iOS 26 Update: Maps Can Now Store Your U.S. Passport – Learn How!

New Document Integration for iPhone Users

Apple’s latest iOS 26 update, unveiled this Monday, introduces a new feature where the Apple Maps application now supports the American passport. While this digital version does not completely replace the physical passport booklet, as it is not recognized internationally, it is useful within the United States. Users can utilize it for domestic flights or as a means of verifying their identity and/or age in real life or within various apps.

Potential Expansion to Europe

Apple might hope to extend this integration to Europe, but the decision is outside its control. France, for example, has taken a different route with the launch of its own app, France Identité. Unlike Apple Maps, France Identité manages digital versions of the national identity card, driver’s license, and will soon include the vehicle registration certificate (carte grise) by this summer. The health insurance card (carte Vitale), however, is handled through a separate app. France Identité has plans to eventually incorporate passports and residency permits into its system, though no specific timeline has been provided yet.

The European Union has been developing its own European digital wallet for several years, aiming to include a digital passport that would facilitate travel within the EU. The EU’s role is to set the standards for this digital wallet, leaving it up to individual member states to implement their own compatible solutions, such as the France Identité app in France.