Summary
Apple has launched a passport-based Digital ID feature for iPhones and Apple Watches to help travelers clear TSA security lines in U.S. airports. This digital ID, which focuses on domestic travel, is encrypted and requires verification like Face ID or Touch ID. It is not a replacement for a physical passport for international travel.
Key Facts
- Apple's Digital ID lets travelers use their smartphone or smartwatch to clear TSA security lines.
- The feature is available in beta at over 250 U.S. airports for domestic travel.
- The Digital ID is encrypted, and users access it with Face ID or Touch ID.
- It does not replace a physical passport for international travel.
- Apple currently allows users in 12 states and Puerto Rico to store driver's licenses in the Wallet app.
- Future uses may include ID verification for businesses and organizations.
- Setting up the Digital ID requires specific iPhone and Apple Watch models, the latest software, and a U.S. passport.
- At TSA checkpoints, the Digital ID is confirmed by Apple's security features, and TSA agents do not handle the device.
