Overview
- Samsung announced a partnership with CLEAR to launch “Samsung ID with CLEAR” in Samsung Wallet, a feature that rolled out this week and lets U.S. passport holders add a verified digital passport to compatible Galaxy phones.
- The setup requires a valid U.S. passport, a Galaxy device running Android 9.0 or later, and in‑app verification through CLEAR that scans the passport and confirms the user’s face before creating the digital ID.
- Samsung says passport data is encrypted and stored on the device under Samsung Knox and is accessible only with fingerprint or PIN, while CLEAR handles backend identity verification.
- The digital ID is accepted at more than 250 participating TSA checkpoints and some venues such as BMO Stadium, but rollout is phased, some TSA readers and lanes may not support it, and travelers should still carry a physical passport for international travel or fallback checks.
- CLEAR’s basic digital ID can be used at no cost and users may upgrade to CLEAR+ for expedited escort services at about $209 per year, and the move brings Samsung Wallet into parity with Apple and Google on digital passport support while raising questions about real‑world adoption and privacy trade‑offs.