Apple and Japan's Digital Agency have announced plans to add a digital ID feature to Apple Wallet by spring 2025, enabling use of the "My Number Card" identification document. This marks the first expansion of Apple Wallet's ID feature outside the United States, and represents the world's first instance of an ID feature available to an entire nation's population being built into smartphones.
The My Number Card on iPhone Will Work Just Like the Physical Card
By adding the My Number Card to Apple Wallet, users will be able to do everything the physical card allows—issue official certificates at convenience stores, present it as health insurance ID at hospitals and medical institutions, and access online government services through the "Mynaportal" iOS app.
This is made possible by the ID card addition feature implemented in iOS 15. With this feature, simply scanning your ID with an iPhone stores your identification information in encrypted form on the Secure Element—the same hardware element technology that keeps Apple Pay private and secure—making it usable within Apple Wallet.
The ID feature in Apple Wallet complies with the ISO 18013-5 and ISO 23220 series of standards, which establish clear guidelines for protecting consumer privacy when presenting identification or a driver's license via mobile device. Privacy considerations are built in, such as not disclosing more information than necessary.
When presenting their ID, users authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID and simply hold their iPhone up to a contactless ID card reader to present identification in person. This enables a "tap to verify identity" experience and reduces the risk of forgery that comes with handing a physical card over to someone else.
Notably, unlike a physical card, this system clearly discloses exactly what information the other party is requesting, whether that information will be stored by them, and whether it's merely being shown for display—meaning information that doesn't need to be disclosed, such as date of birth or address, is never sent to the other party in the first place. This gives users greater peace of mind regarding privacy. In addition, a history of when and to whom identification information was presented is saved on the iPhone—another advantage over physical cards, as it allows users to check whether any unauthorized use has occurred.
The feature also includes remote deactivation in case the iPhone is lost, reducing the risks associated with losing a physical card.
Meanwhile, Android currently lacks an equivalent feature, offering only the electronic certificate function for accessing online government services. Going forward, OS-level support—such as compatibility with Google Wallet—will be needed to enable the presentation of My Number Card details as printed on the card face, similar to what's coming to iOS.
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