Apple has officially launched the highly-anticipated new Digital ID feature in Apple Wallet. The feature was first announced at WWDC and is now rolling out to everyone in the United States.
Apple’s implementation of Digital ID is powered by your US passport. Here’s how it works and where you can use it.
How to create Digital ID in Wallet with your passport
The setup process is similar to adding a driver’s license to Wallet:
Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap the Add (+) button in the upper-right corner. Choose “Driver’s License or ID Cards” from the list of options. Tap “Digital ID” and follow the on-screen steps.
Through the setup process, you’ll be asked to take a picture of your passport, as well as to use your iPhone to read the chip embedded on the back of your passport. Then, you’ll take a selfie for verification and complete a set of facial and head movements to further confirm your identity. Within a few minutes, your verification should be complete and your Digital ID will appear in the Apple Wallet app on your iPhone.
Apple also touts that all of this is done in a secure and private way. This includes the process of adding and verifying your Digital ID, as well as actually using that Digital ID.
Like all IDs in Apple Wallet, Digital ID takes advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch to help protect against tampering and theft. Digital ID data is encrypted. When users create a Digital ID, their passport data is stored on the device. Apple cannot see when and where users present their ID or what data was presented. Biometric authentication using Face ID or Touch ID also ensures that only the owner of the Digital ID can present it. Only the information needed for a transaction is presented, and the user has the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested with Face ID or Touch ID before it is shared. Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.
For example, typically when you hand over your physical ID to verify your age or identity the other person can see far more information than what they actually need. They can see your address, personal information like height and eye color, and more.
With Digital ID in Apple Wallet, only the absolutely necessary information is shared.
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