Apple Pay is preparing to enter India, with a launch expected by the end of 2026. The move would mark Apple’s first full rollout of its digital payment service in the country, allowing users to make contactless payments using their iPhone and other Apple devices. The service still needs regulatory approvals, but groundwork is already underway.
A report by Business Standard says Apple is working with banks, regulators, and card networks to make the launch possible within the 2026 calendar year. The report adds that discussions are ongoing around compliance and commercial terms, both of which remain critical before the service can go live.
What Apple Pay Will Offer in India
Once available, Apple Pay is expected to support Tap to Pay on iPhone. This feature lets users tap their device on point-of-sale terminals to complete payments using NFC. Users will be able to save their credit and debit cards in Apple Wallet and set a default card for quick payments.
As one source explained, “The idea is that you can save a card on your device and enable contactless payments through it at merchant outlets.” This approach relies on existing systems such as device tokenisation, which many payment aggregators already support.
Apple will still need to negotiate fees with major card issuers for access to the payment gateway. These talks will shape how quickly the service moves from approval to rollout.
UPI and Apple’s Strategy
Digital payments in India already rely heavily on UPI, but Apple Pay is unlikely to join that system in the near term. Sources say Apple does not plan to apply for third-party application provider approval, as the process involves a separate regulatory path and a different payment structure.
That said, Apple Pay’s arrival will align with broader growth in digital payments, including contactless cards, digital wallets, and UPI-based services. In 2025, Cashfree Payments and Razorpay already integrated Apple Pay to support international payments for Indian merchants, offering a limited preview of its use in the market.
Apple Pay’s India entry comes as Apple gains momentum in the country. The company recorded its highest quarterly shipments in India in the third quarter of 2025, reaching 5 million units and securing fourth place in the market for the first time, according to IDC data.
Apple Pay is already available in 89 markets worldwide. Its launch in India would extend that footprint and give Indian users access to a payment system designed exclusively for Apple devices, including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro.
