Apple has officially confirmed that U.S. passport integration is on the way for Apple Wallet, though the feature hasn’t yet appeared in iOS 26. The company first teased the addition at WWDC 2025, and now Apple Pay and Wallet VP Jennifer Bailey has reassured users that it’s still coming, likely before the end of the year.
An update on Apple’s website last month also mentioned the feature, promising support by late 2025.
How It Will Work
Using a digital passport will be as simple as making an Apple Pay transaction. At TSA checkpoints, travellers will tap their iPhone to a reader, transmitting their passport data securely through NFC. The encrypted protocol will let TSA systems verify the authenticity of the document without exposing other personal data.
However, there are important limitations. The digital passport won’t replace your physical one for international travel. Its main purpose will be to verify your identity for domestic flights at select airports.
Apple has confirmed that digital passport verification will initially be available only at “select TSA checkpoints,” though it hasn’t specified which airports will participate. Based on similar rollouts, it’s likely to start small before expanding nationwide.
Addressing Privacy Concerns
Some users have raised questions about security—particularly whether unlocking your iPhone at the checkpoint gives TSA agents access to your personal information.
Apple says this isn’t the case. Face ID or Touch ID only unlocks the Wallet app’s ability to transmit passport data, not the phone itself. The transaction works exactly like Apple Pay: your data is verified securely, and the phone remains locked.
In practice, what authorities can or can’t inspect on your phone depends on legal rights, not how the feature works technically.
Why It Matters
The idea of carrying a digital passport is more than just a convenience—it’s a potential step toward safer and more secure travel. A physical passport remains a prime target for theft and forgery, especially U.S. passports, which are highly valuable on the black market.
Digital passports, protected by biometric authentication, would be far harder to steal or misuse. If the system expands, travellers could rely on their iPhone for everything—wallet, ID, visa, and passport—reducing the number of valuable documents they need to carry.
Apple’s approach could also influence global adoption, much like Apple Pay accelerated the spread of contactless payments in the U.S. When users experience the convenience of tapping their phone for identity verification, demand for international digital passport support could grow quickly.
For now, the feature’s rollout will be limited—U.S.-only, domestic travel only, and restricted to certain airports. But it represents an important first step toward a more connected and digital travel experience.
While global adoption of digital passports may still be years away—perhaps a decade or more—Apple’s move will almost certainly help push the conversation forward. Just as Apple Pay reshaped payment habits, Apple Wallet’s digital passport support could redefine how we identify ourselves when we travel.
