What is Apple adding for iOS 27 Wallet passes?

Apple’s rumored “Create a Pass” feature in iOS 27

Apple is reportedly preparing a major Wallet update for iOS 27 that would let users generate passes directly from a QR code, potentially reducing the need for companies to build dedicated Wallet integrations.

The concept is straightforward: a user could take a QR code—such as one provided for an event, venue entry, memberships, gift cards, or similar offerings—and turn it into a custom pass inside Apple Wallet. The feature would appear as a “Create a Pass” button in Wallet, according to accounts tied to Apple’s roadmap.

That matters because it shifts control from the issuing organization to the phone owner. Instead of relying on Apple’s long onboarding process where partners must publish and maintain native Wallet pass formats, consumers may be able to create passes on-demand from standard QR materials they already receive.

It also hints at broader Apple incentives: QR codes remain common in real-world check-in flows (concerts, transit, retail promotions), while Wallet pass distribution has been more fragmented. If Apple standardizes the conversion step within the operating system, it could make Wallet the default destination for more kinds of “ticket-like” credentials.

For developers and issuers, the change could be disruptive in both directions. Issuers may still want native passes for branding, rich fields, and better analytics, but they could face pressure from simpler QR-to-pass workflows.

Why it’s important now

If implemented, the feature would tighten Apple’s ecosystem advantage—turning Wallet into a universal container for physical and digital credentials—while potentially lowering the friction for new partners to participate in Apple’s pass ecosystem.