Illinois will implement digital IDs and driver's licenses for Apple Wallet in 2025

AppleInsider

Illinois is the latest state to claim Apple Wallet users will have access to digital IDs and driver's licenses by the end of 2025.

Illinois will implement digital IDs in the Apple Wallet app by the end of 2025.

An Illinois state law took effect on January 1, 2025 that will bring digital versions of IDs and driver's licenses to Apple Wallet. Illinois is already working with Apple to make digital IDs a reality, according to a press release from the Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, as was originally discovered by 9to5mac.

Residents will be able to access their new digital IDs via Apple Wallet on their iPhone or Apple Watch. Digital IDs will be available at no cost and will be usable alongside existing physical ID cards rather than replacing them entirely.

Digital identity cards can mainly be used at select airports and TSA checkpoints within the United States, instead of a hard copy license or ID. Users will still need their physical identity cards for traffic stops or as a means of verifying age when attempting to purchase alcohol.

The Illinois Secretary of State will implement "robust testing requirements to ensure the office delivers the most secure and private product for Illinois residents."

"We're excited to have kickstarted our work with Apple - a company that shares our commitment to data security - to provide IDs in Apple Wallet that will offer convenience and privacy for Illinoisans," Giannoulias said. "This is the first component of a multi-faceted approach to deliver a state-of-the-art mobile driver's license and state ID program that leverages best-in-class technology for residents."

By implementing digital IDs and driver's licenses, Illinois will join 10 other states and territories where the option already exists. Digital IDs and driver's licenses in Apple Wallet are currently available in Arizona, Colorado, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, and Puerto Rico.

Several other states have committed to implementing digital IDs in the Apple Wallet app but have yet to deliver on this promise. This includes the likes of Connecticut, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and West Virginia. Some states, like Florida, have used proprietary digital ID formats not intended for Apple Wallet.

Support for digital identity cards in the Apple Wallet app was announced in 2021. Recently, in October 2024, the Vice President of Apple Pay revealed, among other things, that more states were working with the company to implement their digital IDs and driver's licenses in the Wallet app.



Read on AppleInsider

robin huber

You’d think California, the home of Apple would be among the first to offer this. Last year the DMV offered an eLicense, but in its own app, not the Apple wallet. And wait for it, it’s not accepted by police as evidence of a valid driver’s license! WANH-wahn-waaa. 

ios_guy80

I wish NYS would get on board with digital identity cards in the Apple Wallet.

602warren

We’ve had them in Arizona since the beginning, or very near the beginning, and the only place I’ve ever been able to use it is the airport. Which is nice, but certainly not life changing because I still carry my physical card with me or my passport when I travel. I think getting to the point where we no longer need to carry a wallet and keys is further off than we think. 

wood1208

If there is no issue with driver licenses ID security or misuse with it in general then why not all States accept it ? So much easier to carry, less expensive for DMV to produce and manage.

suntanironman

It just seems like a bad idea in certain situations. Most people’s smartphone contain very personal indication. And I know people tend to over share on social media and such, but there are things even the most addicted social media users wouldn’t want to share.

If, for example, you are pulled over by the police for a traffic infraction… with a normal physical license, you give your ID to the police and maybe they bring it back to their police cruiser to do a check. But with a license on your smartphone, do you really want to give your phone to the police? Give it to the police for them to take back to their police cruiser for a few minutes?

This seems like one of the few situations where it would be preferable to keep it old school (and carry around an actual physical ID card).

At the moment many states that have digital IDs don’t accept digital IDs as valid IDs for police interactions. Which is probably for the best.

edited January 14

macgui

I've got nothing to hide. But this doesn't mean I would or should hand over my phone so police can examine my license. I stop my friends from doing that when I just want to show one thing. Apple needs a kiosk mode to lock that or any image or images for viewing.

Police or merchants need a device for verifying some hidden rolling code that could instantly verify the authenticity of the license. There would be no need to had over the phone. A cop could use his scanner to read the phone while you held it. As if cops need one more piece of kit to carry. Maybe it could be incorporated into body cams. Merchants would have similar readers built into the POS card readers so you never let go of your phone.

Without a fast reliable way to verify the license image I really don't have a use for a digital copy. I don't see a time when DMVs of any state would stop issuing a physical license. Well until an identity chip is implanted at birth and renewed throughout your life.