Apple Delays iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Delays iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature

iOS 26 was widely released today, but the new feature that lets you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app has been delayed.

ios 26 digital id passport wallet
Apple updated its iOS 26 features page today to indicate that the "Digital ID" feature for U.S. passports will be coming in a later software update:

Digital ID will be available in a software update with U.S. passports only.

Apple did not mention a specific version, but hopefully the feature arrives in iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2.

Until now, the feature had been listed on the iOS 26 page in the present tense.

After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

It will also be possible to use the Digital ID feature for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
ios 26 4 yellow

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4

Wednesday March 18, 2026 11:56 am PDT by
Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes, giving us final details on what's included in the update. Apple Music - Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your...

Top Rated Comments

bailsafe Avatar
27 weeks ago

Absolutely no way would I travel without a physical passport. The fun of traveling to a rural hotel in Croatia when they ask for your passport and you show your iphone. Really bad idea. Even an American airport would probably freak.
That's not what this feature is intended for, and they're very clear about that.

"However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes."
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
27 weeks ago

The convenience is nice.

But in the current climate you would be a fool to hand, show or even unlock your device anywhere near a US law enforcement officer.

Paper boarding passes and passports all the way.
Please read and inform yourself about how this works.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
27 weeks ago

As cool as it is to live in the future, I have yet to go through a TSA checkpoint that was equipped to scan my digital ID. YMMV
This is how it was with Apple Pay in 2015. Now (except for evil Walmart) Apple Pay is ubiquitous.


Nothing of significant complexity is ever built in a day.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yukari Avatar
27 weeks ago

My state allows digital IDs on phones. I have one, but I will never ever use it in front of law enforcement officers. It's a bad idea to hand over your iphone to any leo. For example, during a traffic stop, you hand over your iphone to a leo. He may access not only your ID but also your photos, emails, and instagram. Since you've voluntarily handed over and unlocked your phone, it may be legal for them view its contents. This applies to digital passports.

I will keep a digital passport in my phone just in case, but I will never use it.
You do NOT hand over your phone. They are suppose to have a device where you simply tap (like using a credit card in Apple Wallet).

Why do people keep thinking you have to hand over the phone???
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
27 weeks ago

Disappointing Apple, very disappointing.
Do you know that the delay is on Apples dime or on the government's???
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
What_Is_George Avatar
27 weeks ago

As cool as it is to live in the future, I have yet to go through a TSA checkpoint that was equipped to scan my digital ID. YMMV
I have, and it is kinda cool. I like the idea that it can’t get scanned by anything else and no one looks at my id. However the returning airport didn’t have it and if it was all I brought I would have been screwed.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Rumors | App Store | Iphone | Openai | Iphone