These 2 useful Google Wallet upgrades are starting to roll out

Google Wallet has become a handy home for everything from payment cards to boarding passes, but keeping track of changes to those saved items hasn’t always been straightforward. Google is now addressing that inconvenience with a dedicated notification feed and expanding its digital passport feature to more countries.

The notification feed isn’t entirely unexpected. Earlier this month, we reported that Google’s October Play Services update promised an in-app message center for Wallet, but didn’t explain where users would find it. Now, 9to5Google reports that the feature is starting to appear within the app.

After the update, a bell icon appears beside the profile picture in Wallet’s upper-right corner. Tap it, and you’ll find a feed of notifications concerning items saved in the app. That gives users somewhere to revisit Wallet updates without searching through an increasingly crowded phone notification shade.

Another change is arriving alongside it, this time for people who want to keep a digital version of their passport in Wallet.

9to5Google also spotted Italy and Ireland appearing as options when creating a passport-based ID pass. Reddit users have shared screenshots of the expanded country list, although Google’s support documentation still names only Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK, and the US. That suggests the interface is moving ahead of the official help page.

Creating an ID pass requires scanning a passport’s information page and NFC chip, followed by facial verification. The resulting pass can help verify your identity with compatible services. However, it doesn’t replace a physical passport or work as an international travel document, so it’s still a good idea to keep carrying your passport when you really need it.

Neither addition appears to be available to everyone just yet. The notification feed is arriving gradually, and the new passport options may not appear immediately either.