--- title: "How to scan documents on iPhone: ID cards and passports" description: "Scan a US driver’s license, state ID or passport in Files or Notes, save a clear PDF and keep copies protected on iPhone." canonical: "https://dokus.app/scan-id-on-iphone/" lang: "en" reviewed: "2026-10-06" app_store: "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709" translations: en: "https://dokus.app/scan-id-on-iphone/" en-GB: "https://dokus.app/en-gb/scan-id-on-iphone/" en-CA: "https://dokus.app/en-ca/scan-id-on-iphone/" en-AU: "https://dokus.app/en-au/scan-id-on-iphone/" pt-BR: "https://dokus.app/pt/escanear-rg-no-iphone/" pt-PT: "https://dokus.app/pt-pt/digitalizar-cartao-cidadao-iphone/" es: "https://dokus.app/es/escanear-dni-iphone/" es-MX: "https://dokus.app/es-mx/escanear-ine-iphone/" fr: "https://dokus.app/fr/scanner-carte-identite-iphone/" de: "https://dokus.app/de/personalausweis-iphone-scannen/" he: "https://dokus.app/he/scan-id-on-iphone/" ar: "https://dokus.app/ar/scan-id-on-iphone/" hi: "https://dokus.app/hi/scan-id-on-iphone/" ja: "https://dokus.app/ja/scan-id-on-iphone/" zh-Hans: "https://dokus.app/zh/scan-id-on-iphone/" --- # How to scan documents on iPhone: ID cards and passports Open Files, tap More, then Scan Documents. Scan the front and back of your driver’s license or state ID and save them as one PDF. For a US passport, scan the photo page. This makes a copy, not a mobile ID issued by your state. Dokus keeps your driver’s license, state ID and passport scans encrypted, with both sides together and access through Face ID. [Free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709) ![US passport specimen with fictional details, shown as a scanning example.](https://dokus.app/assets/specimens/en/hero/passport.cfbc4b02.webp) US passport specimen with fictional details, shown as a scanning example. A job application, apartment rental or travel checklist may ask for a copy of your driver’s license, state ID or US passport. The iPhone scanner can make that copy without another app. Confirm what the recipient accepts before sending it. ## Scan in Files 1. Open Files and tap More, the three dots at the top. 2. Choose Scan Documents and place your license on a plain, dark surface. 3. Let Auto capture the front, or tap the shutter, adjust the corners and choose Keep Scan. 4. Turn the card over and scan the back as the next page. 5. Finish, choose a folder and tap Save. You get one PDF with two pages. For a passport, open the booklet at the photo page and check the machine-readable lines at the bottom. Do not scan extra pages unless requested. ## Use Notes instead Open a note, tap Attachment, then Scan Documents. Capture the pages and finish. The scan stays inside the note; tap it and Share to send a copy. A scan created in Notes can go in a locked note. An imported PDF attachment prevents a note from being locked. ## Make the details readable Remove any plastic sleeve, light the card from the side and avoid glare. Keep all four corners in view. Zoom in before saving to check the name, license number and expiry date. A scan is preferable to a tilted photo with the table visible around it. If a form asks for front and back on one sheet, use the [ID card to PDF tool](/id-card-to-pdf/). The [compression tool](/compress-id-scan/) helps meet upload limits. Both process your copy in the browser. ## A scan is different from a state-issued mobile ID A scanned PDF does not enroll your license in Apple Wallet or a state’s mobile-ID app. Availability and acceptance depend on the issuing state and the verifier. Keep the original for uses that require it. ## Keep the copy protected A PDF in Files has no separate file lock. See [Document storage on iPhone with a password](/store-documents-on-iphone/) for built-in protections. Remove copies left in Downloads, email and chats after use. Dokus scans and encrypts documents on your device, keeping front and back under one name. It opens offline with Face ID and can send compressed PDF or JPG copies with a recipient-specific watermark. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I scan my license for free? Yes. Files and Notes include document scanning. Capture both sides and save the PDF without downloading another app. ### Does a scanned license count as a mobile ID? No. A scan is a reference or submission copy. A state-issued mobile ID requires the issuing authority’s enrollment process and a supported verifier. ### Which page of my passport should I scan? Usually the photo and personal-details page. Check the recipient’s requirements and keep the original passport for travel. ## Sources Reviewed on October 6, 2026 - [Apple: How to scan a driver’s license or passport on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108963)