Apple has announced the upcoming launch of a digital passport technology. This was stated by Apple Pay's vice president of technology, Jennifer Bailey. She reported that the company aims to make identity verification a digital process and will begin offering this service to US residents in the current phase. Apple seeks to replace the physical wallet with a digital one through its 'Apple Wallet' application. This will not only include bank cards but also passports, ID cards, and car keys. At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple confirmed that the technology will be available with the iOS 26 update, although it was not included in the initial release. Jennifer Bailey confirmed that work on the technology is still ongoing. According to tech publications, the feature will work in the same way as the Apple Pay system: users simply tap their phone on a dedicated reader to authenticate their data. Apple clarified that the digital passport will not replace the physical document at this stage. It cannot be used for international travel but only for domestic flights within the United States. Furthermore, this technology will only be available in a select number of airports, the list of which will be determined by the relevant authorities later. This is not Apple's first initiative to digitize identification documents. In 2022, the company participated in the launch of a technology, exclusive to the United States, that allows adding US driver's licenses and ID cards to the 'Apple Wallet' app.
