Apple Pay in India: Launch Date, Banks and UPI Support

Apple Pay could finally be coming to India after years of waiting. Recent reports suggest Apple is preparing to launch its digital payment service in the country as early as October 2026, with Axis Bank reportedly expected to be the first banking partner.

Apple has not officially announced the Indian launch date, supported banks or the complete feature list yet. So, while the latest reports are significant, some details should still be treated as reported information rather than confirmed facts.

India is also a very different payments market from the US and many other countries. UPI is deeply integrated into everyday payments, from small shops to online shopping. That makes the way Apple introduces Apple Pay in India particularly interesting.

Apple Pay India Launch Date

According to Reuters, Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in India next month, meaning October 2026, starting with Axis Bank credit cards. The report cited three people familiar with the plans. Apple did not comment on the report.

Other recent reports have also pointed towards an October launch. However, Apple has not published an official India launch date yet.

Apple’s own India website currently provides information about Apple Wallet, but its watchOS feature-availability page does not currently list India among the countries where Apple Pay is available.

That means readers should distinguish between the reported October rollout and an officially announced launch.

Axis Bank Could Be the First Partner

The first major bank connected to the reported launch is Axis Bank.

Reuters reports that Apple plans to initially support Axis Bank credit cards, while discussions with other Indian banks are also taking place. HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have been mentioned in reports as potential future partners, although their participation and launch timing have not been officially confirmed.

This could mean Apple Pay will not suddenly become available to every Indian iPhone user on day one.

Instead, Apple may expand supported banks gradually.

For users, the important question will be whether their particular card can be added to Apple Wallet when the service goes live.

How Will Apple Pay Work in India?

Apple Pay is designed to let users store eligible payment cards inside Apple Wallet and make contactless payments using compatible Apple devices.

Apple says users can add cards through the Wallet app on iPhone and through the Apple Watch app for Apple Watch.

At a supported contactless terminal, users can authenticate a payment using Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode.

The actual card number is not simply handed to the merchant during the transaction. Apple uses security technologies designed to protect payment information, including device-specific payment credentials and transaction authentication.

For an iPhone user, the biggest difference could simply be convenience: instead of taking out a physical card, the phone or Apple Watch could be used at a compatible NFC terminal.

Will Apple Pay Support UPI?

This is probably the biggest question surrounding the India launch.

Earlier reports suggested that Apple Pay could initially focus on Visa and Mastercard credit cards, rather than UPI. Business Standard reported in August that UPI would not be supported at launch, with Apple still working through the requirements for a future UPI integration.

However, more recent reporting has suggested that Apple has continued discussions around how Apple Pay could work within India’s payments ecosystem.

So, for now, UPI support should not be presented as confirmed.

This is important because UPI is already one of the most common ways Indians make digital payments. Apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm have built their everyday payment experience around it.

If Apple Pay initially supports only cards, its first version in India could look very different from what many users expect from a full digital-payment service.

Apple Pay Arrives as UPI Gets Tap-and-Pay

Interestingly, India itself has been moving toward more contactless UPI payments.

NPCI recently introduced a tap-and-pay option for UPI, allowing users to make certain payments by tapping a smartphone on a compatible point-of-sale terminal. Reuters reported that the feature uses NFC and can work in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

That creates an interesting situation.

Apple Pay could enter India with NFC-based card payments at roughly the same time that UPI is expanding its own tap-based payment capabilities.

The two systems are not identical, but both are moving digital payments away from the traditional QR-code-only experience.

Which Devices Could Support Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is built into Apple’s ecosystem rather than being limited to a single app.

Compatible iPhones and Apple Watch models can be used for Apple Pay where the service is supported. Apple also provides Wallet and Apple Pay settings across supported Apple devices.

For Indian users, the exact device requirements and supported card combinations will become clearer when Apple officially announces the service.

Apple’s existing Wallet infrastructure already supports cards, passes and other digital credentials in India, even though Apple Pay itself has not officially launched nationwide.

Will Apple Pay Work in Shops?

If the reported card-based rollout happens, Apple Pay should be aimed at contactless card payments at compatible NFC-enabled payment terminals.

That means users would need:

• A compatible Apple device
• An eligible supported bank card
• A merchant with a compatible contactless payment terminal
• Apple Pay availability for the specific card

Online and in-app Apple Pay functionality could also depend on participating merchants and Apple’s final India rollout.

The exact merchant and card coverage will only be clear after the official launch.

Is Apple Pay Free in India?

Apple has not announced Indian Apple Pay pricing because the service has not officially launched.

For consumers, Apple Pay itself has generally functioned as a payment service rather than a separate subscription product. However, normal charges associated with the linked credit card can still apply.

Users should therefore check their bank’s terms for annual fees, interest, foreign-exchange charges and other card-related costs.

Online or Offline: Where Will Apple Pay Be Used?

Apple Pay is not expected to be limited to online payments.

Its most visible use case in India could be offline contactless payments, where an iPhone or Apple Watch is tapped against a compatible payment terminal.

It can also be used for supported online and in-app purchases in markets where Apple Pay is available.

However, Apple’s Indian rollout could have different restrictions during the initial phase.

What Could Apple Pay Change in India?

Apple Pay would arrive in a market that already has a mature digital payments ecosystem.

That means Apple does not have to convince Indian consumers that mobile payments are useful. Instead, the challenge is making Apple Pay fit into habits that already revolve heavily around UPI.

The initial reported card-focused approach could make Apple Pay particularly relevant to iPhone users who frequently use credit cards for retail purchases.

Whether Apple eventually adds UPI will be much more important for everyday payments.

Apple Pay India: What We Know So Far

Feature	Current status
India launch	Reported for October 2026
Official launch date	Not announced
First reported bank	Axis Bank
HDFC Bank	Talks reported
ICICI Bank	Talks reported
Credit cards	Expected initially
Visa/Mastercard	Reported support
UPI	Not confirmed
NFC payments	Expected
iPhone	Supported device category
Apple Watch	Supported device category
Offline payments	Expected at compatible terminals
Online/in-app payments	Expected where supported
Apple Pay fee	No Indian pricing announced

Conclusion

Apple Pay’s possible India launch is one of the more interesting developments in the country’s smartphone and digital-payment space. Reports now point to October 2026, with Axis Bank potentially becoming the first major banking partner.

But there is an important distinction between what has been reported and what Apple has confirmed. The launch date, participating banks and UPI support have not yet been officially announced by Apple.

If Apple initially launches with credit cards and NFC payments, the service could provide a convenient option for iPhone and Apple Watch users. The bigger story will come later if Apple adds UPI and expands bank support.

For now, Indian users will have to wait for Apple to officially reveal how Apple Pay will work in the country.

FAQs

1. Is Apple Pay coming to India?
Apple has not officially announced the launch, but Reuters and several recent reports say Apple is preparing an India rollout, potentially in October 2026.

2. When will Apple Pay launch in India?
Current reports point to October 2026, but Apple has not confirmed an exact date.

3. Which Indian bank will support Apple Pay first?
Axis Bank is reportedly expected to be the first banking partner, beginning with its credit cards.

4. Will Apple Pay support UPI in India?
UPI support has not been confirmed. Earlier reports indicated that Apple Pay could launch with card payments first and add UPI later.

5. Can Apple Pay be used on an iPhone?
Apple Pay is designed to work on compatible iPhones, with Apple Wallet used to add and manage supported cards.

6. Can Apple Watch be used for Apple Pay?
Yes. Apple supports Apple Pay on compatible Apple Watch models in countries where the service is available.

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