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ZDNET Highlights
- Apple’s new digital ID stores your passport data on your iPhone.
- The ID is currently accepted at 250 TSA checkpoints in the US.
- You will still need your physical passport for international travel.
A physical passport is a cumbersome document to carry with you when you need to prove your identity to someone. Now, Apple has officially launched a way to store your passport information directly on your iPhone.
Available today, new digital id Allows you to scan the photo page of your physical passport and the chip embedded in it. A selfie takes a photo of you to prove that you are the same person as the person depicted in the passport. If everything looks good, your digital ID is added to the Wallet app on your iPhone. You can then present the ID through your iPhone or Apple Watch.
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Valid for domestic flights only
Seems convenient. But there are some limitations.
The digital version of your password is not meant to replace your physical passport. Rather, its purpose is to provide you with an additional form of ID that you can store on your iPhone. Here, a digital ID serves to prove your identity if you don’t have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID.
Currently, Digital ID is accepted as a beta method by over 250 TSA checkpoints at airports in the US. However, the ID is only valid for domestic flights to prove your identity. You cannot use it as a real passport for international travel or border crossing. In those cases, you will still need to present your physical passport.
The launch of digital ID for passports follows a similar feature for driver’s licenses and state IDs. Using Apple’s Wallet app, residents of many US states can scan their ID or license and store it on their iPhone. Some states offer their own variations for storing digital wallets.
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Storing your passport information on your phone sure sounds convenient. But is this a threat to privacy?
According to Apple, like credit cards and other IDs stored in Apple Wallet, Digital ID taps into the privacy and security features built into the iPhone and Apple Watch. The security measures in place are designed to prevent the tampering and theft of your personal information. The digital ID data itself is encrypted, while the passport information is stored only on your device.
When you try to show or scan your digital ID, you’ll need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID for the process. Only the information necessary for the transaction is shared, which you can review before authorization. You don’t need to unlock, show, or hand over your iPhone to present your ID. Additionally, Apple cannot determine where and when you used your Digital ID or what data was shared.
How does this all work?
To get started, open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap the + icon at the top to add a new card. On the next screen, select Driver’s License and ID Card. After this select Digital ID and then tap on Continue.
You will be asked to scan the photo page of your passport. Line your phone up on the page, and the scan will be taken automatically.
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Next, place your iPhone with the barcode on the inside back cover of your password at the bottom. Give your phone permission to read the chip, which it should do automatically as long as you position it properly. This step can be tricky, as you need to line up your phone properly for the chip to be read.
Now it’s selfie time. Tap Continue to take a photo of your face. You will then have to perform several facial maneuvers to capture different aspects of your face. Once you’re done, the data is verified to make sure you match the person in the passport.
To show your Digital ID in person, double-click the Side button or press the Home button to access Apple Wallet, and then choose Digital ID. You can then hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near an identification reader or scanner, view the requested information, and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to proceed.
what comes next
You can also get details obtained from your physical passport, such as your date of birth, age, gender, ID number, expiry date and nationality. For that, open the ID in the Wallet app and tap on the Info icon. After being authenticated via Face ID or Touch ID, the information appears on the screen.
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In the future, Apple aims to expand the use of digital ID. This means you’ll be able to verify your identity at other types of businesses and organizations both in person and online.
For now, the biggest drawback is that you can’t use your digital passport as a replacement for your physical passport when traveling abroad. But keep in mind that this is the first phase of a work in progress. Additionally, such expansion would require a global standard to support the digital documents required for purchases from other countries and international travel.
