Can I make a Wisconsin digital id?
Executive summary
No — Wisconsin does not currently offer a state‑issued “mobile” or phone‑native digital driver license/ID that can be created and used from a smartphone; instead, residents can register a MyWisconsin ID account to access state online services and may start certain DMV transactions online but must complete in‑person steps to obtain an official ID or REAL ID [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. What people mean by “digital ID” and what Wisconsin already provides
“Digital ID” can mean anything from a simple online account that links to services to a cryptographically signed mobile driver license stored in a phone wallet; Wisconsin’s MyWisconsin ID is the former — a single sign‑on, email‑based account that lets users access multiple state applications online and is available to register through apps.wisconsin.gov [1] [2] — but it is not a state‑issued credential intended to substitute for a physical DMV ID in commerce or travel.
2. DMV rules for getting a Wisconsin ID or REAL ID — online starts, in‑person finishes
Wisconsin’s DMV lets applicants begin certain ID and REAL ID applications online — including starting an application, printing a document checklist and scheduling an appointment — but the process for an original state ID requires visiting a DMV customer service center, completing the MV3004 application, and presenting acceptable proof documents in person [3] [4] [5]. WisconsinWatch’s reporting confirms the online start option for REAL ID but emphasizes in‑person verification remains part of the process [3].
3. Evidence that Wisconsin has not deployed a mobile/state digital ID platform
Industry trackers and state‑by‑state roundups show Wisconsin as one of the states with “no progress towards a mobile ID” as of early 2025, with no reported legislation or active rollout toward a phone‑native mobile ID solution [6]. That analysis aligns with the DMV materials that discuss online account services and application starts but do not advertise a mobile wallet ID offering [1] [4].
4. Practical alternatives and what residents can do now
Residents who want digital convenience can create a MyWisconsin ID to access state services online and use Wisconsin’s online DMV tools to start renewals or schedule appointments; WisDOT also offers services like eNotify for account activity and renewal reminders [1] [7]. For an official credential usable for voting, boarding domestic flights after REAL ID enforcement, or as primary photo ID, the legal, physical ID card or REAL ID remains required and must be obtained through the DMV’s documented processes [4] [3] [8].
5. Caveats, politics and why a mobile ID isn’t simply “rollout now”
States that have mobile IDs often passed enabling legislation and contracted vendors; reporting on Wisconsin indicates no such legislative progress as of early 2025 [6]. Alternative viewpoints exist: proponents argue mobile IDs increase convenience and reduce fraud, while privacy and implementation skeptics cite security, interoperability and legal acceptance hurdles — the sources here document Wisconsin’s incremental move to online services but do not show the state has confronted those policy choices publicly yet [1] [6].
6. Bottom line
A resident cannot “make” an official Wisconsin digital/mobile ID today; the achievable steps are to register a MyWisconsin ID account for online access to state services (apps.wisconsin.gov) and to start DMV applications online where available, but legally recognized state ID credentials still require DMV verification and issuance through existing paper/card processes [1] [2] [4] [3] [5].