Apple will soon allow iPhone owners to add digital versions of their US passports to their phones. said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Walleton Sunday.
The digital document will match the Real ID, but you will still need a physical US passport to fly internationally or cross US land borders with Canada and Mexico.
Apple wants to expand the use of the online wallet feature for identification purposes. You can already use a digital ID for your driver's license in some states, and Bailey said Apple wants people to use Wallet for concert tickets, student ID cards, house keys, car keys and more.
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Not for international travel
When this feature becomes available, iPhone users will be able to scan their physical US passport to add it to the Wallet app, creating a Real ID-compatible digital ID. Travelers flying domestically can present this digital version from their iPhone or Apple Watch at participating TSA checkpoints instead of using their physical passport. Real ID is required for flights within the US and US territories such as Puerto Rico.
However, travelers cannot use their digital ID for international flights, even to Mexico or Canada. You will still need a physical US passport to enter and exit the country when crossing borders.
Read more: In these states, your iPhone will become your driver's license
Expert: “I don’t see any flaws”
Longtime travel expert Pauline Frommer, publisher Frommers.com and Frommer's travel books, said the digital passport ID “sounds like a great new convenience.”
“I know many people will say: well, what if your phone is stolen?” Frommer told CNET. “But the fact is that smartphone thefts have become much less common thanks to security measures that make it difficult to reprogram stolen phones. I may be naive, but I don’t see any downside to it.”
While the new digital ID feature won't allow people to fly or travel to other countries, Frommer said there is still a benefit.
“It’s just another option for people who don’t have a Real ID driver’s license,” Frommer said.
Convenience and risk
According to experts, using Apple Wallet may be convenient, but it comes with risks. Identity Management Instituteglobal identity and access management organization. Possible dangers of digital ID wallets include security breaches, identity theft, and data privacy issues. Losing a device is another major issue.
The organization said people using digital ID wallets should take a number of precautions, which is good advice for any online activity.
- Use strong, unique passwords or PINs.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- Keep devices and software up to date.
- Be careful where you make digital transactions. Make sure you make purchases or otherwise use your digital ID on legitimate sites.
