Apple Pay India Finally Launches With Axis Bank Credit Cards: What Indian Users Can Do Now
NEW DELHI: Apple has officially launched Apple Pay in India, ending years of waiting for the company’s digital payment service to enter one of the world’s largest digital payment markets. The initial rollout supports eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Apple Pay India Goes Live With Axis Bank
The Apple Pay India launch began on Wednesday, September 30, with Axis Bank as the first banking partner.
Apple says customers can add eligible Axis Bank credit cards to Apple Wallet and use them for payments in stores, apps and on the web. Mac support is expected to follow later.
The first rollout is limited. Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards are supported, while India’s domestic RuPay network is not currently supported.
That means the launch does not immediately bring Apple Pay to every Indian cardholder.
How Axis Bank Credit Cards Work With Apple Pay
Eligible Axis Bank credit cards can be added to Apple Wallet and authenticated using Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode.
For in-store payments, users can bring a compatible Apple device close to a contactless payment terminal. Apple says the service can also be used at supported online merchants and inside apps.
The card number itself is not shared with merchants during Apple Pay transactions. Instead, Apple uses a device-specific account number and transaction-specific security features.
The service’s arrival comes as India already has a deeply established digital payments ecosystem, particularly through UPI. Apple Pay therefore enters a market where consumers are already accustomed to fast mobile payments.
Apple Pay India Faces A Limited Initial Rollout
The Apple Pay India launch is significant, but its first phase is narrower than many users may have expected.
Other major Indian banks, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, have not joined the service at launch. Apple has indicated that it intends to expand the service with additional banks and merchants over time.
The initial Axis Bank partnership nevertheless gives Apple a foothold in India’s card-payment market.
The launch also comes shortly after Apple’s latest flagship smartphones arrived. Indian users following the iPhone 18 Pro launch now have another Apple service becoming available in the country.
What Indian Users Should Know
The key limitation is simple: having an iPhone does not automatically mean a user can add any Indian bank card to Apple Pay.
At launch, the supported option is an eligible Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card. RuPay cards and unsupported issuers cannot currently be added.
For users who meet the requirements, however, the service provides another way to pay without carrying the physical card for supported transactions.
Apple Expands Its Indian Services Push
The Axis Bank credit cards partnership gives Apple an opening in a market where mobile payments are already highly developed.
Apple Pay will therefore have to compete for attention in a country where consumers have a wide range of established digital payment options. Its early success will depend partly on how quickly Apple adds more banks and expands merchant acceptance.
For now, the launch marks a major change for Indian Apple users: Apple Pay is officially available, but only eligible cards from the initial banking partner can be used.
