Illinois Launches Mobile ID Program Allowing Residents to Add Driver’s License to Apple Wallet
Illinois has taken a significant step into the digital future of identification by launching a Mobile ID program that allows residents to store their driver’s license or state identification card on their Apple devices. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced on November 19, 2025, that the program is now live and available to qualifying residents, making Illinois one of the first states to offer a full‑fledged digital credential option.
Residents who have a valid driver’s license or state ID card can add the digital credential to Apple Wallet on their iPhone or Apple Watch. To enroll, users download the Illinois Wallet app and follow a secure verification process that includes scanning the front and back of their physical license, entering basic personal details and taking a real‑time selfie. The app employs encrypted facial recognition technology to match the selfie to the photo on file with the Secretary of State. Once the process is complete and verified, the digital ID appears in Apple Wallet alongside payment cards, transit passes and other documents. The digital ID is free and voluntary, and residents will continue to receive and carry a physical card.
The Mobile ID was designed primarily for travel and other controlled environments where identity verification is required. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts the Illinois Mobile ID at PreCheck checkpoints at Chicago O’Hare International and Midway airports and St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Travelers simply tap their iPhone or Apple Watch at the TSA reader and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. Only the information necessary for identity verification — such as name, date of birth and Real ID status — is shared with TSA. The digital credential does not share the holder’s address or full driver’s license number, and Apple states it cannot see when or where the ID is presented.
For other uses, Illinois is offering a companion Mobile ID Verifier app that allows bars, restaurants and other businesses to scan the barcode displayed by the wallet and confirm that it is authentic. The Secretary of State emphasized that businesses must ask for the customer’s permission before scanning and may not copy or store personal information. Because digital IDs are new, residents should continue to carry their physical driver’s license or state ID for interactions with police officers, courts or any agency that has not yet adopted the verification technology.
Giannoulias said the state is working with Apple and other partners to expand the program’s acceptance in more airports and to develop versions for Android devices. “Illinois residents deserve technology that makes their lives easier and more secure,” he said, noting that digital IDs reduce the risk of identity theft and simplify verification for both consumers and businesses. He stressed that the program is optional and that traditional licenses and ID cards remain valid for all purposes. In the months ahead, the Secretary of State’s office plans to roll out support for Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet and to educate businesses about the benefits and proper use of Mobile ID.