Your iPhone Passport Is Closer, But Restrictions Remain in Place

(UNITED STATES) Apple plans to let U.S. passport holders add a digital passport to the iPhone Wallet by the end of 2025, but the feature will come with strict limits. It will work for identity checks only at select TSA checkpoints inside the country and won’t be valid for international travel.

Apple has not given a firm release date, but the rollout is expected “later in 2025,” likely through an iOS 26.1 or 26.2 update. At launch, acceptance will be limited to certain airports, with coverage set to grow in stages as more TSA sites come online.

Where and when it will work

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will accept the digital passport for domestic screening at chosen travel hubs in states that include Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, and Ohio, along with Puerto Rico.
• Availability will vary by airport, lane, and equipment, so Apple and the TSA urge travelers to bring a physical ID as backup.
• The rollout is expected to be airport-by-airport, similar to how digital driver’s licenses were added to Wallet, allowing agencies to test systems before wider use (analysis by VisaVerge.com).

Important: The list of early airports is expected to grow, but Apple and TSA have not released a full map. Even where support exists, it may be limited to certain terminals or lanes. Check TSA and airport guidance before flying. See the TSA’s own page for details: TSA digital ID guidance.

What it cannot do — critical limits

• The digital passport is not a replacement for the physical passport booklet issued by the U.S. Department of State.
• It cannot be used to:
  • Cross international borders
  • Pass through immigration control
  • Board international flights
• Travelers leaving or entering the United States must carry a physical passport. Border officers will not accept the iPhone Wallet version for entry or exit.
• This credential is a domestic identity tool tied to TSA screening and other limited identity checks, not a travel document under international law.

Compliance and convenience

• Apple’s digital passport aligns with federal REAL ID standards for domestic air travel (these rules took effect on May 7, 2025) and meets the requirements Apple shared with partners.
• For fliers who prefer a phone-based option, the digital passport could reduce wallet clutter at TSA checkpoints — but only when the specific lane supports it and equipment is working properly.

Security and privacy design

• The system uses the eMRTD chip embedded in modern U.S. passports—the same chip read by border kiosks to verify identity and document integrity.
• On-device authentication requires Face ID or Touch ID.
• The credential is stored in the Secure Enclave, designed to keep sensitive data isolated even if other parts of the phone are compromised.
• When a TSA reader or a participating app requests identity data, the phone will:
  1. Show what will be shared
  2. Ask the user to approve
• Only the minimum required information (for example, name, date of birth, or photo) is released for that specific check.

Security takeaway: The reader receives only what it needs—not a full scan of the passport chip—and biometric unlocking plus Secure Enclave storage reduce misuse risk if a device is lost.

Devices and backups

• Apple says the feature will work on both iPhone and Apple Watch, which may speed screening for travelers who present a watch at a reader.
• Both Apple and the TSA stress the need for a physical backup:
  • Phones can lose power
  • Readers can malfunction
  • Some lanes may not be equipped
• If a checkpoint cannot read the iPhone Wallet, agents will ask for a physical ID.

Potential uses beyond TSA

• Apple expects the digital passport to support age and identity checks in participating apps, retail locations, and websites—similar to digital driver’s licenses in Wallet.
• Possible early use cases:
  • A bar accepting it to confirm age
  • A rental counter using it to check identity
• Adoption will start small and likely expand as more businesses install readers and update systems. For now, most use will be at TSA checkpoints rather than store counters.

Practical expectations for travelers

Key points to remember:
– It is a convenience feature for domestic screening, not a travel document.
– It will work only at select TSA checkpoints during the initial rollout.
– Users must approve every information request on their device.
– A physical passport is still required for any international trip.
– Carry a physical ID as backup for all flights.

Practical rollout details travelers should be ready for:
– Rollout will be uneven at first—one airport may accept it in PreCheck lanes but not standard lanes; another may support only a single terminal.
– A phone update might be required to add the digital passport.
– Users will likely need to follow an in-app verification process before the credential appears in Wallet.
– If a reader cannot scan the device, agents will fallback to visual checks of physical IDs.

Policy context and implications

• The digital passport arrives amid efforts by federal and state agencies to modernize identity checks while minimizing new risks.
• The REAL ID framework provides the baseline standard for IDs used in domestic air travel.
• Adding a phone-based option could:
  • Help people who prefer keeping documents on a device they already carry
  • Potentially shorten some lines if readers and software function smoothly
• The limits are clear: this is a companion to, not a substitute for, the physical passport.

Special considerations for immigrants and dual nationals

• For people with complex itineraries, name changes, or visas in their passport books, the limits are especially important.
• The iPhone Wallet credential cannot be used for entry at a U.S. port of entry or at foreign border control.
• Airlines and border agencies still require physical passports for document checks before departure and upon arrival.

Technical safeguards recap

• The credential is stored in the device Secure Enclave—separate from the main OS.
• Face ID and Touch ID reduce the chance of misuse if a device is lost.
• The reader receives only necessary information, not a full chip scan.
• If the device is powered off or the battery is dead, the credential cannot be presented—hence the need for a physical ID.

Adoption model and expected rollout behavior

• Like Apple’s digital driver’s license feature, adoption depends on partners installing readers and updating procedures.
• TSA checkpoints are a natural starting point because checkpoints control equipment and process standards.
• Retail and online use will likely grow through pilots before broader acceptance.
• VisaVerge.com notes the staged model helps agencies monitor error rates and adjust training before scaling up.

Bottom line

The digital passport is a step forward for digital identity in the U.S., but its scope is narrow:
– Designed for selected TSA checkpoints, with added uses in some apps and stores
– Aligns with REAL ID rules for domestic air travel
– Does not replace the physical passport for international trips

Travelers should keep the physical passport booklet handy until policies and systems evolve.