Apple Pay could finally make its debut in India by late September or October 2026, nearly a decade after Apple first indicated plans to bring its digital payments service to the country. However, the reported launch is expected to initially focus on credit cards rather than India’s dominant Unified Payments Interface (UPI) network.
According to a Business Standard report, Apple is preparing to introduce Apple Pay with support for cards issued on global payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard. The service would allow eligible users to add supported cards to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments using an iPhone or Apple Watch at NFC-enabled point-of-sale terminals.
Apple Pay India launch may not include UPI
As we covered in an earlier report, one of the biggest limitations at launch could be the absence of UPI support.
Apple would reportedly need approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and a partnership with a sponsor bank to enable UPI transactions through Apple Pay. As a result, the initial rollout is expected to focus primarily on card-based payments.
This could make Apple Pay particularly appealing to India’s premium credit card users, especially those already using iPhones and Apple Watches for everyday tasks. However, the lack of UPI integration could limit its broader appeal among consumers who rely heavily on UPI apps for daily payments.
Banks seek lower fees ahead of Apple Pay launch
Apple is also reportedly negotiating transaction economics with major Indian card issuers ahead of the potential launch.
Sources cited by Business Standard claim Apple has been seeking around 15 to 20 basis points from the interchange fee generated on each credit card transaction. Some banks, however, are reportedly pushing for a lower rate of approximately 10 basis points.
The fee would reportedly be paid by card-issuing banks rather than being charged directly to customers or merchants.
Despite those negotiations, Apple Pay’s arrival could give India’s credit card ecosystem another growth catalyst. Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau has said he expects Apple Pay to enter India before the end of 2026 and suggested that offering consumers a broader range of payment options could help drive further growth in credit card transactions.
Apple’s RBI compliance could pave the way for Apple Pay
The potential Apple Pay launch comes as Apple strengthens its payments and services presence in the Indian market.
In July, the company reportedly restored credit and debit card payment options for Indian users purchasing apps, subscriptions, and services such as iCloud. Apple had removed card-based payments several years earlier following changes to India’s recurring payment regulations.
The restoration followed Apple’s implementation of India’s card tokenization requirements. Under the regulatory framework, businesses cannot retain customers’ actual card numbers for recurring transactions. Instead, payments rely on unique tokens generated by authorized card networks.
Tokenized payment information must also comply with India’s local data storage requirements, helping Apple align its payment infrastructure with regulations set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
A long-awaited payment option may finally reach India
Apple Pay’s reported India launch could therefore mark another significant step in Apple’s efforts to expand its payments ecosystem in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payments markets.
Apple Pay is already available across more than 90 markets globally, making India a notable omission given the country’s growing iPhone user base and rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.
However, Apple has not officially confirmed the India launch timeline, participating banks, supported cards, or whether UPI integration will eventually follow. Those details could still change before the service becomes available.
Would you use Apple Pay for payments in India even if it launches without UPI support? Let us know in the comments below.