• Google Wallet is testing out a new function that turns passports into digital IDs.
• The new capability is currently being beta tested in the US at selected airports.
• Google is careful to stress that digital IDs are not a replacement for physical passports.

There is a new function coming to Google Wallet in the form of passports being turned into digital IDs.

Google detailed the feature in a recent blog post, noting that it is currently beta testing it out with United States passports in particular, and at selected airports in the US in a bid to make document verification and checking procedures a little smoother with the TSA.

“Last year we began rolling out the ability to save select state-issued digital IDs to Wallet. Starting soon, we’ll begin beta testing a new type of digital ID in Google Wallet, giving more people in more places a way to create and store a digital ID, now with a U.S. passport. This new ID pass works at select TSA checkpoints, saving you time and stress at the airport when you’re traveling domestically,” the tech giant explained.

“While ID passes are accepted at select TSA checkpoints today, we’re working with partners so you can use digital IDs in even more situations — for example, in the future we believe you should be able to use digital ID for things like account recovery, identity verification and even car rentals,” it noted.

While this new feature will no doubt prove convenient for those wanting to get through airport checkpoints and security with a bit more ease, Google has been careful to point out that this will not serve as a replacement for physical passports, so you will still need to carry them with you when embarking on international travel and passing through a US airport.

“This technology is in its early stages, so it’s important to know that a digital ID in Google Wallet is not a replacement for your physical ID. For now, you need to carry a physical ID with you when traveling,” the company clarified.

For those concerned with security, as with any other information stored in Google Wallet, users are in control of access. To that end, digital IDs are encrypted when stored, with authentication facilitated either via your fingerprint, PIN or passcode before the digital IDs are viewable or shareable.

“You’re in control of the information shared: before using your digital ID for identity verification, you can review what information is being requested,” it continued.

While Google Wallet is focused primarily on transacting on a mobile device, this latest feature appears at facilitating international travel and commuting too.

“We’re also introducing new features to make your journey smoother, including automatically importing tickets from booking confirmations sent to Gmail so you can easily find them when you need to,” Google pointed out.

Whether it will be expanded to include other travel documents like visas remains to be seen, but there is certainly a case to be made for the convenience of such a feature down the line.

[Image – Photo by Mpho Mojapelo on Unsplash]