Samsung phones are finally catching up with iPhones and other Android phones, with the news this week that Samsung Wallet will now support digital passports thanks to a partnership with CLEAR. That should make verifying your identity at the airport and other select locations a little more seamless than before.
Digital passport support has been part of Apple and Google Wallet for some time, but anyone using Samsung Wallet has been left out in the cold. Sure, some Samsung phones have access to Google Wallet as well, but it's not the default option and requires physically downloading it from Google Play. This change should help make everything nice and easy for Samsung users.
According to Samsung, the "Samsung ID with CLEAR" is backed by the information in your passport and lets you use the digital ID at over 250 TSA checkpoints without having to take out your paper passport. The ID will also be accepted at select sports arenas, though only the BMO Stadium in LA has been mentioned by name.
All the information is secured by Samsung Knox and encrypted on your device. That means it's not stored on any external servers, and it's only accessible via your passcode or fingerprint.
What you should know before you travel
The process of verifying your digital ID is quite easy and only requires you to scan a Digital ID QR code at the airport ID readers. However, this isn't an excuse to leave your passport at home, with the TSA guidelines stating that you still need to carry a physical ID in case any additional verification is required.
TSA guidelines stating that you still need to carry a physical ID in case any additional verification is required.
As with Apple and Google, there are some caveats to the digital ID in Samsung Wallet. The first is that it's only available to U.S. passport holders and isn't available for foreign passports. Samsung Wallet already supported digital driver's licenses, which were valid at eligible TSA checkpoints, so nothing has changed in that regard.
You're also only allowed to use the digital ID for domestic flights, and any international travel will require the same paper passport you've always had to use. That's all because international borders still aren't equipped for digital IDs, and turning up without a verifiable paper passport will mean you end up on the first flight back home.
Considering Apple and Google have supported digital passports for several months, it's good to see Samsung finally catching up.
We're still a long way from being able to completely replace paper passports when we travel, especially internationally, but if digital IDs can make airport security a little more painless, then I am all for it.
