Virginia to Join States Supporting Apple Wallet Digital IDs

Virginia has officially signed on to adopt Apple Wallet support for driver’s licenses and state IDs, positioning the Commonwealth to become the 15th U.S. state to offer the feature [1, 3]. While the state has committed to the program, officials have not yet disclosed a specific timeframe for when residents will be able to add their credentials to their iPhone or Apple Watch [1, 4].

Key takeaways

• Virginia is one of seven states currently confirmed to adopt Apple Wallet IDs, alongside Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Arkansas [1, 3].
• The digital ID feature is currently available in 13 states and Puerto Rico, with the most recent addition being Illinois in November 2025 [1, 2].
• Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in over 250 U.S. airports for domestic travel, though physical IDs remain necessary for other uses [1, 2].
• Users can set up the feature by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus sign, and selecting "Driver's License and ID Cards" [1, 4].

Expanding Digital Credential Access

The integration of state-issued IDs into Apple Wallet allows residents to present proof of identity or age at select businesses, apps, and airport security checkpoints [1, 2]. Currently, the feature is supported in Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, California, Iowa, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Illinois [1, 4]. While these states have successfully rolled out the technology, the timeline for the next wave of states remains largely unannounced, with the exception of Kentucky, which is expected to launch its support this summer [3].

Because the adoption process requires collaboration between Apple and individual state governments, progress can vary significantly [3]. Beyond the states that have already signed on, several others—including Alabama, Florida, and New Jersey—are exploring legislation or study activities related to digital driver’s licenses [3]. In some instances, these efforts involve proprietary digital ID platforms that are currently working toward interoperability with broader systems [3].

Why it matters

Digital IDs in Apple Wallet are designed primarily for convenience at TSA checkpoints, where they are accepted at hundreds of airports nationwide for domestic travel [1, 2]. However, Apple notes that these digital versions are not accepted by law enforcement and lack many other use cases, meaning users must continue to carry their physical driver’s license or state ID [1, 2].

For residents in states where the feature has not yet launched, Apple introduced a solution in iOS 26.1 that allows users to create a digital ID based on a U.S. passport [2, 3]. This digital passport ID can be used for identity and age verification at participating TSA checkpoints, though it does not replace a physical passport and cannot be used for international travel [1, 2].