TL;DR
Kentucky has released an official mobile ID app for iPhone (and Android), letting residents carry a digital version of their driver’s license. Wallet integration with Apple (and other major digital wallets) is planned for summer 2026 after the state’s new licensing system goes live.
What happened
Kentucky launched an official mobile ID app that provides residents with a digital driver’s license or ID accessible on smartphones. The app is available on the App Store and also supported on Android devices. To enroll, users complete an identity verification flow that includes scanning their physical license and taking a selfie. At launch the state says the mobile ID is accepted at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at over 250 airports. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says it is coordinating with Apple, Google and Samsung to enable storing the state ID in platform wallets, but that wallet integration requires the state’s new KINDL driver licensing system to go live in Summer 2026. The administration has framed the move as offering additional travel options and enhanced protections against identity theft.
Why it matters
- Provides a digital alternative to carrying a physical ID, which could streamline air travel interactions.
- Integration with Apple Wallet and other digital wallets could broaden where a state ID is accepted, beyond current TSA use.
- State-led verification procedures aim to reduce the risk of identity theft by adding biometric checks during enrollment.
- Coordination across platform vendors signals growing industry support for standardized mobile ID usage.
Key facts
- Kentucky’s official mobile ID app is now available on the App Store and supports Android devices.
- Enrollment requires scanning a physical license and taking a selfie to complete verification.
- The digital ID can be used now at TSA checkpoints across more than 250 airports.
- Kentucky says it is working with Apple, Google and Samsung to add mobile ID support in their wallets.
- Wallet support depends on the launch of Kentucky’s new licensing system, KINDL, scheduled for Summer 2026.
- IDs stored in Apple Wallet can be used at TSA and some businesses and venues (where accepted).
- Kentucky has appeared on Apple’s list of future partners for mobile ID for several years.
- Apple introduced an iOS 26.1 feature that lets people create a passport-based digital ID even if a state does not yet support wallet-based IDs.
What to watch next
- The KINDL system rollout and whether Kentucky meets the planned Summer 2026 timeline for enabling wallet integration.
- Which additional businesses and venues begin accepting Kentucky mobile IDs in digital wallets (not confirmed in the source).
- Timelines for Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet support and how their rollouts will align with Apple’s (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Mobile ID: A digital version of an identity document, such as a driver’s license, stored on a smartphone.
- Apple Wallet: An app on Apple devices that stores digital passes, payment cards, tickets, and, where supported, digital IDs.
- TSA checkpoint: A security screening area at airports operated by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration where IDs are checked.
- KINDL: Abbreviation used by Kentucky for its new driver licensing system (Kentucky Information Network for Driver Licensing).
Reader FAQ
Can I use the Kentucky mobile ID at airport security now?
Yes. The state says the mobile ID is accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports.
Can I add my Kentucky ID to Apple Wallet today?
No. Kentucky says Apple Wallet support will arrive after the KINDL system launches in Summer 2026.
Is the app available for Android phones?
Yes. Kentucky’s mobile ID is supported through the official Kentucky mobile ID app on iPhone and Android.
Will other digital wallets support Kentucky IDs and when?
Kentucky says it is working with Google and Samsung on wallet support, but specific timelines beyond the KINDL dependency are not provided in the source.
I think Apple should take this radical approach to the new Siri Ben Lovejoy Jan 5 2026 IPHONE APPLE WALLET Kentucky launches new mobile ID app, Apple Wallet support coming…
Sources
- Kentucky launches new mobile ID app, Apple Wallet support coming soon
- Kentucky Mobile App released for use in TSA airport …
- Apple introduces Digital ID, a new way to create and …
- Kentucky Mobile ID Updates
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