UK Announces Digital Wallet for IDs and Driver's Licenses

The UK government today announced plans for a digital wallet that will house digital driver's licenses. It is not yet clear if the digital wallet that the UK government has planned will integrate with Apple Wallet, but UK users will be able to access their driver's licenses through a GOV.UK app on the iPhone when the initiative launches.

uk wallet app
The digital driver's license will allow users to prove their age when purchasing age-restricted items, and it will serve as proof of the right to drive. Personal information will be protected with Face ID or Touch ID for security even if a device is lost.

Along with driver's licenses, the UK digital wallet will eventually include veteran cards, DBS checks, and other documents issued by the government, but traditional physical documents will also remain available.

The UK digital wallet app is launching alongside a GOV.UK app that will feature a built-in "GOV.UK Chat" chatbot that is being created in partnership with OpenAI, and the chat service is already being tested. The chatbot will let UK residents make payments and receive notifications and reminders about government services.

In the United States, Apple has partnered with several states to bring digital driver's licenses and ID cards to the Wallet app on the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch. Digital IDs are available in nine states, as well as Puerto Rico. At least six additional states have pledged future support for the functionality.

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
apple c1

Apple Unveils 'C1' as First Custom Cellular Modem

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:08 am PST by
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e. The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most...
Apple Northbrook

Apple Store Permanently Closing at Struggling Mall in Chicago Area

Tuesday February 18, 2025 8:46 pm PST by
Apple is permanently closing its retail store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago area. The company confirmed the upcoming closure today in a statement, but it has yet to provide a closing date for the location. Apple Northbrook opened in 2005, and the store moved to a larger space in the mall in 2017. Apple confirmed that affected employees will continue to work for the...

Top Rated Comments

jlwarlow Avatar
4 weeks ago
Again the UK gov investing tax payers money duplicating ID wallet already available on iPhone and Android ?‍♂️ Why not use the wallets already out there and add driving license to those like some US states already have?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fivenotrump Avatar
4 weeks ago
or 'Driving Licence' as we say over here
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cupcakes2000 Avatar
4 weeks ago

Backdoor way to introduce a mandatory ID card.
Hardly. They would just introduce a mandatory id card if that’s what they wanted to do.


It isn't yet? Here in Germany everyone needs to have an ID or passport
You don’t need to carry ID in the UK. You don’t need to carry your driving licence either, even if driving. You have to produce it at a police station if pulled over and asked and you don’t have it though. And of course they know who you are anyway, from your license plate and insurance docs which must be carried.

*edit* not insurance docs either, I was mistaken
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sjdigital Avatar
4 weeks ago

and insurance docs which must be carried.
Since when? First I’ve heard of it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
McKodiak Avatar
4 weeks ago

Again the UK gov investing tax payers money duplicating ID wallet already available on iPhone and Android ?‍♂️ Why not use the wallets already out there and add driving license to those like some US states already have?
I'm hoping this is similar to concert tickets where you have the ticketing app where you can access your tickets but you have the option to add to your apple wallet.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blahsua Avatar
4 weeks ago
Welcome to 2019 from your friends in Sydney, Australia; where we've had most of our state licences digital for a while.



The law was updated to reflect most, if not all, scenarios such as broken screens, flat batteries, and how to interact with police (they only have to sight it - not allowed to touch your phone).

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2020-27

On an Australian federal level, state digital licences are an acceptable form of ID with no discrimination between that and the the physical form.

Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)