Virginia becomes 15th state to support Apple Wallet digital driver’s licenses

Apple Wallet now supports digital driver’s licenses in Virginia, bringing the feature to a total of 15 states. The rollout began earlier this week after a brief announcement on the Apple website and a confirmation on MacRumors that the state had been added to the list of supported jurisdictions.

Users in Virginia can add their state driver’s license to the Wallet app on iPhone or Apple Watch by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus icon in the upper‑right corner, and scanning the front and back of the license. After the scan, the user must verify their identity, a step that can be completed with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Once verified, the license is stored digitally and can be accessed at any time from the device.

Apple says the digital license can be used for travel security checks at more than 250 U.S. airports that accept Apple Wallet for TSA PreCheck and other security programs. The license also works at a growing list of retail stores, restaurants, and other venues that accept digital IDs. The company has made a public list of all states that currently accept Apple Wallet driver’s licenses, and the Virginia addition is now included.

The expansion follows a gradual rollout that began when Apple announced the feature at its Worldwide Developers Conference in 2021. The company has added a new state roughly every month since then, and the Virginia launch marks the 15th state to join the program. Other states that have recently joined include Arkansas, Delaware, and Oklahoma, while several others—Kentucky, North Carolina, Utah, Connecticut, and Mississippi—are reportedly working on support.

If a resident’s state is not yet on the list, Apple offers an alternative Digital ID option that uses the user’s U.S. passport. Launched last year, the passport‑based Digital ID can be added to Wallet and is accepted by TSA checkpoints nationwide, regardless of the user’s state of residence. The Digital ID feature is available to all users who have a valid U.S. passport and can be added to Wallet through a similar process of scanning and identity verification.

The new feature is part of Apple’s broader push to expand the use of digital IDs across the United States. The company has said it is working with state governments to meet privacy and security standards required for digital license storage and use. While the exact technical details of the implementation are proprietary, Apple has stated that the data is stored locally on the device and protected by the same encryption used for other Wallet items.

Industry observers note that the growing acceptance of digital IDs could simplify travel and commerce for millions of Americans. In addition to the convenience of not carrying a physical license, the digital format also reduces the risk of loss or theft. Critics, however, have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for digital IDs to be used for surveillance or data collection by third parties. Apple has not yet issued a detailed privacy policy specific to its driver’s license feature, though it has reiterated that the data is stored on the device and not transmitted to Apple servers.

The Virginia launch is expected to be a relatively smooth transition for residents. According to Apple, the process takes only a few minutes and does not require any additional hardware beyond a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch. The company has also provided a help center article that walks users through the steps and troubleshooting tips.

The addition of Virginia to the list of supported states underscores Apple’s ongoing efforts to broaden its digital wallet ecosystem. With more than 15 states now able to issue digital driver’s licenses via Wallet, the company is positioning itself as a major player in the emerging digital identification market. As more states join the program and additional features are added, consumers may see a significant shift toward digital IDs in everyday life.