Apple Pay India launch: Axis Bank credit cards, device rules, merchants
Apple Pay launched in India on 30 Sept 2026 with Axis Bank credit‑card support, iPhone XR+ and Apple Watch Series 6+ requirements, and a growing merchant network.
13 Oct 2026, 10:38 UTC
Launch details and eligibility
Apple Pay went live in India on 30 September 2026, according to Apple’s official newsroom Apple Pay launches in India. At launch only Axis Bank‑issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards can be added; debit cards, other banks, and UPI are not yet supported. This exclusivity means the majority of Indian credit‑card holders cannot use the service immediately, signalling a premium‑first rollout rather than a mass‑market push.
Device requirements
| Device | Minimum model | OS version |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone XR or later | iOS 18 or later |
| Apple Watch | Series 6 or later | watchOS 11 or later |
| Mac | — | Support “coming soon” |
These requirements are listed on Apple’s India Apple Pay page Apple Pay launches in India. The Apple Watch must be paired with an iPhone XR or later.
Merchant acceptance and security
Apple says the service is accepted by millions of merchants, including Apple Stores, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Interflora, Ixigo, Le15 Patisserie, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg, Zomato and many others. Payment‑service‑provider networks such as BillDesk, Cashfree, Juspay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs and Razorpay have also integrated Apple Pay. Security relies on tokenisation via Mastercard and Visa: the actual card numbers are never stored on the device or shared with merchants; a unique Device Account Number is kept in the Secure Element.
Search interest and what’s next
Google Trends recorded roughly 20,000 searches and a 1,000 % growth for “apple pay india” in the 24 hours ending 1 October 2026 Google Trends India, confirming high initial curiosity. No official timeline has been disclosed for adding more banks, debit cards, UPI integration, or Mac support. The “coming soon” label for Mac lacks a concrete date.
How to verify and what to watch
Readers can confirm the launch details on Apple’s newsroom page and monitor the Axis Bank website for any eligibility updates. RBI or NPCI circulars would announce broader bank onboarding or UPI‑on‑Apple‑Pay regulatory approvals. Until then, only Axis Bank credit‑card holders with compatible devices can use Apple Pay in India.
Sources & further reading
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