Apple too appears to be preparing to roll out more robust digital wallet offerings with the forthcoming iOS 26. Subsequent releases are set to add support for digital identity and travel credentialing. The new changes are in line with global best practices in interoperability, providing users with a more seamless and secure experience. This shift further highlights Apple’s focus on digital identity verification, verifiable credentials and compliance with W3C standards.
The firm has announced plans to support TSA-approved digital passports. They’ll roll out augmented boarding passes featuring built-in terminal maps, helping iPhone users navigate terminals with ease. These developments expand on Apple’s previous investments in supporting digital wallets and their continuing focus on convenient, consumer-facing identity verification.
Integration of Digital Identity and Travel Credentials
Apple's foray into digital identity includes support for mobile driver's licenses (mDL) and mobile documents (mDoc), aligning with the ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard. One of the engineers on Erik with the Apple Wallet and Apple Pay team told us what a big deal this standard was going to be.
"For one, they are defined in the ICO/IEC 18013-5 standard." - Erik, an engineer with Wallet and Apple Pay team.
This is how we ensure that digital credentials stay interoperable no matter where they are earned or shared. Apple too has been working on making digital documents far more integrated into the user experience.
An important piece of Apple’s strategy is support for the W3C Digital Credentials API. This amendment will allow such sites to more naturally incorporate with Apple’s platforms for verifying one’s identity. It ensures interoperability with other browsers and applications based on the same standards.
"This allows them to be interoperable across different platforms." - Erik, an engineer with Wallet and Apple Pay team.
W3C Digital Credentials API Support
Another strong point the company makes is cross-platform identity verification, as the system works on any device or operating system. Users authenticate ID verification with FaceID and can start the process by scanning QR codes with their iPhones.
"This means that any code that a website writes to integrate with Apple platforms can work with other browsers and apps that choose to adopt these same standards," - Erik, an engineer with Wallet and Apple Pay team.
Apple has created Document Provider APIs for its platforms. As a result, innovations like the Local Driving Authority app can more actively engage in identity verification flows. This opens up myriad opportunities for developers to create apps that fit harmoniously into Apple’s ecosystem, helping people verify their identity securely, privately and efficiently.
Document Provider APIs and Developer Opportunities
Apple has an informative video for developers that covers shared properties of mobile documents (mDocs). Beyond offering verification services themselves, the company is actively incentivizing developers to adopt the W3C’s Digital Credentials API as the standard for online identity verifications.
"We built a set of Document Provider APIs for Apple platforms. These APIs allow apps such as the Local Driving Authority app to surface as an option during an identity verification flow." - Erik, an engineer with Wallet and Apple Pay team.
Apple has a video for developers that outlines properties of mobile documents (mDocs). The company is encouraging developers to implement the W3C’s Digital Credentials API for online identity verifications.
