Apple Pay is now available in India, giving users another option for making contactless payments with their Apple devices. The service has taken quite a while to reach the country, arriving nearly 12 years after Apple first introduced it in the US in September 2014.

For the initial rollout, Apple is working with Axis Bank. The service currently accepts eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by the bank, so not every Indian iPhone user will be able to add their existing card just yet.

Apple Pay can be used on supported iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch models. Apple has also confirmed that Mac support will be added soon.

ALSO READ: Google Chrome Gets New Student Features: Turn Lectures Into Insights, Notes Into Quizzes

The idea behind the service is simple: instead of pulling out a physical card at a shop, users can use their Apple device to complete a contactless payment. It can also be used for eligible purchases made online and through supported apps.

What You Need to Use Apple Pay

There is one important requirement for in-store payments. The shop's PoS machine needs to support NFC, the wireless technology used for contactless transactions.

Once an eligible card is added to Apple Wallet, users can authenticate the payment on their device and bring it close to the NFC-enabled terminal. The transaction is then completed without entering the card's PIN or waiting for an OTP.

Apple Pay isn't limited to physical stores either. Depending on the merchant and app, users can also select it while making online or in-app payments.

What Happens to Your Card Details?

Apple says your actual card number isn't saved on the device or on its servers when you set up Apple Pay. The company also says merchants don't receive the card number when a payment is made.

Instead, Apple creates a separate Device Account Number for the card. This number is encrypted and kept inside the Secure Element, a dedicated security component used to protect payment information on compatible Apple devices.

Apple says it also doesn't retain transaction details. According to the company, information about a purchase remains with the relevant parties involved in the payment, including the customer, merchant and card issuer or bank.

With the India rollout, Apple Pay is now available across more than 90 countries and regions. Apple says its payment service has partnerships with more than 11,000 banks and network providers globally.

How to Set Up Apple Pay

Axis Bank customers with an eligible Visa or Mastercard credit card can start the setup process through the latest version of the Axis Bank app.

Alternatively, the card can be added directly from Apple Wallet. Open Wallet on a compatible iPhone, tap the '+' button and follow the instructions to enter and verify the card details.

ALSO READ: Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026 Dates Confirmed: iPhone 17, Galaxy S25 And More Deals Teased

After the card has been activated, it can be used at compatible NFC-enabled payment terminals and for supported online and in-app transactions.

At launch, however, Axis Bank is the key limitation. Apple Pay in India currently supports only eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by the bank. Apple has indicated that support will expand to additional devices, while the service's wider availability in India is expected to depend on future partnerships.