iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature is Still Not Available

Sunday September 14, 2025 12:26 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

iOS 26 will be widely released tomorrow, but the new feature that lets you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app is still not available.

ios 26 digital id passport wallet
The "Digital ID" feature is not functional in the iOS 26 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, despite being listed on the iOS 26 features page in the present tense. Hopefully, it is either enabled with a server-side update when iOS 26 is released tomorrow, or Apple provides an update on when it will be available.

Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

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.

The passport-based Digital ID can also be used for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

Apple said the feature would also be available on the Apple Watch, starting with watchOS 26.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26

Tag: Apple Wallet

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Top Rated Comments

jole

15 months ago

As long as digital IDs continue to have "you should still carry physical ID card" or something along those lines in the terms of service, the value remains 0.

For example: I do have a digital California DL (both the Apple Wallet and DMV app versions). They sometimes are accepted at TSA checkpoints. Sometimes they are not. With this, I would never go to airport without a physical ID.

Either it is accepted 100% of the time or it is useless.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

jaytv111

15 months ago

As long as digital IDs continue to have "you should still carry physical ID card" or something along those lines in the terms of service, the value remains 0.

For example: I do have a digital California DL (both the Apple Wallet and DMV app versions). They sometimes are accepted at TSA checkpoints. Sometimes they are not. With this, I would never go to airport without a physical ID.

Either it is accepted 100% of the time or it is useless.

No one is saying you can go without a physical ID card. It’s not useless because sometimes it can be used; however since the tech is new it still has times when the readers aren’t working, or the TSA agents don’t know the system, or whatever.

This is like going back to 2015 and saying if Apple Pay isn’t accepted 100% of the time it’s useless. And it still isn’t accepted at Walmart! Stupid Walmart.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Justin Cymbal

15 months ago

This is such an awesome new feature that Apple has added to iOS 26

I currently live in Rhode Island, and we don’t have the mobile drivers license feature (as of yet) but the ability to use a passport in place of a drivers license at the airports that do accept this feature will be great to have

I fly to Cleveland Hopkins airport pretty regularly to visit my relatives so I’ll be able to use this when I fly there in the future

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

al256

15 months ago

As long as digital IDs continue to have "you should still carry physical ID card" or something along those lines in the terms of service, the value remains 0.

For example: I do have a digital California DL (both the Apple Wallet and DMV app versions). They sometimes are accepted at TSA checkpoints. Sometimes they are not. With this, I would never go to airport without a physical ID.

Either it is accepted 100% of the time or it is useless.

You can also use it for apps and web apps to verify your age.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

gtmead09

15 months ago

Well, iOS 26 Developer Beta and Public Beta have been nightmares, and the Release Candidate is nowhere near being ready for release.

This is not accurate, been using it since beta 4 and currently on the RC. Some things here and there, but is is no where near a nightmare. It is ready to go tomorrow and I would imagine a .0.1 will follow in a week or two.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

George Bailey

15 months ago

My Pixel has this capability for years now

That's "years" as in (maybe) 0.8 years.

* December 2024: The feature began its broader rollout to eligible Android users.
* April 2025: Google confirmed an expansion of digital ID support, noting that the ID pass from a U.S. passport could be used at supported TSA checkpoints for domestic travel.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature is Still Not Available

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