Apple has announced that eight US states will initially support the upcoming Driver’s Licenses and State IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch feature in iOS 15. Starting with Arizona and Georgia, residents will be able to add and present their driver’s licenses and state IDs via the Apple Wallet on their iPhone (and Apple Watch). These states will be followed by Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah. There is, however, no timeframe for the arrival of this feature.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With approval from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the feature will also be enabled at select airport security checkpoints and lanes in participating airports. Adding a drivers license or state ID to the Wallet app on iPhone works the same way as adding a credit card and transit pass. Simply scan the ID or license with the iPhone’s camera. For identification purpose, the user will also be required to take a selfie and complete a series of facial and head gesture movements. Subject to approval by the issuing state the ID or license would be added to Wallet.
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If an Apple Watch is paired with the iPhone, it automatically prompts the user to complete the same steps to the Wallet app on Apple Watch. Once added, users can present their IDs or license to the TSA by tapping the Apple Watch or iPhone on the identity reader. The information requested pops up and the user is required to provide biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID).
Apple emphasizes that only the person who added the driver’s license or state ID can view or present it. The company as well as the issuing state does not know where or when these forms of identification are presented. Driver’s Licenses and State IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch is expected to arrive in iOS 15, however, availability subject to approval from participating states. Apple is working with other states in the US to make the feature available across the country.