- Apple announced at WWDC 2025 that iOS 26 will introduce Digital Passports in Apple Wallet, allowing users to store and present digital versions of their passports for select domestic travel and identity verification scenarios.
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed its readiness to accept digital passports for security screenings on domestic flights. Apple emphasized that the feature is "not a replacement for your physical passport," and that end-to-end encryption ensures passport data is secure and never leaves your device without explicit user consent. Information is stored in the iPhone's Secure Enclave and Face ID or Touch ID is required for every use of the Digital Passport.
- Privacy advocates, including Alexis Hancock from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), expressed reservations about the implications of a "digital-first" approach to identity documentation. Hancock highlighted concerns that such integration may overlook scenarios where individuals prefer not to tie their identity documentation to their devices. She acknowledged the convenience of the feature but warned that enforcement entities might overstep with this technology.
- Despite Apple's assurances over its commitment to user privacy and security, Hancock pointed to potential vulnerabilities, such as situations where individuals might be coerced into unlocking their phones or compelled to present their digital ID. She noted that law enforcement agencies can access the contents of many locked iPhones, raising concerns about privacy and autonomy.
- The introduction of digital passports reflects a broader trend toward the normalization of digital ID as a prerequisite for everyday interactions. While Apple aims to provide a seamless and secure user experience, privacy advocates warn of the potential for increased surveillance and centralized identity control as digital ID systems become more embedded in daily infrastructure.
Apple has unveiled one of its most consequential features to date: passport-based digital identification in Apple Wallet.
In its recent annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple revealed that iOS 26 will introduce support for Digital Passports in Apple Wallet this fall. The update will allow users to store and present digital versions of their passports for select domestic travel and identity verification scenarios.
Apple emphasized that the feature is not a replacement for physical passport, but it will function as an official ID at participating Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints and in apps that require proof of age or identity. The TSA confirmed its readiness to accept digital passports for security screenings on domestic flights.
According to Apple, the end-to-end encryption ensures that passport data is secure and never leaves the device without explicit user consent. Information is stored in iPhone's Secure Enclave, the same hardware-backed storage used for sensitive data like Apple Pay and Health records. Face ID or Touch ID is also required for every use of the Digital Passport. (Related: U.K. government to launch digital ID wallet this summer.)
Privacy advocates express reservations over a "digital-first" approach
The company envisions this as the next step toward a frictionless digital ecosystem where identity, navigation and travel logistics are handled seamlessly within a single device. But as digital credentials grow more capable and more accepted, privacy advocates warn of potential trade-offs.
"Embedding identity tools in these conveniences risks masking the deeper issue: The transition from physical autonomy to digital traceability. As digital ID becomes more embedded in daily infrastructure, the distinction between voluntary use and de facto requirement continues to erode," Ken Macon wrote in his article for Reclaim the Net. "The question is no longer whether digital ID will be part of daily routines, but how far its reach will extend once it becomes normalized on millions of phones."
Similarly, Alexis Hancock of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) expressed reservations about the implications of a "digital-first" approach to identity documentation.
In an email statement, Hancock highlighted concerns that such integration may overlook scenarios where individuals prefer not to tie their identity documentation to their devices. "The main privacy concern I have is how 'digital-first' will overlook the scenarios in the near future where people don't want to tie identity documentation to their devices if they do not wish to," she wrote.
Hancock acknowledged the convenience of the feature but warned that TSA or other enforcement entities might overstep with this technology. "I want people to have nice things, but there's a lot of factors in a digital-first world [that] we have to consider at each step," she concluded.
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