(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)

Apple's Wallet app is set to embrace a new era of digital identity with the introduction of a“Digital Passport” capability that will allow holders of United States passports to store their credential securely on an iPhone or Apple Watch. The innovation is expected to ship with iOS 26 and brings transformative implications for travel and identity verification, although its roll-out and functionality remain subject to constraints.

Under the new system, a user will be able to scan the data-page and embedded security chip of their physical U. S. passport and, following biometric verification via Face ID or Touch ID, generate a credential stored in the device's secure element. Apple says this version of the passport will conform to the ICAO DTC-1 standard and can be presented for identity purposes at select domestic airport checkpoints operated by the Transportation Security Administration. The company qualifies the feature as adding convenience, not replacing the physical passport-or use for international travel.

The rollout follows Apple's broader push into digital identity, expanding from driver's licences and state-issued IDs into federal travel documents. At the annual developer event, Apple outlined Wallet's upcoming travel-centric enhancements, including digital boarding passes with embedded airport maps, luggage tracking integrations, and Live Activity support for real-time travel updates. The passport functionality is one of the most prominent additions announced.

Travel industry observers see this move as part of a broader trend toward mobile identity credentials, where smartphones become central verification devices rather than carriers of separate documents. Apple's support of the W3C Digital Credentials API and its commitment to interoperability standards signal that the company intends this to be more than a niche accessory.

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While the domestic appeal is clear, questions remain. Apple states that the digital passport will only be accepted at TSA checkpoints for domestic air travel in the U. S., and will not substitute for a physical passport at border crossings or international flights. Moreover, the feature is currently listed in the iOS 26 roadmap as“coming in a software update” rather than arriving with the initial release of iOS 26-raising uncertainty over timing.

Support is also dependent on hardware and regional eligibility; most states will require at least an iPhone 8 running iOS 16.5 or later, while others may impose stricter requirements such as an iPhone XS. The TSA has confirmed that more than 250 checkpoint locations will accept mobile credentials, although the exact list of airports supporting the digital passport has not been publicly detailed.

Privacy and security are central to Apple's pitch. The company emphasises that the credential is encrypted and stored in device hardware isolated from broader-access systems. Only a“tap to present” action allows sharing of required fields with a verifier, and Apple states that no physical document is removed from the user's control. However, industry analysts note that uptake will depend on credential-verifier adoption, regulatory alignment, and user trust.

Competition is also heating up: Google Wallet already supports U. S. and U. K. passports as digital IDs, though similar to Apple's approach the feature does not yet eliminate the need for a physical document at international borders. The move by Apple may accelerate adoption of digital identity credentials across the travel ecosystem.

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