Apple Pay’s long-awaited entry into the Indian market continues to generate buzz, but a full-scale rollout for everyday domestic use is still some way off. Apple is currently in discussions with Indian regulatory authorities and banking partners to explore the possibility of introducing Apple Pay services in the country. While rumors of an imminent launch have intensified in recent weeks, people familiar with the matter emphasize that Apple Pay remains unavailable for regular use by Indian consumers.
At present, Apple Pay’s presence in India is extremely limited and largely confined to cross-border transactions. Certain Indian payment gateways, such as Razorpay and Cashfree, already support Apple Pay at checkout—but only for international customers. This means overseas users can use Apple Pay-linked cards to shop on Indian e-commerce platforms, while Indian users themselves cannot add local cards or use the service for daily payments.
Current Restrictions on Apple Pay
The limitations are significant. No Indian credit or debit card is supported by Apple Pay in the Wallet app. As a result, Indian users cannot rely on Apple Pay for in-store purchases, public transport payments such as metro travel, or QR code-based transactions. In practical terms, Apple Pay does not function as a domestic digital wallet in India today.
This gap highlights a critical difference between India and other global markets where Apple Pay has become a mainstream payment option. The absence of local card support and domestic acceptance prevents Indian iPhone users from integrating Apple Pay into their everyday financial routines.
UPI’s Dominance and Regulatory Hurdles
One of the biggest challenges Apple faces is India’s highly successful and tightly regulated digital payments ecosystem. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), overseen by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), dominates the country’s payments landscape. UPI enables instant bank-to-bank transfers and is deeply embedded in daily life, from small street vendors to large retailers.
For Apple Pay to operate domestically, it would require deep integration with the NPCI framework, compliance with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and coordination with Indian banks and existing payment systems. These regulatory and technical requirements have historically made it difficult for global digital wallet providers to establish a strong foothold in India.
What Industry Experts Expect
According to industry experts, Apple is likely to adopt a phased strategy rather than launching Apple Pay nationwide all at once. This could begin with expanding cross-border acceptance, followed by limited domestic pilot programs. Over time, this approach might evolve into a broader rollout that integrates Apple Pay with UPI and Indian banking infrastructure.
However, experts caution that this process will take time. Despite ongoing discussions and growing speculation, Apple Pay’s arrival as a fully functional domestic payment service in India is not imminent. For now, iPhone users in India will continue to rely on existing UPI-enabled apps for everyday transactions.
Signs of Progress
Even with these constraints, Apple Pay is slowly gaining relevance in India for international use cases. It is increasingly seen as a secure and reliable option for international bookings and payments made to Indian merchants. A notable example is Akasa Air, which has recently begun accepting Apple Pay for international flight bookings, making it one of the first Indian airlines to support a global digital wallet.
This development signals a growing willingness among Indian vendors to adopt Apple’s payment platform, at least for cross-border transactions. While it does not indicate an immediate domestic launch, it does suggest that Apple Pay is gradually building trust and acceptance in the Indian market.
The Road Ahead
In summary, Apple Pay in India remains a work in progress. Regulatory complexities, UPI’s dominance, and the need for deep local integration continue to delay its full launch. While Apple is making incremental strides—particularly in cross-border payments—the service is still far from becoming an everyday payment solution for Indian users.