Virginia just became the 15th U.S. state where you can ditch the wallet, at least partially. As of August 26, 2026, Virginia residents can add their driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet on both iPhone and Apple Watch, through a rollout led by the Virginia DMV in partnership with Apple.
Setup happens entirely inside the Wallet app, tap the plus button, select Driver’s License or State ID, pick Virginia, then scan the front and back of your physical card. Some users will also need to complete a quick facial verification step, like turning their head or smiling, to confirm identity. Once it’s live, the ID can be tied to up to two iPhones and one Apple Watch, and it updates automatically whenever you renew your physical license.
The most practical use case is probably airport security. Virginia’s digital ID works at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 U.S. airports, including six in-state, using encrypted, tap-to-share verification rather than handing your phone to an agent. Only the specific information requested says, just your age gets shared, not your entire ID.
That said, don’t retire your physical card. Virginia DMV is explicit that the digital ID doesn’t replace it: law enforcement interactions, venues without compatible readers, and various TSA situations still require the physical version as backup.
Apple’s digital ID program has been expanding state by state since 2022, and Virginia’s addition pushes real momentum behind it. But adoption on Apple’s end doesn’t mean adoption everywhere else, acceptance still depends entirely on whether a business, agency, or checkpoint has the reader to support it, which remains the real bottleneck for anyone hoping to leave the plastic at home.
M Adnan Akram is the founder and lead writer at Phoonomo, covering mobile technology with a primary focus on Apple and the broader smartphone industry, alongside emerging developments in AI. He follows product launches, spec leaks, and industry trends closely to keep readers informed with timely updates.
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