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Apple Says a Digital Version of Your Passport Is Coming Soon to iPhones

The feature will be Real ID compliant, but you still need a physical passport to leave the country.

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Apple says Digital ID will help domestic flyers get through TSA checkpoints quicker.

 Apple/Screenshot by CNET

Apple will soon allow iPhone owners to add digital versions of their US passports to their phones, said Jennifer Bailey, vice president for Apple Pay and Wallet, on Sunday. 

The digital document will comply with Real ID, but you'll still need a physical US passport to fly internationally or cross US land borders with Canada and Mexico.

Apple wants to broaden how people can use its online Wallet feature for identification purposes. You can already use a digital ID for your driver's license in certain states, and Bailey said Apple wants people to use Wallet for concert tickets, student IDs, house keys, car keys and more.

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Not for international travel

When the feature becomes available, iPhone users can scan their physical US passport to add it to the Wallet app, creating a digital ID compliant with Real ID. When flying domestically, travelers can show that digital version from their iPhone or Apple Watch at participating TSA checkpoints instead of using their physical passport. Real ID is required to fly within the US and to US territories such as Puerto Rico. 

However, travelers cannot use their digital ID to fly internationally, not even to Mexico or Canada. You'll still need your physical US passport to enter and leave the country when crossing borders.

Read more: These States Will Let Your iPhone Be Your Driver's License

Expert: 'I don't see a downside'

Longtime travel expert Pauline Frommer, publisher of Frommers.com and Frommer's travel books, said the passport digital ID "sounds like a wonderful new convenience."

"I know many will say: well, what if your phone gets stolen?" Frommer told CNET. "But the fact is, smartphone theft has become much less prevalent, thanks to security measures that make it harder to reprogram stolen phones. Maybe I'm being naive, but I don't see a downside to this."

Although the new digital ID feature won't allow people to fly or drive to other countries, Frommer said there's still a benefit. 

"They're simply another option for the folks who don't have a Real ID driver's license," Frommer said.

Convenience and risk

While relying on Apple Wallet might be convenient, there are risks, according to the Identity Management Institute, a global identity and access management organization. Possible dangers of digital ID wallets include security breaches, identity theft and data privacy issues. Losing your device is another majsignificantsk.

The organization said that people using digital ID wallets must take several precautions, which are good tips for any online activity.

  • Use strong, unique passwords or PINs.
  • Enable two-factor authentication.
  • Keep devices and software up to date.
  • Be cautious about where you're making digital transactions. Verify that you're shopping or otherwise using your digital ID at legitimate sites.