TSA Now Accepting Digital IDs from 11 States

More than 78 million Americans—about one-third of the nation’s licensed drivers—can now use a digital ID on their phones for domestic flights.

Last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that Hawaii has joined the list of states offering digital IDs for airport use, making it the eleventh state to do so. This new option is available at security checkpoints equipped with Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) readers.

“We’re excited to collaborate with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to bring digital ID capabilities to the Aloha State,” said Nanea Vasta, federal security director for the TSA in Hawaii. “This advancement integrates technology into the aviation security process without adding any extra cost for passengers. We have ensured that the use of digital IDs is both secure and private.”

At Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, both TSA PreCheck and standard screening lanes at the Makai security checkpoint in Terminal 1 are now equipped with CAT-2 units.

Hawaii residents can now add their mobile ID to Apple Wallet. To use it, they simply tap their iPhone or Apple Watch on a CAT-2 reader instead of presenting a physical photo ID.

How to Use a Digital Driver’s License for Air Travel

To use a digital driver’s license at a TSA checkpoint, your flight must be departing from one of the more than two dozen U.S. airports where CAT-2 readers are available.

“This is an exciting development for travelers who can now prove their identity without having to search through their wallets or purses,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, New York’s DMV Commissioner. “The mobile ID offers greater control over personal data, making it more convenient and secure.”

CAT-2 readers validate identities by scanning a mobile ID or a REAL ID-compliant physical driver’s license. The devices capture a real-time image of the traveler and use facial recognition technology to match it with the digital ID. They also connect securely to TSA’s Secure Flight system to confirm that the traveler has a valid ticket for that day, eliminating the need to show a boarding pass.

The CAT-2 units do not store personal data. After verification, “your photo and biographic information are deleted from the device,” according to the TSA. Travelers can choose an alternative identity verification process if they prefer not to use facial recognition.

Will the TSA Accept Your Digital Driver’s License?

Not all digital driver’s licenses are accepted; they must be issued by one of the 11 states whose mobile IDs are compatible with TSA technology. Simply storing a photo of a physical driver’s license in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet will not work. The TSA advises travelers to continue carrying their physical driver’s license or photo ID.

While airlines have been issuing paperless boarding passes for nearly 20 years, the TSA and state governments have only recently started issuing mobile identification. The TSA began testing digital ID acceptance at select checkpoints in March 2022, with Arizona becoming the first state to implement this technology in collaboration with Apple. Since then, Colorado, Maryland, Georgia, and Ohio have joined Arizona in offering mobile IDs in Apple Wallet, and Utah, Iowa, and California have followed suit. In May 2024, TSA checkpoints nationwide began accepting Louisiana’s mobile driver’s licenses, and New York became the tenth state to have its digital IDs accepted by CAT-2 readers.