto Rico
You can use an ID stored in Apple Wallet at participating TSA checkpoints for identity verification. Digital IDs may also be accepted by participating businesses, websites and apps for identity or age verification, but acceptance remains limited.
Not every state uses Apple Wallet for digital IDs. Some states support TSA-approved mobile IDs through their own apps instead.
Before relying on a digital ID when you travel, check the TSA Digital ID page for the latest list of participating states, mobile ID apps and airports. And you should still carry your physical ID since digital IDs aren't accepted everywhere.
Technical requirements to add your ID to your Apple Wallet
To add your driver's license or state-issued ID to Apple Wallet, you'll generally need:
- An iPhone 8 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later
- The latest version of iOS or watchOS
- Face ID or Touch ID enabled
- Two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple Account
- Your device region set to the United States
Device requirements can vary by state. For example, some participating states require a newer iPhone or Apple Watch. You'll also need a valid driver's license or state-issued ID from a participating jurisdiction.
A note on privacy: Your ID information is encrypted on your device. Apple and the state that issued your ID can't see when, where or with whom you present it. When you use your digital ID, you can review what information is being requested before approving it with Face ID or Touch ID.
How to add your ID to your Apple Wallet
Follow these steps to add your driver's license or state-issued ID to Apple Wallet:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the add button ("+").
- Select "Driver's License or ID Cards."
- Choose your state or territory.
- Choose whether you want to add your ID to your iPhone only or to both your iPhone and paired Apple Watch.
- Scan the front and back of your physical ID and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Complete the identity verification process. You may be asked to take a Live Photo or complete a series of facial and head movements.
- Authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID and submit your information to your state's issuing authority for approval.
Your state or territory's issuing authority will review your request before your ID is added to Apple Wallet. You may be asked to provide additional information or complete additional verification before your request is approved.
If you get a new iPhone, Setup Assistant may give you the option to transfer your driver's license or state ID to your new device. You'll still need to follow the onscreen instructions to complete the transfer.
Note: Your driver's license or state ID can be associated with only one Apple Account at a time, but you can add it to one iPhone and one paired Apple Watch on that account.
How to use your digital ID
When you're at a location that accepts digital IDs, you can present your ID using your iPhone or Apple Watch without handing over your device.
On an iPhone, hold the top of your device near the identity reader. Your device will display the information being requested. Review the details, then use Face ID or Touch ID to approve and share the requested information. A checkmark will appear when the process is complete.
You may also be able to use your digital ID to verify your identity or age within participating apps and websites. For example, a business may only need to confirm that you're over a certain age rather than see all the personal information displayed on your physical ID. Support varies by business and location.
Don't live in a state that supports driver's licenses in Apple Wallet? U.S. passport holders can now create a Digital ID in Apple Wallet for identity verification at participating TSA checkpoints. However, it doesn't replace your physical passport and can't be used for international travel or crossing a border.
Google Wallet also lets U.S. passport holders create a digital ID for TSA identity verification at select airports. You can learn more in our guide on how to add your passport to Google Wallet.
Important note: Don't leave your physical ID at home just yet. Digital IDs aren't accepted everywhere, and Apple says an ID in Wallet isn't a replacement for your physical driver's license or state-issued ID.
Continue carrying your physical ID when traveling and anytime you may need to show identification.
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Laura has been a freelance writer since 2018. Her work primarily focuses on managing your money, navigating your career, and running a successful business. Her words have been featured in Yahoo Finance, US News & World Report, and many other publications. She earned her MBA and a Bachelor's in Psychology during her previous career in human resources.