The wallet on your iPhone can now hold everything—and we mean everything—credit and debit cards, transit cards, event tickets, keys, and even your ID.
In a recent announcement, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias revealed that Illinois digital IDs are officially coming, and they’re available sooner than you think.
Starting Wednesday (yes, tomorrow), Illinois residents will be able to add their IDs to their Apple Wallets.
Giannoulias stated:
For anyone who has ever left the house without their wallet, fumbled for their ID at airport security, or wished government services were just a little more modern, today changes everything.
Starting tomorrow for the first time ever, Illinoisans will be able to add their driver’s license or state ID directly to their Apple Wallet, and this is just the beginning, the first step in bringing mobile IDs to the State of Illinois.
According to Giannoulias, digital IDs will be secured by the same privacy and encryption technologies employed for tap-to-pay and digital airline boarding passes.
Residents will need to use their iPhones to scan their physical driver’s license or state ID cards and take a selfie. This information will be securely sent to the issuing state for verification.
For one more security step, residents will also need to complete a series of facial and head movements.
How to add an Illinois digital ID to Apple Wallet
- Tap the “plus” button in the top right corner.
- Select “driver’s license and ID cards.”
- Follow the prompts to display your license or state ID.
Once approved, residents can then present their ID using their iPhone or Apple Watch!
Could you use an Illinois digital ID at the airport?
According to officials with the TSA, the agency does accept mobile identification at airports, but still encourages fliers to carry physical ID cards as well.
As for REAL ID-compliant cards, mobile identification can also be used in those situations, but again, officials urge residents to bring physical copies of their identification.
