Apple Pay India launch edges closer, rollout may begin with NFC payments

Apple Pay could finally be on its way to India, and if the latest industry chatter is to be believed, Apple is planning to ease itself into the country’s crowded digital payments space rather than dive in headfirst. The initial rollout is expected to focus on NFC-based, card-driven tap-to-pay transactions, with UPI support likely to arrive at a later stage.

India is hardly short on payment options. PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM and Google Pay dominate daily transactions, while Samsung has already managed to bridge both NFC and UPI inside Samsung Wallet. Apple’s approach, however, appears more cautious and characteristically staged.

Cards first, ecosystem play later

At launch, Apple Pay in India is expected to work much like it does in other markets. Users would be able to add Indian-issued debit and credit cards to Apple Wallet and pay at compatible point-of-sale terminals using an iPhone or Apple Watch. Think shopping malls, fuel stations, cafés, cinemas and anywhere contactless card payments are already accepted.

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Apple is reportedly in discussions with Visa, Mastercard and Indian regulators to iron out commercial terms and fee structures. That groundwork matters, because while NFC card payments are established in India, they still play second fiddle to UPI in everyday use.

From Apple’s perspective, this phased entry makes sense. It allows the company to plug into existing card infrastructure while testing consumer appetite, merchant readiness and regulatory comfort, all without immediately tackling India’s most complex payments system.

Why UPI is unavoidable for Apple Pay

UPI support is not expected to be part of Apple Pay’s initial launch. Integrating with India’s real-time payments backbone requires Apple to obtain a Third-Party Application Provider license and comply with local data, settlement and operational norms. That is no small task.

Still, Apple knows the score. A payments service that ignores UPI is unlikely to become truly mainstream in India. Industry sources suggest Apple is already laying the groundwork, even if UPI integration comes later rather than sooner.

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Samsung’s October 2025 update, which brought UPI to Samsung Wallet alongside NFC, has only sharpened the comparison. Apple, meanwhile, continues to see strong growth in India’s hardware market, giving it a sizable base of iPhone and Apple Watch users ready to try Apple Pay the moment it switches on. Will you try it? Let us know in the comments section below.