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Apple Launches Driver's License, State ID Wallet Program in Arizona

Residents of The Grand Canyon State can now tap their iPhone or Apple Watch at certain TSA checkpoints.

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Arizona is the first US state to offer access to your driver's license and state ID via Apple Wallet.

Residents can now upload their documents to Wallet, then simply tap an iPhone or Apple Watch when required to present credentials at select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

To add a license or ID card, open the Wallet app, tap the plus sign, and select "Driver's License or State ID." Following the on-screen instructions, you'll be asked to take a selfie and scan the front and back of your card. Users must also complete a series of facial and head movements for added fraud prevention. The state is ultimately responsible for verifying and approving requests.

Once added to Wallet, simply tap your phone or watch at the airport's identity reader, then use Face ID or Touch ID to consent. All information is shared digitally, Apple said, so users "do not need to show or hand over their device to present their ID." The TSA also captures a picture of the traveler for authentication.

"We're thrilled to […] provide Arizonans with an easy, secure, and private way to present their ID when travelling," Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with many more states and the TSA to bring IDs in Wallet to users across the US."

Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and Puerto Rico plan to launch the feature "soon," alongside previously announced Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah. The ID feature is currently available on iPhone 8 or later running iOS 15.4, and Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 8.4 or later.

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Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

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  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
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