Summary:
- Virginia residents can now add a valid driver’s license or state ID directly to Apple Wallet on an iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Setup starts in the Wallet app. You scan your physical card and complete an identity check, then Virginia DMV reviews the request.
- Keep carrying your physical card. Apple Wallet ID is not yet accepted everywhere, including some businesses, venues, and interactions with law enforcement.
Beginning this week, Virginia residents can now add their state ID to Apple Wallet, allowing for more private identity verification with TSA and other supported locations.
This is different from Virginia’s separate Mobile ID app because the new version lives directly in the Wallet app on your iPhone and, if you choose, your Apple Watch.
For my Washington DC-area readers, this is a welcome quality-of-life improvement. It gives Northern Virginia residents the same convenient Wallet access already available to Maryland residents.
How do you add a Virginia driver’s license to Apple Wallet?
You need your current physical Virginia driver’s license or state ID, a compatible iPhone with the latest version of iOS, two-factor authentication for your Apple Account, and normally Face ID or Touch ID.
Then:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the + button in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Driver’s License or State ID, then choose Virginia.
- Choose whether to add the ID to your iPhone only or to both your iPhone and paired Apple Watch.
- Scan the front and back of your physical card, then follow the prompts to confirm your identity.
Use a well-lit room and a plain background. You may be asked to take a selfie and complete a few facial or head movements. Virginia DMV, not Apple, approves or denies the request.
The Virginia DMV FAQ says approval generally takes a relatively short time. Some people may be asked to enter a verification code mailed to the address on their DMV record. If your address changed within the last 30 days, you may need to visit a DMV office to receive that code.
Where can you use a Virginia ID in Apple Wallet?
Virginia DMV says its Apple Wallet ID can be used at compatible TSA checkpoints at more than 250 U.S. airports, including six airports in Virginia. You can also use it at select businesses, in supported apps, and on websites that accept ID in Apple Wallet.
Places currently supported in Apple Wallet
List last checked: September 2, 2026. These driver’s licenses, identification cards, and Digital IDs can now be added to Apple Wallet:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Japan (My Number Card)
- Maryland
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. passport (Digital ID)
- Virginia
- West Virginia
At a compatible reader, hold the top of your iPhone or the display of your Apple Watch nearby. Your device shows exactly which information is being requested. Review it, then approve the request with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
At TSA, the reader may also take your photo and compare it with the photo attached to your digital ID. Check the airport signage because not every security lane or business has a compatible reader.
Do you still need the physical license?
Yes. Virginia DMV says you must continue to carry your physical driver’s license or ID card.
The digital version is a companion, not a replacement. You must keep the plastic card with you when driving or dealing with law enforcement, and you may need it anywhere that does not accept mobile IDs.
Is an ID in Apple Wallet private?
Apple Wallet can reveal less information than handing someone your physical license. For example, a compatible age-verification system can ask whether you are over 21 without also seeing your full birth date or home address.
You review each request before sharing anything, and your phone stays in your hand. According to Apple and Virginia DMV, the ID is encrypted on your device, and neither organization can see when or where you present it.
How is this different from adding a passport to Apple Wallet?
A Virginia ID in Apple Wallet is based on your state-issued driver’s license or identification card. Apple’s separate Digital ID feature uses your U.S. passport, which is useful for people whose state does not support Apple Wallet IDs.
The passport-based Digital ID does not prove that you are licensed to drive, and it cannot replace a physical passport for international travel or border crossings. My guide to adding a U.S. passport to Apple Wallet explains those limitations.
Is it worth setting up?
I think so. It costs nothing, takes only a few minutes for many people, and can let you prove your identity while sharing less personal information than you would with a plastic card.
Set it up before you need it, then keep your physical ID in your wallet. As more businesses and agencies add compatible readers, the digital version should become more useful.
If you would like help adding your Virginia ID to Apple Wallet or using another iPhone feature, I invite you to book an appointment with me.
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