Google Wallet can now store a digital version of your US passport, allowing for faster passage through select TSA checkpoints, but you will still need to carry the physical passport with you.
Any Android phone that has the Google Wallet app can take advantage of this new feature, from the Google Pixel 9 to the Samsung Galaxy S24.
Google calls this passport-based passport a digital ID, and as the name suggests, it's not a complete replacement for your passport – the company says you'll still need to carry the corresponding physical ID with you when traveling, at least “for now.” .
Users can create a digital ID by scanning the photo page of their passport, scanning the security chip on the back of the passport and taking a selfie video. This information is then sent to Google for review.
Once approved, the digital ID is stored in encrypted form, accessed securely behind your phone's fingerprint scanner, passcode or PIN number.
The digital ID comes to Google Wallet as part of a broader expansion of ID support. Support for California IDs was added in August, with state-issued IDs and driver's licenses for Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio to follow “in the coming months.”
Google says it is working with partners to expand the utility of digital IDs, citing account recovery, identity verification and car rental as examples of possible future use cases.
More options for commuters
The update to Google Wallet also brings new options for commuters in the US.
In the US, Google has added support for prepaid commuter cards, starting with Edenred and HealthEquity. Additionally, tickets and booking confirmations sent to Gmail are now automatically imported into the Google Wallet app.
And new notifications notify you when a pass changes, such as when your assigned seat changes. Live updates on train status, including train timings and delays, will also be available soon.
Additionally, you can now access your passes online at wallet.google.com, eliminating the need to have your Android device handy to check your tickets, passes, and IDs.
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