It was less than a week ago that leaked materials revealed that Apple would eventually support IDs and driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet. But rather than let the rumor mill continue to churn with the news, Apple today released a press release explaining that the feature will be available soon. There’s even a link on the DMV’s site where you can sign up.
The page that was circulating last week has finally gone live. Now you can visit the Apple Wallet website to learn how to add your ID to the app. Apple walks you through the reasons why you might want to implement this feature. It mentions how much easier it is to “prove your age and identity” in person, for example at bars and concerts, when renting a car, or verifying your age on a booze delivery. This Are Convenience! The ID feature is available on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Apple gives its users a quick reminder of the additional privacy and security features it has enabled for this feature. Apple says only state-issuing authorities will see the information they need to verify digital ID use. All data is then encrypted on the device and there are no tracking mechanisms in place from either Apple or the state you use the card in. Think of this as a physical card; it’s just directly connected to your phone, not sitting around unused in a wallet. To that end, Apple’s support pages remind you to remove your digital driver’s license or state ID from the iPhone when you switch to another one.
The same support page also describes the verification process. Your iPhone will ask you to perform a series of head and facial movements to confirm your identity. This will help determine that you are a three-dimensional figure and not a representation of yourself. “For example,” says Apple, “you may be asked to smile or turn your head to the right.” Once you do that, the iPhone will ask you to take a selfie against a plain, neutral background.
IDs in Apple Wallet are currently available in five states, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio. California will be the sixth state to join the list. It will initially roll out as part of California’s mobile driver’s license program before rolling out to the rest of the state.
