Apple Pay Launches in India, Supports Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard Credit Cards

A decade after its US debut, Apple Pay is now live in India. From September 30, you can pay with your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, though for now it only works with Axis Bank credit cards.

Key Highlights

• Apple Pay launches in India on September 30 for Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards
• No OTP or PIN needed, since payments are authenticated right on your device
• Works on iPhone XR or later with iOS 18, and Apple Watch Series 6or later

What's Launching

Apple Pay arrives just as digital payments in India are booming. The idea is to make checkout quick and secure, without the hassle of OTPs or PINs. Jennifer Bailey, Apple's VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said users can pay in stores without an extra app, PIN, or OTP, and check out online without typing in their card details again and again.

Unlike net banking, Apple Pay verifies payments directly on your device. Globally, you can add credit or debit cards, and in the US there's also Apple Cash.

In India, support is limited to Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards for now, with more banks planned later. The timing is interesting, since UPI dominates digital payments here, and recent changes to UPI fees have got some people wondering about alternatives.

How to Set It Up and Use It

Setup is simple. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the plus sign, and follow the steps. You can also add a card through the Axis Bank app.

To pay in a store, just double-click the side or home button, authenticate with your Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, then hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless reader. It also works in supported apps and on websites, so you don't have to re-enter card details each time. You'll still get the rewards and benefits tied to your credit card.

You'll need an iPhone XR or later on iOS 18 or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later on watchOS 11 or newer.

Where You Can Use It

At launch, Apple Pay is accepted at Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg, and Zomato. More merchants and apps should follow.

Worldwide, Apple Pay works with over 11,000 banks and networks across more than 90 countries, and it keeps growing as digital payments spread.