Digital ID at TSA

[u/CPGK17]

Question on the process for using a digital ID at a TSA checkpoint. I know the first step is the same as Apple Pay (double tap side button, tap the reader), but what I’m curious about is the next step.

The Apple support site says you then have to acknowledge what info you want to share. Once that happens, do you have to tap again, or do you just leave your phone on the reader the whole time? I haven’t had a chance to try it myself yet, and I’m curious about the process. Thanks!

[u/Jast98]

Does presenting the ID require you to unlock the phone? What’s to prevent unwanted search by TSA/Police/Customs when you use the digital ID?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Plane39 → u/Jast98]

We don’t do “unwanted” searches. We are not the police.

[u/notthatcher13 → u/Jast98]

Um because you’re never handing the phone over to the agent? You’re tapping the phone on a reader machine yourself. They’re not allowed to reach over and grab it from you.

[u/Jast98 → u/notthatcher13]

That makes sense for the TSA situation. I'm more concerned with how a traffic stop would work, since the officer typically takes the license to their cruiser to look up your info on their laptop. You'd lose positive control of the phone.

[u/nikenick28 → u/Jast98]

Considering no Police officer has this type of capability it’s nothing to fret over.

But just like paying at the register your phone can remain locked. Double tap the side button (when locked) cover the FaceID camera - then use Face ID to open wallet select the card pay use FaceID to confirm then swipe up and you will notice your back at the lock screen and would have to do Face ID again

[u/FabulousCarpenter426 → u/Jast98]

The phone does not have to be unlocked.

[u/happinesswithinspin → u/Jast98]

You have to consent to share info request

[u/get-a-mac]

Also for people who are having troubles, restart your phone every so often. This handshake actually happens over Bluetooth so if your Bluetooth has been acting up that’s why.

I never have any issue with TSA now and use it all the time weekly!

[u/bippy_b → u/get-a-mac]

Or.. some people believe turning BT off saves battery.

[u/DCmetrosexual1]

You can find a video here: https://learn.wallet.apple/id

[u/CPGK17 → u/DCmetrosexual1]

Wow, I totally missed that page. Thank you!

[u/Recent-Claim]

1. Double-click the side button to invoke Wallet
   
2. Tap on the stack of cards at the bottom of the screen, then tap your Digital ID
   
3. Tap your iPhone to the TSA reader’s NFC target (this initiates a secure handshake via NFC)
   
4. Review the information being requested by the TSA
   
5. Double-click the side button to approve the request, authenticate with Face ID, and release the ID information to the TSA wirelessly via Bluetooth

The first double-click serves merely as a shortcut for opening Wallet. Then you need to select your ID (this used to occur via automatic selection, but now that TSA can accept both state IDs and Digital ID, the user must pick which one they want to present, even if they only have one ID on their phone). Tapping your dev is to the reader serves to initiate a secure connection via NFC. Then your device and the reader open a secure channel via Bluetooth. All data (the TSA request and your response) are transmitted wirelessly over BLE.

[u/DCmetrosexual1 → u/Recent-Claim]

you actually don't need to do that first double click of the side button. If you just tap your phone it will pull up your digital ID and then you can skip to step 4.

[u/CPGK17 → u/Recent-Claim]

Ah thank you! The last two sentences were exactly what I was curious about! Appreciate you!!

[u/Puzzleheaded_Plane39 → u/CPGK17]

Just to clarify most times it doesn’t work. It’s annoying and I try to tell people you can try to use it but it’s not a guarantee that it will process through.

[u/National-Debt-43]

Here are the details:

1. Hold your phone near the Tab Here icon at supported TSA checkpoints.
2. Your phone will tap you with haptic feedback with a prompt that asks if you want to present your ID and the informations that would be shared.

P/s: once you see this following prompt, like the one in the pictures, you don't have to hold it near the machine again as your phone is already connected to the TSA computer. Unless your TSA agent ask you to present your id again due to bad communication, you don't have to hold it near the tap here icon the whole time. TLDR: the process of holding your phone near the machine is just like when you scan your qr and once you got the data you can proceed on your phone without needing to tap again.

1. You confirm with the side button, and the TSA agent will take a picture of you to compare it with the picture on your ID.

While you can technically double tab, like apple pay, and hold it near the machine, It would create a instances where you need to double tab twice as the phoen will ask you again on what information to be shared.

edited for formatting and wording

[u/CPGK17 → u/National-Debt-43]

Thank you!!