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Viraaj Vashishth

October 1, 2026

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Apple Pay in India: How vendors can accept it and how to set it up

Apple Pay is now available in India. From September 30, 2026, eligible users can use Apple Pay on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch for payments in stores, apps and on the web. For in-store contactless payments, iPhone and Apple Watch are the key devices. At launch, Apple Pay supports eligible Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards, with more banks and cards expected to follow.

Who can use Apple Pay in India?

At launch, Apple Pay is available to customers with eligible Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. RuPay cards are not supported at launch.

Compatible devices include:

iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or later
Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or later
iPad for supported in-app and web purchases
Mac support is coming soon

Apple says additional banks and card types will be added over time.

How can vendors accept Apple Pay in India?

For physical stores, Apple Pay uses contactless NFC payments. If your POS terminal already accepts contactless card payments, you may not need a new machine. However, your payment provider or acquiring partner must support Apple Pay on the relevant terminal or merchant network. Before accepting Apple Pay, check:

Does your POS terminal support NFC/contactless payments?
Is contactless payment enabled on the terminal?
Has your POS provider or acquiring bank enabled Apple Pay?
Does the terminal have the latest required software or configuration?
Is the Apple Pay/contactless symbol displayed at checkout?

Apple's official guide points the merchants the same way. Work with your payment provider, and make sure the contactless infrastructure is supported. So no, you don't need a separate Apple Pay machine. A customer simply unlocks their iPhone or Apple Watch and holds it near your reader. That's the whole transaction.

Do merchants need a new POS machine for Apple Pay?

Usually, no. Apple Pay uses contactless NFC technology for in-store payments. If your existing POS terminal supports compatible contactless transactions and your payment provider has enabled Apple Pay, customers can tap their iPhone or Apple Watch on the terminal.

You should first check with your POS provider or acquiring bank rather than purchasing new hardware. Apple's launch partners include POS and payment infrastructure companies such as Mswipe, Pine Labs and Worldline, alongside payment service providers including Cashfree, JusPay, PayU and Razorpay.

Can merchants still accept UPI?

Absolutely. Apple Pay doesn't replace UPI. The India launch is built around payment cards, not UPI. So keep your UPI QR code at the counter. Keep taking cards and every other method you already offer. Apple Pay simply joins the list.

Also read: Understanding UPI payments on Swipe

Where can you use Apple Pay in India?

Apple says millions of merchant locations across the country already support it. The launch announcement names Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato, among others. In stores, look for the Apple Pay or contactless symbol near the terminal. Online, Apple Pay shows up as a payment option wherever the site or app supports it. You can also simply ask the staff of any shopping mall or restaurant whether they accept payments through Apple Pay.

How to set up Apple Pay on an iPhone in India

Adding a card is easy. At launch, you'll need an eligible Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card. Axis Bank lets customers add one through its mobile banking app or directly in Apple Wallet.

Adding a card through Apple Wallet:

Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
Tap the + button.
Choose the option to add a credit or debit card.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
Enter or scan your card details.
Complete the verification.

Once the bank approves it, the card is ready for Apple Pay. Axis Bank customers can also tap "Add to Apple Wallet" inside the bank's app.

Read more about Axis Bank here

How to pay with Apple Pay at a store

With a card added and verified, paying takes seconds.

On an iPhone with Face ID

Double-click the side button.
Authenticate with Face ID or your passcode.
Hold the top of the iPhone near the contactless terminal.
Wait for the checkmark.

Apple Watch works the same way. Double-click the side button, then hold the watch near the reader. Security is built in. Apple Pay relies on device authentication and tokenisation. The merchant never sees your actual card number.

How to use Apple Pay on iPad

Apple Pay on iPad is primarily relevant to in-app and web purchases, rather than tap-to-pay at a physical store.

On a supported iPad:

Open Settings.
Go to Wallet & Apple Pay.
Add an eligible card or follow the available setup instructions.
Complete the card verification process.
When shopping in a supported app or website, select Apple Pay at checkout.
Authenticate the payment using the required device authentication.

Apple's India launch specifically says iPhone and iPad can be used for purchases in apps and on the web, while Mac support is coming soon.

Apple Pay vs UPI: What changes for merchants?

Apple Pay does not replace UPI. The two payment methods work differently:

Feature	Apple Pay	UPI
Primary payment method at launch	Eligible cards	Bank account
Apple Pay India launch support	Axis Bank Visa & Mastercard credit cards	Not applicable
Physical store payments	NFC/contactless	QR or supported UPI methods
Online payments	Supported apps/websites	Widely supported
New merchant hardware	Depends on existing POS setup	Usually QR-based
RuPay support at launch	No	UPI supports RuPay credit-card-linked use cases separately

Does Apple Pay work without internet?

For in-store contactless payments, generally yes. You don't need Wi-Fi or mobile data at the moment of payment. Axis Bank's Apple Pay information confirms this. The only condition is that the card must already be added and activated in Apple Wallet and while the user's device does not need connectivity, the merchant's payment terminal must have an active connection to the banking network to authorize the transaction.

Is Apple Pay safe for customers and merchants?

Apple Pay does not send the customer's actual card number to the merchant.

Instead, Apple assigns the card a Device Account Number, which is encrypted and stored in the device's Secure Element. Transactions also use a dynamic security code, while the customer authenticates the payment using Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode when required.

For merchants, this means the transaction is processed through the existing payment network without the merchant receiving the customer's actual card number.

Where is Apple Pay accepted in India?

Apple says Apple Pay is available at millions of merchant locations across India at launch. Examples named by Apple include Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Comet, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato.

Payment type	Where Apple Pay can be used
In-store	Supported NFC/contactless terminals
Apps	Participating apps that offer Apple Pay
Websites	Supported online checkouts
Merchant examples	Apple Store, Blinkit, Croma, Zomato and others

Important: Acceptance can vary by merchant, terminal and payment provider, so the presence of an NFC terminal alone should not be treated as a guarantee that Apple Pay is enabled.

What should vendors do before customers start paying?

Three steps cover most merchants.

Check your POS terminal. Confirm that it supports NFC/contactless payments.
Call your payment provider. Ask whether Apple Pay is supported. Also ask if any activation, configuration or software update is needed.
Tell your customers. Once Apple Pay is live, put the Apple Pay or contactless symbol at checkout. People will notice.

Online merchants should follow the same path with their payment gateway.

You can also check out: GST on Apple Products

Summary

Apple Pay is now available in India with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. For physical stores, merchants generally need a compatible contactless POS setup with Apple Pay enabled through their payment provider. Online businesses can offer Apple Pay through participating payment gateways and checkout systems. Merchants do not need to replace their entire payment setup simply because Apple Pay has launched. The first step is to check whether your existing POS terminal or payment gateway already supports it.