Google announced mid-September that it will soon begin beta testing a new feature for its popular Google Wallet mobile app—the ability to save digital passports, allowing travelers to pass through select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints with greater ease. The company rolled out the ability to save digital versions of state-issued IDs to the app from a handful of states last year including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland, and is now expanding to give travelers additional options.
To create a digital passport ID pass, Google Wallet users can select the prompt in the app to “create an ID pass with your U.S. passport” and follow the instructions to scan the security chip in the back of their passport and verify their identity. Once their identity is verified, users are notified that their passport ID pass is ready, typically within a few minutes. Google says it is working with partners to make this feature usable in situations beyond airport identification, such as for car rentals, account recovery, and more. The company says it is also important to note that for now, while the digital passport is convenient to use, it is not a replacement for a physical ID, and travelers should still carry this with them for the time being. For those concerned with security, note that all ID passes are stored encrypted; users must authenticate them using either a fingerprint, PIN, or passcode for the ID to be viewable or sharable.
Select U.S. airports in 20 states currently support the use of digital IDs at their TSA checkpoints, including:
- Los Angeles International Airport—Los Angeles, California
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport—Phoenix, Arizona
- Denver International Airport—Denver, Colorado
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport—Dallas, Texas
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—Atlanta, Georgia
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport—Chicago, Illinois
- John F. Kennedy International Airport—New York, New York
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport—Detroit, Michigan
Travelers can visit TSA’s website for the full list of participating U.S. airports.
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