Google Wallet introduced something called ID pass in late 2024. The new feature allows users to add their US passport to Google Wallet like a digital ID, and it provides some convenient benefits even if you don’t plan on using it all of the time.
What can you do with a digital passport in Google Wallet?
In the US, replacing every form of ID with a digital variant isn’t quite a reality yet. Digital IDs are still being approved on a state-by-state basis, and the rollout isn’t exactly speedy. Still, even Digital IDs have limitations until they’re widely accepted.
Passports are the latest digital ID form to be added to Google Wallet on Android, and it isn’t limited to what state the user is in. Anyone with a US passport can get a digital version of it, and it allows for a couple of things.
An ID pass passport is accepted at security checkpoints for domestic travel. This, in turn, acts as a Real ID form of identification and can be used even if the user doesn’t have a license by the same certification. TSA agencies are making improvements to checkpoints so users can either tap their phone to present their passports or present a QR code to the agent.
There are a few misconceptions about ID pass in Google Wallet and saved digital passports. Specifically, an ID pass passport does not replace your passport, and there are certain scenarios where you may need your physical one, so it’s important to have it just in case. The ID pass passport doesn’t let you travel abroad, either. Most agencies will require the physical variant for foreign entry.
Another important note is that even if you present the screen in Google Wallet that displays all of your passport details, this likely won’t get you out of a bind at the airport. Again, physical passports will still be required in some places. It may, however, allow you to present identification to an embassy if your passport is lost or stolen.
ID pass is good for convenience, and Google Wallet does a great job of allowing for that within the limits of the TSA and other security agencies. It’s likely that digital IDs will continue to be accepted in more places, which means adding your passport now will only make room for more convenience.
How to add your passport to Google Wallet
Adding your passport to Google Wallet is easy, and it takes around 3 minutes. The general process is to scan your passport’s front page with the camera, scan the back of your passport with NFC, and then take a quick video of your face.
What you’ll need:
- Your Android phone with Google Wallet
- A passport
- A face to scan via the camera
How to add your passport to Google Wallet:
- On your Android phone, open Google Wallet.
- Find and tap the + icon.
- Hit ID and select ID pass.
- Hit Get Started.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
Once you finish the process, you’ll need to wait a few minutes for your information to be approved. Once it is, you’ll be able to use your ID pass wherever it’s accepted. You can also hit the three-dot menu on the ID pass page and look through your passport data if needed.
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