Summary
Apple Pay is now available in India on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch for eligible Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Apple says Mac support is coming soon.
Apple Pay launched in India on 30 September 2026, bringing Apple’s digital wallet to iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. At launch, customers can add eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank and use them for in-store, in-app and web payments. Apple says support for Mac is coming soon.
The launch combines a contactless payment option with a digital card credential stored on the device. It is initially limited to the eligible Axis Bank credit cards, rather than being available for every Indian bank card.
How payments and card security work
For in-store purchases, users double-click the iPhone’s side button or Home button, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode if prompted, then hold the iPhone near a contactless reader. Apple Watch users hold the watch display near the reader. NFC, or near-field communication, is the short-range wireless technology used by contactless readers to communicate with a payment device.
Apple says the card’s actual number is not stored on the device or Apple’s servers, and is not shared by Apple with the merchant. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and stored in the device’s Secure Element, a dedicated chip for securely storing payment information. This substitutes a device-specific payment credential for the card number in the payment process. Mastercard also describes its tokenisation system as using a unique, cryptographically secured token for each Apple Pay transaction.
Apple says it does not retain transaction information that can be tied back to the user. If an iPhone is lost or stolen, its owner can use Find My to locate or lock the device, or suspend payments from it. These are protections described by Apple as part of the service’s design.
Eligible cards, devices and merchants
Customers can add a card through the latest Axis Bank app or by opening Wallet on an iPhone and following the prompts. Apple says cardholders continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their cards. The company names Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato among the merchants accepting Apple Pay at launch. It has also worked with payment service providers including BillDesk, Cashfree, Juspay, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs and Razorpay to support merchant networks.
The announcement specifies an iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or later. Apple Watch support requires Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or later, paired with an iPhone XR or later. Apple says users can also pay in apps and on the web using iPhone and iPad; Mac support is planned, but no date is given.
For Indian customers with a supported Axis Bank card and device, the service adds Apple’s wallet-based option to contactless payments in stores and checkout in apps and on websites. Its initial reach depends on the eligible card and participating merchant, while Apple says additional merchants and apps will be added over time.