Google Wallet to Add US Passport as Digital ID—Here’s What to Know
An update by the company allows you to digitize your passport that will be accepted at select TSA checkpoints.
Google Wallet will begin beta testing a new feature that enables users to create a digital ID from your US passport. According to an announcement by the company this week, the digital ID will work at select TSA checkpoints when traveling domestically.
At this time, Apple has yet to announce a similar update for its digital wallet.
To create the digital ID, you first have to select the “create an ID pass with your U.S. passport” option in the Google Wallet app. Then, you’ll scan the security chip in the back of your passport. Finally, you’ll verify your identity by taking a selfie video. According to Google, it typically takes a few minutes for your ID pass to be ready.
The company also said it’s working with partners to use digital IDs in other situations, like identity verification, account recovery, and car rentals. Since the technology is in its early stages, Google recommends carrying your actual ID while traveling, stating that “a digital ID in Google Wallet is not a replacement for your physical ID.”
The announcement was among several other updates for travelers and commuters, including a feature that automatically imports transit tickets from booking confirmations sent to your Gmail. Prepaid commuter benefit cards can also be added to Google Wallet, starting with Edenred and HealthEquity.
Lastly, “in the coming months,” state-issued ID and driver’s license holders in Iowa, New Mexico, and Ohio will join the growing list of residents who can save their state IDs and driver’s licenses in Google Wallet.