Apple will soon allow iPhone owners to add digital versions of their US passports to their phones, said Jennifer Bailey, vice president for Apple Pay and Wallet, on Sunday.
The digital document will be compliant with REAL ID, but you'll still need a physical US passport to fly internationally or cross US land borders with Canada and Mexico.
Apple wants to broaden how people can use its online Wallet feature for identification purposes. You can already use a digital ID for your driver's license in certain states, and Bailey said Apple wants people to use Wallet for concert tickets, student IDs, house keys, car keys and more.
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Not for international travel
When the feature becomes available, iPhone users can scan their physical US passport to add it to the Wallet app, creating a digital ID that's compliant with REAL ID. When flying domestically, travelers can show that digital version from their iPhone or Apple Watch, instead of using their physical passport, at participating TSA checkpoints. REAL ID is required to fly within the US and to US territories such as Puerto Rico.
However, travelers will not be able to use their digital ID to fly internationally, not even to Mexico or Canada. When crossing borders, you'll still need your physical US passport to enter and leave the country.
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