North Carolina remains absent from the growing list of U.S. states that have implemented mobile digital ID systems and mobile driver’s licenses as of mid-2025. Currently, fourteen states support digital IDs on iPhone: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. The expansion follows the Transportation Security Administration’s approval of Apple Wallet digital IDs for domestic air travel verification.
Implementing digital ID systems requires specific state legislation to authorize mobile driver’s licenses, followed by the development of secure implementation protocols that meet ISO/IEC 18013 standards for mobile driver’s licenses. While several states enacted enabling legislation between 2021 and 2023, North Carolina has not taken this legislative step. States like New Jersey have recently passed comprehensive digital ID laws that include specific privacy protections and implementation timelines.
Digital ID systems typically involve a verification process where users scan their physical identification documents and take selfies for identity confirmation. The systems incorporate biometric verification and encryption protocols to ensure security. Once verified, these digital IDs can be used at TSA checkpoints, for age verification purposes, and in various other scenarios where identification is required. The technology has gained particular traction at airports, with facilities like Cleveland Hopkins International Airport implementing support for mobile IDs at security checkpoints.
The adoption timeline for mobile digital IDs varies significantly by state, depending on legislative priorities, technical infrastructure readiness, and resource allocation. Leading technology providers like IDEMIA have successfully implemented mobile driver’s license programs in several states, including West Virginia’s recent field testing. North Carolina’s status indicates the state remains in preliminary stages regarding digital ID implementation, with no public announcements or formal plans currently in place.
