Apple Pay in India: Supported Banks, Axis Bank Cards and What Comes Next

Apple Pay went live in India on 30 September 2026, more than a decade after the service first launched in the United States. It works on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and Apple has said Mac support will follow, although no date has been given for it. Axis Bank is the only banking partner at launch.

Until now, Apple Wallet in India could store boarding passes, tickets and passes, but no Indian-issued payment card could be added to it. The launch changes that for Axis Bank credit card holders. It also arrives in a market where UPI handles roughly 84 percent of digital payment volume, so Apple Pay enters as a card-based, tap-to-pay option that sits alongside UPI rather than replacing it.

Card and bank support at launch

Support at launch is narrow. Only Axis Bank credit cards running on the Visa or Mastercard networks can be added. RuPay cards, debit cards, American Express cards and cards from every other Indian bank are outside the first phase.

Apple Pay with an Axis Bank credit card

According to the Axis Bank Apple Pay page, all Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards are eligible. Cardholders keep the reward points and benefits attached to their card when paying through Apple Pay. A newly issued card can be added before the physical card arrives, provided it is visible in the Axis Mobile app and online transactions are enabled. Family members can use Apple Pay through an add-on credit card issued in their own name.

Is Apple Card available in India?

Apple Card is a separate product: Apple's own branded credit card, which is offered in the United States. It is not part of the India launch and there has been no announcement about bringing it to India. Apple Pay in India works only with cards issued by participating Indian banks, which currently means Axis Bank.

Where HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card stand

Reuters reported in September 2026 that Apple had been negotiating with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, India's two largest private-sector card issuers, but that commercial terms were not settled. TechCrunch reported that HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card are staying out of the launch while fee discussions continue. The main sticking point is reportedly Apple's fee of about 0.2 percent per transaction, which is a large share of the 0.4 to 0.5 percent margin available in the Indian card payments chain. Apple has said it plans to add more card issuers and merchants over time, but no bank or date has been confirmed.

How Apple Pay reached India

Requirements

Adding an Axis Bank card to Apple Wallet

Paying in stores, apps and websites

In a store, double-click the side button on the iPhone, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, and hold the phone near the card terminal. On Apple Watch, double-click the side button and bring the watch face close to the reader. For online purchases, choose Apple Pay at checkout in a supported app or in Safari and confirm with Face ID or Touch ID. Apple states that customers do not need to type PINs or OTPs at checkout when paying this way.

Apple says the service is accepted by millions of merchants at launch, in physical stores, in apps and on the web. The brands named at launch cover food delivery, quick commerce, electronics retail, pharmacy, travel booking and cafes.

Merchants named at launch

Payment service providers enabling Apple Pay

Merchant reach depends largely on payment service providers, which handle checkout and card terminals for thousands of businesses. Apple worked with the following providers to bring Apple Pay to their merchant networks.

Apple Pay and UPI solve different problems. UPI moves money directly from a bank account and works on almost every phone, while Apple Pay stores a credit card securely on an Apple device and uses it for contactless and online payments. For many users the practical answer will be to use both.

Security and privacy

Apple Pay replaces the real card number with a device-specific token. Apple states that the actual card number is not stored on the device or on Apple servers and is not shared with merchants. Every payment needs Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode, which means a lost iPhone cannot be used to pay without that authentication. If a device is lost, the card can be suspended remotely through Find My or by contacting Axis Bank.

The India launch is a first step rather than a full rollout. Axis Bank credit card holders with an iPhone can start using Apple Pay today, while customers of other banks will have to wait for commercial agreements to be signed. The pace at which HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card join will largely decide how useful Apple Pay becomes in India.