At WWDC 2019, Apple announced that it would partially open the NFC chip of the iPhone under iOS 13. This enables many new functions - one of them: the iPhone will become an identity card from autumn - also in Germany.
Apple will be opening up the NFC interface a bit more in iOS 13. Selected services will then be able to use the iPhone's reader function – including the German ID card. The Federal Ministry of the Interior has officially announced its support for this in a press release. Accordingly, the "AusweisApp2" will be available free of charge starting this fall – it allows iOS 13 to use the iPhone as an ID card. In addition to the ID card, other features are to follow. In the future, iPhone users will be able to digitize their passport and use it at the airport, for example. An eVisa will also be available soon.
"The Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community welcomes this important step. This means that users of Apple's mobile devices will soon be able to benefit from the digital sovereign applications for identity cards, ePassports, and eVisas, for example, during passport checks at international airports. Germany and many other countries have been in contact with Apple on this for some time." – according to the announcement.
In previous versions of iOS, Apple limited the NFC interface in iPhones to Apple Pay. iOS 13 partially removes this technical restriction so that iPhones can read more NFC chips. The prerequisite for this is that developers obtain approval from Apple. If they are granted approval, the respective app can implement the function. You can find out whether your iPhone is compatible with iOS 13 here. (Image: personalausweisportal.de)
