Apple Pay set for India launch as iPhone maker seeks regulatory approvals and begins talks with card networks

Apple Pay is operated by Apple Payments Services, a subsidiary of Apple.

• Apple Pay to launch in India with card-based contactless payments first.
• Apple is in talks with Mastercard, Visa, and regulators for approvals
• Future integration with UPI may follow after initial rollout

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Apple is inching closer to launching its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India, with the company currently holding discussions with global card networks including Mastercard and Visa, besides working on taking a slew or regulatory approvals, people familiar with the matter told Moneycontrol.

The iPhone maker is targeting an initial rollout around June–July this year, subject to regulatory approvals and the finalisation of commercial agreements.

Industry sources said Apple is also negotiating fee structures with card issuers for access to its payment gateway. Apple Pay is already operational in 89 markets worldwide.

Phased Roll Out

According to people aware of the plans, Apple’s India entry will be rolled out in phases. The first phase is expected to focus on card-based contactless payments, while a later phase could include integration with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which would require a separate and more complex set of regulatory approvals.

Apple Pay is unlikely to apply for a TPAP (third-party application provider) licence for UPI in the initial phase, sources said, as the approval process involves a distinct regulatory framework and a payments architecture that differs fundamentally from card-based systems.

Business Standard first reported the development on January 21.

Queries sent to Apple India, Mastercard and Visa didn't elicit any response.

Apple’s move comes as rival Samsung already operates its own digital payments platform, Samsung Wallet, in India. Launched in 2022, Samsung Wallet consolidates payments, cards and other services within Samsung’s device ecosystem and has recently gained momentum with UPI-based integration, allowing users to make seamless payments directly through the app. The development has helped Samsung strengthen its position in India’s digital payments market, where UPI dominates everyday transactions.

Apple Pay is operated by Apple Payments Services, a subsidiary of Apple. Once launched, users will be able to store their credit and debit cards on Apple Wallet and make contactless payments by tapping their Apple devices on point-of-sale (PoS) terminals using near-field communication (NFC). Currently, Indian-issued cards cannot be added to Apple Wallet.

Apple’s push into digital payments aligns with the rapid expansion of electronic transactions in India across cards, digital wallets, prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) and UPI.

Growing Presence in India

The timing also coincides with Apple’s growing presence in India’s smartphone market. The company recorded its highest-ever shipments in the country in 2025, with volume market share hovering around 9–10%, placing it among the top five smartphone brands in India.

Analysts said Apple’s installed base in India has expanded significantly in recent years, creating a strong foundation for the launch of localised services such as Apple Pay.

“India has emerged as one of the largest markets for iPhones. The rising installed base provides an opportunity for Apple to deepen its services play, with Apple Pay being a natural candidate given that India is the world’s largest digital payments market,” said Varun Mishra, analyst at Counterpoint, in comments to Moneycontrol.

Mishra added that Indian consumers are already accustomed to digital payments due to UPI’s widespread adoption, which should limit friction in onboarding Apple Pay users. “To succeed, Apple must differentiate itself from QR-based apps like Google Pay through tighter iOS integration, a cleaner interface, and seamless payments across NFC, QR codes and cards. Apple’s strong emphasis on privacy and security could also be a key advantage,” he said, adding that Apple Pay would help deepen user stickiness within the iOS ecosystem.

In anticipation of Apple Pay’s entry, Indian fintech firms began integrating the service in 2025 to support international transactions for Indian merchants.