Apple Showcases How Digital IDs Work in Wallet, Canadians Can Only Dream

Apple recently launched a dedicated website to showcase a new feature in iOS 15 and watchOS 8 that lets users in participating U.S. states add their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on their iPhone and Apple Watch.

“The future of Wallet is no wallet at all. You can already add boarding passes, vaccination cards, and credit or debit cards to Wallet. And now, you can add your driver’s license or state ID,” says Apple on the website, which explains how digital IDs work in the Wallet app and how you can add yours. “Presenting your ID just got that easy.”

The feature was first announced alongside iOS 15 at WWDC 2021 last year. Apple announced the first U.S. states that would support the feature back in September, but the Cupertino, California-based tech giant delayed digital ID support in the Wallet app to early 2022 a couple of months later in November.

The digital ID feature for Apple Wallet finally launched in the U.S. last month, making its debut in the state of Arizona. So far, Apple has not provided a release timeline for other U.S. states.

Apple’s website details how to add an Arizona ID to your iPhone, plus how to present your ID to TSA with iPhone as well. It’s a glimpse into our digital future when we can ditch physical cards.

Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and Puerto Rico plan to roll out the functionality in the near future, with Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah also preparing to add support for it at some point.

Apple previously said it was in discussions with many more U.S. states as it hopes to offer the feature nationwide in the future.

Unfortunately for those north of the border, there is still no word yet on if the new Wallet feature will ever make its way to Canada (can you imagine how much red tape would be involved to even consider this here?).

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Milan P
Milan P
4 years ago

Ontario is getting digital ID’s later this year sometime. Wonder if it’ll be compatible with Apple’s system

It's Me
It's Me
Reply to  Milan P
4 years ago

One would hope so. Hopefully they aren’t forced to wait for other platforms first.

sukisszoze
sukisszoze
4 years ago

Just make sure your device is not out of battery!

Laura Nauder
Laura Nauder
Reply to  sukisszoze
4 years ago

iPhone X and newer have reserve power to allow you to use certain cards in your wallet even with your phone turned off. I wonder if Identity will be added to the list of exceptions.

medicalmechanica
medicalmechanica
Reply to  Laura Nauder
4 years ago

really? is it true for a watch 7 too?

erth
erth
4 years ago

we know if the banks have anything to do with it, it will be years before we get it… governments are just as bad though.

Mrleblanc
Mrleblanc
Reply to  erth
4 years ago

Why would bank have anything to do with this ? Also Canada was one of the first country to get Apple Pay and litteraly 99% of Canadian bank adopted it.

Laura Nauder
Laura Nauder
Reply to  Mrleblanc
4 years ago

Less than 66% of the banks adopted it within the first year of launch in Canada. We didn’t get to 90% until 5 years post-launch. We are not at 99% even today…no country is.

Mrleblanc
Mrleblanc
Reply to  Laura Nauder
4 years ago

66% in the first year was huge lmao. 66% of bank cover probably 90% of Canadian, nobody care about the small credit union nobody use.

Country like France had to wait 5 years just to have 1-2 major bank adopt it.

Mrleblanc
Mrleblanc
Reply to  Laura Nauder
4 years ago

66% in the first year was huge lmao. 66% of bank cover probably 90% of Canadian, nobody care about the small credit union nobody use.

Country like France had to wait 5 years just to have 1-2 major bank adopt it.

SOB
SOB
Reply to  Mrleblanc
4 years ago

I know banks initially resisted cuz Apple was taking a huge cut per transaction. Then either them or Visa or MC tried to come out with their own system that never got adopted…..thank god!!!

Mrleblanc
Mrleblanc
Reply to  erth
4 years ago

Why would bank have anything to do with this ? Also Canada was one of the first country to get Apple Pay and litteraly 99% of Canadian bank adopted it.

erth
erth
Reply to  Mrleblanc
4 years ago

do you really know what you are talking about? the banks in canada have dragged their feet on all things apple. and since they are just a “arm” of the federal government, you can expect the same from them. you should really try to research prior to posting.

Mrleblanc
Mrleblanc
Reply to  erth
4 years ago

Are you actually retarded ? Bank are not an “arm” of the government lmao. Never heard of something so stupid.

Also your Passport, Driver Licence or your Health Insurance Card have no link whatsoever with any financial institution. Maybe you should be the one doing some research.

medicalmechanica
medicalmechanica
4 years ago

I think it’s just a matter of time

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