Business
Illinoisans Can Soon Add a Mobile ID to Apple Wallet, Secretary of State Announces
Starting Wednesday, Illinois residents will be able to add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced Tuesday.
“For anyone who’s ever left the house without their wallet, fumbled for their ID at airport security or wished government services were just a little more modern, today changes everything,” Giannoulias said during an Apple-style announcement event in the West Loop.
The launch of digital IDs in Illinois means residents with an iPhone or Apple Watch can present their mobile ID at select businesses and at TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports in the U.S., including O’Hare and Midway, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Mobile IDs are also able to update in real time, Giannoulias said.
The Mobile ID program will “soon” expand to Google and Samsung wallets, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
A mobile ID does not replace a physical ID or driver’s license, and residents must continue to carry their physical ID or license, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Giannoulias said motorists must continue to carry a physical driver’s license.
“The legislation that was passed does not allow law enforcement to use it, as of now, which is probably the right thing,” said Giannoulias, who later added that people should consider the mobile ID as “complementary for the time being.”
When presenting a mobile ID in Apple Wallet, the user has the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested with Face ID or Touch ID before it is shared, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Users do not need to hand over their device to present their ID.
“If a bar or concert venue only needs to confirm you’re over 21, that’s all they see, not your address, not your license number, not even your birthday,” Giannoulias said.
Once an ID is added to Apple Wallet, the information is encrypted on a user’s device, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Apple and the state of Illinois would not know when or to whom a user presents their mobile ID.
House Bill 4592, which took effect at the start of this year, laid out regulations for the secretary of state to offer Illinois residents the option to have a digital version of their driver’s license or state ID. Despite some concern during legislative debate over potential privacy issues with the technology, the measure passed unanimously in May 2024, Capitol News Illinois reported.
Starting Wednesday, Illinois residents interested in adding a driver’s license or state ID into Apple Wallet can do so directly on the app and then follow a setup and verification process.
Giannoulias said his office is working with stadiums, restaurants and retailers across Illinois to expand the number of businesses and venues accepting mobile ID in the coming months. The law allows agencies and private entities to choose whether they want to accept mobile IDs.
Soldier Field’s marketing and public relations director Luca Serra said during Tuesday’s announcement that Soldier Field is working with its food and beverage partner to allow fans to use mobile IDs as a form of age verification at concessions during events. Illinois Liquor Control Commission Executive Director Lisa Gardner said the mobile IDs will help close security gaps that minors have historically exploited with fake IDs.
“The advanced security features built into the mobile IDs make them significantly harder to counterfeit, which is essential to our mission of limiting youth access to alcohol,” Gardner said.
Illinois joins a dozen other states and Puerto Rico that offer digital driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet. Nearly 20 states already offer some form of mobile ID accepted at airport checkpoints, according to TSA.
Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
