Those of you hoping that the release of iOS 26 would finally let you store a virtual passport on your phone are out of luck. While the software has been released to all compatible iPhones, the ability to add a U.S. passport to Apple Wallet has been delayed.
The iOS 26 features page has been updated, noting that "Digital ID will be available in a software update with U.S. passports only." In other words, the feature is not yet available, and we'll have to wait for a future iOS 26 update to take advantage of it. Apple hasn't specified which one, however. So it could be iOS 26.1, iOS 26.2, or some other future update.
How do digital passports work?
As you may have figured out, Apple's Digital ID feature is a way of storing an official copy of your ID in the Apple Wallet app — and in this case, it's a passport. Unfortunately, its use will be very limited, as it won't be able to do all the things your physical passport can do. But that doesn't mean it's totally useless.
According to Apple, the Digital ID will only be viable at TSA checkpoints in "select U.S. airports" and will only be valid as a way to verify your identity for domestic travel. In other words, if you turn up at the wrong airport or attempt to get on an international flight with a digital passport, you're going to be sent straight home.
The TSA website doesn't feature a list of airports that will support digital passports, but I suspect there will be crossover with the ones that accept digital driving licenses. Digital ID is available in over 250 airports around the U.S., though different states have different eligibility criteria. For example, Arkansas only accepts the Arkansas Mobile ID, while Hawaii only accepts Apple Wallet. Others, such as Colorado and Maryland, support Google Wallet, Apple Wallet, and Samsung Wallet.
The TSA also notes that you should still carry a valid ID with you at all times, which makes the digital version a little less useful. Though considering your phone likely holds your boarding pass and flight details, it is a little more convenient to have your ID stored there, too.
What other benefits will a digital passport have?
While travel has been a key focus, it's not the only time a virtual passport could be beneficial. After all, passports can also be used to verify your identity and age in other places. Apple says that its virtual passports will be secure, private and compliant with Real ID. So within the U.S., it should be as good as a physical copy.
In the future, you may be able to use that digital passport at real-world locations with strict age restrictions, like a bar, or for verifying your identity in apps or online. That could mean confirming you are the person in question when applying for a credit card, or to bypass the age verification gates that have started popping up online if you live in certain countries or states.
Having it stored in your mobile wallet means that you don't need to dig out your physical ID or risk it getting lost or stolen. Because getting a replacement passport or ID can be a whole ordeal, especially if you're far from home.
So when will Apple's digital passports arrive?
Right now, we just don't know. The feature was missing from the iOS 26 beta, and up until recently, it was listed as a present feature on the iOS 26 feature page — not a future one. Since we don't know what the holdup is, we can't actually predict when it's going to arrive. Hopefully, it's not going to be delayed as much as Siri has been.
Hopefully, though, we'll see it land in future versions of the iOS 26 beta, which should give us an idea of when to expect digital passports to arrive in the public version of the software. But for now, we're just going to have to be patient and settle for using our paper passports and other forms of mobile ID for the time being.
More from Tom's Guide
- Samsung Galaxy S26 may not come with this upgrade — and I can't believe this is happening again
- iOS 26's new Adaptive Power mode is enabled by default on iPhone 17 — here’s what that means
- iPhone 17 delays — how long will you have to wait if you order today?
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