Kentucky Approves Digital ID for Travel

Governor Andy Beshear announced on Tuesday, January 6, that Kentuckians who have a Real ID driver's License can now use a digital version when traveling.   

The license is available through the Kentucky Mobile ID app and is a secure digital version of a standard or REAL ID driver’s license or ID, accepted for air travel at more than 250 airports.

He noted that the app can be used at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints to verify a user’s identity, but does not completely replace a physical ID or driver's license, which should still be carried at all times.

“Mobile ID offers Kentuckians more options for air travel, while further protecting them from identity theft or having their private information shared,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “We want our families to be safe and feel safe while they are traveling.”

The digital version of the driver’s license is stored securely on the user’s smartphone as a valid form of identification, locked behind the mobile phone’s unique PIN, Touch ID, or Face ID, making it more secure than traditional hard-copy licenses.

Eighteen other states and Puerto Rico offer IDEMIA’s Mobile ID app.

Not all Kentucky businesses or state agencies currently accept mobile IDs, so Kentuckians should continue to carry a hard copy of their driver’s license or state identification.  State law requires law enforcement to request physical operators’ licenses when conducting a traffic stop or responding to a crash. Therefore, Kentuckians who choose to download a Mobile ID must be prepared to present a hard copy upon request.

Kentucky’s Mobile ID is accepted at TSA security checkpoints at most U.S. airports, including the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport in Covington, the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, and Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Anyone interested in obtaining the Kentucky Mobile ID can download the Kentucky Mobile ID Verify app from the App Store or through Google Play.

Before releasing other digital wallet apps, Beshear stated that Kentucky must first complete the modernization of its driver licensing system by summer 2026.