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Apple Pay India Launch: Axis Bank Visa, Mastercard Cards Now Work on iPhone and Apple Watch

Posted on 30th Sep 2026 11:34 am by rohit kumar

Apple Pay has officially launched in India on September 30, bringing Apple’s contactless payment service to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users. At launch, eligible Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards can be added to Apple Wallet and used for payments at supported stores, apps and websites.

 

Apple says users can make payments without repeatedly entering card details, PINs or OTPs at checkout. The company has also partnered with several payment service providers and merchants to expand Apple Pay acceptance across India.

 

Apple Pay India: Which Cards Are Supported?

 

At launch, Apple Pay supports eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

 

Cards issued on India’s domestic RuPay network are not supported at launch. Reuters also reported that Apple has held discussions with other major Indian banks, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, although agreements had not been finalised at the time of launch.

 

Apple is expected to add support for more banks and cards over time.

 

How to Add an Axis Bank Card to Apple Pay

 

Eligible Axis Bank credit cardholders can add their cards to Apple Pay in two ways:

 

Open the latest Axis Bank app and follow the Apple Pay card-addition process.

Open the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone.

Tap the “+” button.

Select the option to add a card.

Follow the on-screen instructions and complete any required verification.

 

Once the card has been added and approved, users can start using Apple Pay for eligible transactions. Apple says cardholders will continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their cards when using Apple Pay.

 

How to Pay Using Apple Pay on iPhone

 

For an in-store payment, iPhone users need to:

 

Double-click the side button or Home button.

Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode, if prompted.

Hold the top of the iPhone near a contactless payment terminal.

Wait for the payment confirmation.

 

Apple Pay uses contactless NFC technology for supported in-store transactions.

 

How to Pay Using Apple Watch

 

Apple Watch users can double-click the side button and hold the watch display near a compatible contactless reader.

 

The transaction is authenticated on the device, allowing users to complete supported payments without entering their physical card PIN or an OTP at checkout.

 

Where Can Apple Pay Be Used in India?

 

Apple says Apple Pay is available at millions of merchants across India at launch.

 

Supported merchants and brands listed by Apple include:

 

Apple Store

Blinkit

Chaayos

Comet

Croma

Interflora

Ixigo

Le15 Patisserie

Reliance brands

Tata 1mg

Zomato

 

Apple has also worked with payment service providers including Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline to expand Apple Pay across their merchant networks.

 

Availability can vary by merchant and payment terminal, so users may need to look for Apple Pay or contactless payment support.

 

Apple Pay Online and In-App Payments

 

Apple Pay is not limited to physical stores. Users can also select Apple Pay while checking out on supported apps and websites.

 

Instead of repeatedly entering card numbers, contact details and billing or shipping information, users can authenticate the transaction directly on their Apple device.

 

No Card PIN or OTP at Apple Pay Checkout

 

One of Apple Pay's key features is device-based authentication.

 

Users authenticate payments using Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode, rather than entering their card PIN or an OTP for every transaction.

 

However, the underlying card continues to be subject to the card issuer's applicable terms, security checks and transaction rules.

 

Apple Pay Security: Card Number Is Not Stored on the Device

 

Apple says the actual card number is not stored on the device or on Apple’s servers and is not shared with merchants.

 

Instead, Apple Pay assigns a unique Device Account Number, which is encrypted and stored in the device's Secure Element. This tokenised payment information is used to process transactions while keeping the actual card number protected.

 

If an iPhone is lost or stolen, Apple says users can use Find My to locate, lock or suspend payments from the device.

 

Does Apple Pay Support UPI in India?

 

No. Apple Pay does not support UPI at launch.

 

The service currently works as a card-based payment option, beginning with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. This means Apple Pay is different from UPI apps and bank-to-bank UPI transfers used widely in India.

 

Which iPhones and Apple Watches Support Apple Pay?

 

According to Apple, Apple Pay in India requires:

 

iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or later

Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or later

The Apple Watch must be paired with an iPhone XR or later

 

Apple Pay is also available on compatible iPads, while Mac support is coming soon.

 

Apple Pay Available in More Than 90 Countries

 

Apple says Apple Pay is now available in more than 90 countries and regions and works with more than 11,000 bank and network partners worldwide.

 

The India launch gives Apple users another card-based payment option, with the initial rollout focused on Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards and expansion to additional banks, merchants and apps expected over time.

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