Apple reveals first states to use Apple Wallet for ID, driver's licence

Apple has announced that Arizona and Georgia are to support Apple Wallet for state ID and drivers' licences in iOS 15, with six more states to follow.

Apple has long been preparing to have passports and other ID stored on iPhones, and iOS 15 will add support for it. Now the company has announced seven states that have signed on to accept ID through Apple Wallet.

Arizona and Georgia will be first, followed by Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah. At the same time, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is enabling selected airport security checkpoints to work with Apple Wallet.

"The addition of driver's licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, in a statement.

"We are excited that the TSA and so many states are already on board to help bring this to life for travelers across the country using only their iPhone and Apple Watch," she continued, "and we are already in discussions with many more states as we're working to offer this nationwide in the future."

"This new and innovative mobile driver's license and state ID initiative with Apple and states around the country will enable a more seamless airport security screening experience for travelers," said David Pekoske, TSA Administrator. "This initiative marks a major milestone by TSA to provide an additional level of convenience for the traveler by enabling more opportunities for touchless TSA airport security screening."

Apple has not announced a date by which the states, or the TSA, will implement their support of Apple Wallet. It will require iOS 15, which Apple is expected to release publicly alongside the launch of the "iPhone 13."

63 Comments

Xed 2871 comments · 4 Years

About 3 years ago

1) Most of those aren't the states I'd have thought would be first to support digital IDs.

2) Even once this is enabled by the TSA the inconsistency of the TSA across airports will have me bring a physical ID with me for a very, very, very long time. Good as a backup, I guess.

ravnorodom 720 comments · 8 Years

Yay. Connecticut! My state. It would be a good backup in case I left my wallet at home. It happens.

llama 105 comments · 16 Years

Come on, Virginia! I doubt they will join this willingly. After 9/11 Virginia has been a PITA for IDs as apparently we were the best place for the hijackers to get their IDs.

602warren 72 comments · 8 Years

Xed said:

1) Most of those aren't the states I'd have thought would be first to support digital IDs.

2) Even once this is enabled by the TSA the inconsistency of the TSA across airports will have me bring a physical ID with me for a very, very, very long time. Good as a backup, I guess.

Same. Never would have thought Arizona would be first in line. I live in Phoenix and it shocked me to read that. I’m excited for this update as it will allow me to carry one less thing around with me for every day errands. For traveling ill bring my ID as a backup for sure. The only thing keeping me tied to a physical wallet was the ID in case I got pulled over or it was needed as verification for an online order pickup. 98% of the stores I frequent use Apple Pay (the major exception being stupid Frys/Kroger) so carrying around just my phone/watch would be perfect. My major gripe is how long its going to take me to stop panicking that I’ve left my wallet somewhere and then remembering its just at home. Haha.

d-rey 11 comments · 3 Years

Love the idea. I already use Apple Pay everywhere I can. How do the state laws address this, though? If I voluntarily hand law enforcement my phone to show them my ID, have I just given them the authority to go through it?