Apple Pay in India: How to Use Axis Bank Cards, Supported Devices & Complete Setup Guide

Breaking News: Apple Pay has officially launched in India on September 30, 2026, bringing Apple's seamless, contactless payment service to millions of iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad users across the country. The inaugural banking partner is Axis Bank, with initial support enabled for Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

After more than a decade of international expansion across 90+ countries and partnerships with over 11,000 banks worldwide, Apple Pay's entry into India marks a monumental milestone for the Indian digital payments ecosystem. Here is everything you need to know about how Apple Pay works in India, how to set it up on your iPhone and Apple Watch, where you can use it, and how it stacks up against UPI.

Which Indian Banks and Cards Are Supported?

At launch on September 30, 2026, Apple Pay in India is supported exclusively for:

• Axis Bank Visa Credit Cards (e.g., Axis Bank Neo, Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card, Axis Bank Horizon, Select, Privilege, etc.)
• Axis Bank Mastercard Credit Cards (e.g., Axis Bank My Zone, Axis Bank Magnus, Axis Bank Atlas, Rewards Credit Card, etc.)

What Is NOT Supported at Launch?

• Axis Bank Debit Cards: Currently, debit cards cannot be enrolled. Apple and Axis Bank have confirmed that debit card support is slated for an upcoming phase.
• RuPay Cards: RuPay credit cards issued by Axis Bank are currently not supported in Apple Wallet.
• Other Banks: Cards issued by HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Kotak Mahindra Bank, and others cannot be added yet. Apple is actively in discussions with major Indian banks and plans to expand banking partners in rolling phases.

Compatible Devices & Software Requirements

To use Apple Pay in India, your hardware must meet the following minimum requirements:

How to Set Up Apple Pay in India: Step-by-Step

Setting up your Axis Bank credit card on Apple Pay takes less than two minutes. You can use either the Apple Wallet app or the Axis Mobile app.

Method 1: Adding via Apple Wallet App (Recommended)

1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the + (Add) button in the top-right corner.
3. Select Debit or Credit Card, then tap Continue.
4. Hold your iPhone camera over your Axis Bank credit card to scan the details automatically, or select Enter Card Details Manually.
5. Confirm your cardholder name, 16-digit card number, expiration date, and 3-digit CVV.
6. Review and accept the Axis Bank terms and conditions.
7. Complete card verification via One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered mobile number via SMS.
8. Your Axis Bank card is now tokenised and ready for immediate use!

Method 2: Adding via Axis Mobile App

1. Open and log in to the Axis Mobile app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to Credit Cards and select your active Visa or Mastercard credit card.
3. Tap Card Settings or look for the banner Add to Apple Wallet.
4. Follow the on-screen prompt to authenticate, and the card will be provisioned directly into Apple Wallet without manually typing card numbers.

How to Set Up Apple Pay on Apple Watch

1. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
2. Go to the My Watch tab and tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Tap Add Card. If you already added your Axis Bank card to your iPhone, tap Add next to it.
4. Enter the CVV code of your card and authenticate via the verification SMS OTP.

How to Use Apple Pay: In-Store, Online & In-App

1. Paying In Stores (Contactless NFC POS)

You can pay with Apple Pay at any retail counter, restaurant, petrol pump, supermarket, or merchant terminal displaying the contactless payment symbol or Apple Pay logo:

• On iPhone with Face ID: Double-click the side button, look at your iPhone to authenticate with Face ID (or enter your device passcode), and hold the top of your iPhone within a few centimeters of the contactless card reader. A subtle vibration and a checkmark on screen will confirm the payment.
• On iPhone with Touch ID: Rest your finger on the Touch ID sensor and hold the top of your iPhone near the reader.
• On Apple Watch: Double-click the side button on your Apple Watch and hold the display near the reader until you hear a chime and feel a tap.

No PIN or OTP Required at Checkout: Thanks to the Reserve Bank of India's updated framework recognizing on-device biometric authentication (Face ID and Touch ID) on cryptographically secured hardware, you do not need to enter your card PIN or wait for an SMS OTP at point-of-sale terminals!

2. Paying Online and Within Apps

When shopping on your iPhone or iPad in Safari or in participating iOS apps:

1. Select Apple Pay as your payment method at checkout.
2. Review your billing, shipping, and contact information.
3. Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or Passcode.
4. The transaction completes instantly without requiring you to manually type your 16-digit card number, expiration date, CVV, or wait for an SMS OTP.

Where Can You Use Apple Pay in India Right Now?

Apple Pay is accepted anywhere contactless card payments are accepted in India. Over 90% of modern Point-of-Sale (POS) machines in India already support NFC tap-to-pay. In addition, Apple has partnered with top national brands for app and web checkouts:

• Apple Retail Stores: Apple BKC (Mumbai) and Apple Saket (New Delhi)
• Quick Commerce & Food: Blinkit, Zomato, Chaayos, Le15 Patisserie
• Electronics & Retail: Croma, Reliance Digital, Reliance Retail outlets
• Health & Wellness: Tata 1mg
• Travel & Lifestyle: Ixigo, Interflora, Comet
• Any Contactless POS: Any terminal accepting Visa payWave or Mastercard Contactless across India and worldwide

Security & Privacy: Why Apple Pay Is Far Safer Than Plastic Cards

Apple Pay was engineered from the ground up with privacy and chip-level cryptography:

• Hardware Isolation (Secure Element): When you add an Axis Bank card, your actual credit card number is never stored on your iPhone or on Apple servers. Instead, a unique, encrypted Device Account Number (DAN) is generated and securely stored in the industry-certified Secure Element chip on your device.
• Dynamic Security Codes: Every transaction is authorized with a one-time dynamic security code (cryptogram). Even if a malicious actor intercepted the wireless transmission, the token cannot be reused for another payment.
• Merchant Privacy: Your real card details and name are never handed to the cashier or merchant.
• Biometric Protection: Even if your iPhone or Apple Watch is misplaced, nobody can initiate a transaction without your face, fingerprint, or passcode.
• Instant Remote Suspension via iCloud: If your phone is lost or stolen, you can immediately put it in Lost Mode or erase it via iCloud Find My. This instantly suspends all Apple Pay cards without needing to cancel or re-issue your physical plastic card!

Apple Pay vs UPI: Which One Should You Use?

India is already the world leader in real-time digital payments through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). How does Apple Pay fit into a market dominated by UPI?

Verdict: Apple Pay does not replace UPI; rather, they complement each other. Use UPI for small merchant QR payments, street vendors, and peer-to-peer transfers. Use Apple Pay for retail shopping, supermarkets, dining, flights, and online checkouts where you want the speed of biometric tap-to-pay while earning high credit card reward points and maintaining complete card number privacy.

The Regulatory Journey: Why Did Apple Pay Take So Long in India?

Apple Pay first debuted globally in 2014, but took over 10 years to launch in India due to several specific regulatory and commercial factors:

1. RBI Data Localisation Directive (2018): The Reserve Bank of India mandated that all payment system providers store end-to-end payment data exclusively on servers physically located inside India. Apple and its partner payment networks had to ensure full compliance with domestic data residency rules.
2. Card-on-File (CoF) Tokenisation Rules: The RBI prohibited merchants and payment aggregators from storing actual 16-digit card details, requiring network tokenisation. Apple Pay's Secure Element architecture aligned naturally with this once domestic tokenisation rails were established by Visa, Mastercard, and NPCI.
3. Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA): India strictly mandates two-factor authentication for card payments. Earlier, this meant every transaction required an SMS OTP. Apple worked closely with the RBI and banking partners to demonstrate that hardware-isolated biometric verification (Face ID / Touch ID) satisfies the stringent requirements for two-factor authentication, clearing the path for OTP-free tap transactions.
4. Commercial Interchange & Fee Negotiations: In international markets, Apple typically takes a transaction fee of around 0.15% (15 basis points). Indian banks operated on narrower margins under domestic interchange caps, requiring extensive commercial negotiations before finalized partnership terms were signed with Axis Bank.

Troubleshooting & Common Questions

Why does my card say "Card Not Supported"?

Ensure that your card is an Axis Bank-issued Visa or Mastercard credit card. Axis Bank debit cards, RuPay cards, and cards from other banks (HDFC, ICICI, SBI) will show an error until support is rolled out. Also check that your iPhone is updated to iOS 18 or later.

Do I need to enable Contactless Payments on my Axis Bank Card?

Yes. By RBI regulation, contactless / international transactions on credit cards may be disabled by default on new or reissued cards. Open the Axis Mobile app, go to Credit Cards → Controls / Limits, and ensure that Contactless (Tap & Pay) and Online Transactions are toggled ON.

Can I use Apple Pay while traveling abroad?

Yes! Your Axis Bank credit card enrolled in Apple Pay works at any contactless NFC terminal in over 90 countries worldwide. Make sure international usage is enabled in your Axis Mobile app settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Apple Pay officially available in India now?

Yes, Apple Pay officially launched in India on September 30, 2026. Indian users can add eligible cards to Apple Wallet and pay using iPhone and Apple Watch.

Which Indian banks support Apple Pay right now?

Axis Bank is the first Indian bank to support Apple Pay at launch, with support for its Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Support for more banks (including discussions with HDFC and ICICI) will roll out in upcoming phases.

Can I add an Axis Bank debit card or RuPay card to Apple Pay?

Not at launch. Initial support is limited to Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Debit cards and RuPay cards are scheduled for future updates.

Which iPhones and Apple Watches support Apple Pay in India?

Apple Pay requires an iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or higher, and Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or higher. iPads with Touch ID or Face ID support in-app and web purchases.

Do I need an OTP or PIN when paying with Apple Pay at retail stores?

No. When paying at contactless in-store POS terminals, your Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode serves as the two-factor authentication under RBI guidelines. You do not need to enter a PIN or wait for an SMS OTP.

How is Apple Pay different from UPI, and which is better?

Apple Pay uses tokenised credit cards and operates via contactless NFC or one-tap biometrics without needing active internet on your device at the terminal, preserving your card rewards. UPI transfers money directly between bank accounts via QR codes and requires an MPIN and active internet. Both services complement each other.

Where can I use Apple Pay in India?

You can use Apple Pay at any retail store or merchant with an NFC-enabled contactless POS machine across India, as well as on supported apps and websites such as Blinkit, Zomato, Croma, Tata 1mg, and Apple Store locations.

Does Apple Pay work on Mac in India?

Support for Apple Pay on Mac models with Touch ID for Safari web checkout is planned for an upcoming software update shortly after the iPhone launch.

Is Apple Pay safe if my iPhone is lost or stolen?

Yes. Your actual card number is never stored on the device or shared with merchants. No payment can be made without Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. If your iPhone is lost, you can immediately suspend Apple Pay via iCloud Find My without having to cancel your physical plastic card.

Can I use my Apple Pay Axis Bank card abroad while traveling?

Yes. Once international transactions are enabled in your Axis Bank card settings, Apple Pay will work seamlessly at millions of contactless terminals across more than 90 countries globally.

Verify Your Device Before Using Payment Services

Before configuring financial credentials on any pre-owned or imported Apple device, make sure your device is clean, officially registered, and free of carrier restrictions:

• Run a Free iPhone IMEI & Model Check
• Check Apple SIM Lock & Carrier Status
• Decode Apple Serial Number & Warranty Coverage
• How to Check Carrier Lock Status on iPhone
• India CEIR & Sanchar Saathi Verification Guide

Information accurate as of September 30, 2026. Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc. Axis Bank, Visa, and Mastercard are registered trademarks of their respective entities. IMEI Check Pro is an independent diagnostic and verification resource.