Article Highlights:

  • Nearly 40% of travelers are ready to use digital passports, with comfort highest among those under 35.
  • Women expressed more hesitation than men, with 34% saying “maybe” compared to 28% of men.
  • The leading concern is losing access if a phone is lost or the battery dies, cited by 35% of respondents.
  • Non-US travelers were slightly more enthusiastic about convenience, with 36% highlighting faster travel.
  • Despite skepticism, digital identity adoption is rising, supported by Apple Wallet and Google Wallet integration.

 

 

The US is entering a new era of travel documentation with the rollout of digital passports. These digital IDs, stored on smartphones, promise streamlined airport experiences and more secure identity verification. Apple Wallet and Google Wallet have already announced support for digital identity programs, with limited use at TSA checkpoints beginning in late 2025. While physical passports remain mandatory for international travel, the shift toward mobile-based identity reflects the government’s broader commitment to modernizing travel.

 

How Digital Passports Are Used

For US travelers, a digital passport refers to two different but complementary tools: Mobile Passport Control (MPC) and digital IDs stored in mobile wallets. Both simplify travel by reducing paperwork and speeding up verification.

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free app from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Eligible travelers download it to their smartphone and answer customs declaration questions electronically. When they arrive in the US, they bypass the paper forms and kiosks, heading straight to the designated MPC line. A CBP officer scans their information on the device and processes their entry much faster than traditional methods.

Digital IDs in mobile wallets are used at TSA checkpoints. With Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, travelers can store a digital version of their US passport or state-issued ID. At security, instead of handing over a physical document, they simply tap their device on a reader or scan a QR code. The traveler consents to share identity data, TSA captures a live photo and the system verifies it against the digital ID. The result is a streamlined, contactless security check.

 

How It Works

Picture a US citizen returning home from abroad. Before boarding, they use the MPC app to file their customs declaration. On arrival, instead of filling out forms or waiting at a kiosk, they head to the MPC line and are processed in minutes. Later, on a domestic trip, the same traveler heads through airport security, holding their phone near a TSA reader that confirms their digital ID, and then walks through. Two different systems—one for customs, one for TSA—working together to save time and reduce hassle.

Despite these advances, travelers must still carry a compliant physical passport or ID, since digital options are not yet universally accepted.

Survey data from the Global Rescue Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey offers valuable insights into how seasoned travelers feel about this transition. Nearly 40% of respondents said they would feel comfortable using a digital passport or digital ID stored in their smartphone. Younger travelers under 35 were the most enthusiastic, with 55% expressing comfort. By contrast, only 38% of travelers over 55 agreed.

When asked about the features of digital identity, opinions varied. About 30% said digital passports make travel faster and more convenient, with younger travelers again leading enthusiasm at nearly 40%. However, 35% of respondents expressed concern about losing access if their phone was lost or the battery died. Security concerns were noted by 16%, while 11% said they would not use a digital passport unless it became mandatory.

International comparisons are revealing: 42% of non-US travelers said they would feel comfortable adopting digital IDs, slightly higher than US-based respondents at 40%. Convenience was especially valued outside the US, where 36% cited faster travel as the main benefit compared to 28% in the US.

 

US Is Catching Up

The US issues biometric ePassports, which contain an electronic chip with key details like a traveler’s name, date of birth and facial image. This technology is now standard in most countries and supports faster, more secure clearance at automated eGates around the world. By global standards, the US keeps pace on this front, ensuring its passports are recognized and interoperable across international systems.

The US remains cautious, however, when it comes to the next step: fully digital, smartphone-based passports that replace the need for a physical document.

Several other countries have already moved ahead. Finland, Singapore and China are piloting or deploying advanced digital identity passports, giving travelers the option to use only their smartphones for border crossings and identity checks. These systems reduce reliance on paper documents, speed up processing at airports and minimize manual inspections. In places where pilots are underway, travelers report smoother journeys and fewer bottlenecks, particularly at busy checkpoints.

For the US, the gap highlights both progress and hesitation. American travelers benefit from secure, globally recognized ePassports but they don’t yet enjoy the full convenience of mobile-based digital identity that people in other regions are beginning to experience. As international travel systems evolve toward integrated digital identity solutions, the US may face growing pressure to modernize. Without advancing to fully digital passports, the US risks falling behind global leaders in terms of efficiency and traveler convenience.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

The transition to digital passports underscores the importance of being prepared for identity challenges abroad. While digital IDs promise efficiency, losing access to your phone or having a physical passport stolen can still derail travel. That’s where a Global Rescue membership proves its value.

If you’re traveling with a service like Global Rescue, you can rely on expert assistance to navigate the complicated process of replacing a lost passport. Maredith Richardson learned this firsthand when her passport was stolen in Paris during a study abroad program. She recalled: “Normally, when you need help with something there’s a 24-hour delay. Global Rescue responded to me within about 30 seconds.”

Instead of facing weeks of delays, her passport replacement was arranged in less than a week. “The Global Rescue team got it hammered out within a couple of hours and got me into the embassy for an urgent passport replacement appointment,” Richardson said. “I didn’t have to do a single thing, except pull my documentation together.”

For travelers exploring a future shaped by digital identity, the lesson is clear: whether dealing with a missing phone, a stolen passport or a new digital passport system, Global Rescue helps ensure that your trip continues without unnecessary disruption.