Apple’s Wallet App in iOS 26: 3 Key Upgrades & Expanded Car Key Support

Introduction

At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled a series of significant enhancements coming to its Wallet app in iOS 26, further integrating it into daily travel, payments, and vehicle access. These updates include digital passport storage, enhanced boarding pass features, and broader support for virtual car keys—making the Wallet app an even more essential tool for iPhone users.

1. Digital Passport Storage for Domestic Travel

Apple is introducing virtual passport storage in the Wallet app, though with some limitations:

Not a replacement for physical passports—cannot be used for international border crossings.
Accepted at TSA checkpoints for identity verification during domestic U.S. travel.
Currently exclusive to U.S. passports, with potential expansion in future updates.

This feature aims to streamline security checks while maintaining compliance with international travel regulations.

2. Enhanced Boarding Pass Features for Smoother Travel

Wallet’s boarding pass functionality is receiving a major upgrade, offering:

Live Activities tracking flight status in real time.
Interactive airport maps for terminals, gates, and baggage claim areas.
Detailed arrival information, including baggage pickup locations.

These improvements ensure travelers have all necessary flight details at their fingertips, reducing stress and delays.

3. Expanded Digital ID & Payment Flexibility

Beyond travel, Wallet now supports:

Digital driver’s licenses & state IDs for online age/identity verification (compatible with Uber Eats, Turo, Chime, and select U.S. state agencies).
Apple Intelligence-powered order tracking, summarizing delivery details from email confirmations.
In-store installment payments & rewards redemption directly through Wallet.

Virtual Car Key Support Expands to 13 New Brands

Apple’s virtual car key feature, which allows iPhones to unlock and start compatible vehicles, is extending to 13 additional automakers, including:

Cadillac, GMC, Porsche, Rivian, Lucid, and more (full list below).

Current & Upcoming Supported Brands:

Currently Supported	Coming Soon
Audi	Acura
BMW	Cadillac
Hyundai	Chery
Volvo	Chevrolet
... (20 total)	GMC
	Hongqi
	Lucid
	Porsche
	Rivian
	Smart
	Tata
	Voyah
	WEY

While no exact release date has been confirmed, Apple confirmed these brands will adopt the feature "soon."

Conclusion: A More Versatile Wallet App

With iOS 26, Apple’s Wallet app is evolving into a centralized hub for payments, travel, and vehicle access. The addition of digital passports, smarter boarding passes, and broader car key support underscores Apple’s push toward a fully digital ecosystem.

The update is set to launch this fall, with early access available via the iOS 26 developer beta. Meanwhile, EU users may see further flexibility as Apple opens payment options to third-party apps under regulatory requirements.

Apple’s Wallet App in iOS 26