Airport security will probably always be somewhat of a hassle, but one friction point you can potentially minimize is utilizing a digital ID in place of a physical one—and if you’re an Android user, your passport added to Google Wallet’s ID pass is officially accepted by TSA.
It’s certainly convenient to not have to carry or keep track of your physical passport when you travel, and a digital passport in ID pass can get you through security screening if you don’t have a REAL ID after the requirements take effect on May 7. That said, your digital passport doesn’t completely replace your physical document, which you’ll still need when traveling internationally and in situations where you have to present identification outside of TSA.
Here’s how to digitize your passport and other forms of identification for the next time you fly.
How to add your passport to Google Wallet
To add your passport to ID pass, open Google Wallet on your Android device and tap the + icon. Tap ID > ID pass, then hit the Get Started button. The app will guide you through a series of instructions to scan your passport and your face, which will take several minutes to complete and approve.
You can also add a state-issued ID (like your driver’s license) to Google Wallet using this same process—just select ID > Driver’s license or state ID instead of ID pass.
How to use other digital IDs for travel
At the time of writing, Apple Wallet and Samsung Wallet do not support passports, and ID pass for Google Wallet is the only digital passport accepted at TSA for domestic travel. However, your driver’s license or identification card stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, or a state-specific mobile app can also get you through security screening if issued by one of the following states:
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Arizona
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California
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Colorado
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Georgia
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Hawaii
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Iowa
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Louisiana
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Maryland
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New Mexico
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New York
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Ohio
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Puerto Rico
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Utah
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Virginia
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West Virginia
To add an ID to Apple Wallet, tap the + icon in the app and hit Driver’s License or State ID. Select your eligible state, and follow the prompts. For Samsung Wallet, click the + icon, tap Digital IDs > Driver’s License/State ID, and follow the instructions to scan your ID and face and authenticate with your fingerprint or a PIN. Note that some of the states listed (like New York and Utah) require you to use a state-specific app for digital IDs instead of your device’s digital wallet.
Even if you have a digital ID, don’t count on being able to use it at every airport. Check TSA’s digital ID map before you leave home to make sure any airport you are traveling through accepts eligible digital IDs.
(On the flip side, TSA PreCheck members traveling on Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines out of a select number of airports can clear security solely on facial recognition—no physical or digital documents required.)
