Apple Pay India Launch Imminent: Tech Giant in Talks with Major Banks for Release in Mid-2026

Apple is negotiating with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank to introduce Apple Pay in India around mid-2026, according to Bloomberg. Talks are also underway with Visa and Mastercard. Apple plans to begin with contactless card payments, while integration with UPI is expected later, subject to separate regulatory clearance.

This push follows a policy shift by the Reserve Bank of India, which recently allowed biometric authentication for digital payments. The move lets systems like Face ID and Touch ID work within official rules. Earlier, India relied mainly on Aadhaar-based checks, which did not align neatly with Apple's device-led security approach.

Apple Pay India digital payments rollout plan and partners

Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reports that Apple is in "active discussions" with the three private banks to shape the India launch. These negotiations cover how cards from ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank might work with Apple Pay. Parallel talks with Visa and Mastercard aim to ensure broad support across existing card networks.

The India launch is expected to follow a phased roadmap. At first, Apple Pay would work with NFC-based contactless terminals for card payments in stores. Later stages are expected to explore UPI connectivity, which would align the service with how many Indians already pay. However, any UPI link will likely require additional approvals and technical coordination.

Apple Pay India digital payments context and regulatory background

Apple Pay has been available since September 2014, first launched in the United States. The service now operates in 89 markets across the world. India still stands out as a missing entry despite its strong digital payments growth, mainly because of complex local regulation and the scale of the UPI ecosystem.

UPI, backed by the Indian state, handles billions of payments monthly and dominates everyday transactions. While Google Pay and Samsung Wallet found ways to work within older rules, Apple waited for formal clarity on biometrics. The recent Reserve Bank decision now removes a key barrier that had slowed Apple Pay's expansion into India.

Apple's hardware presence in India is growing quickly, which adds urgency to these payment talks. IDC data shows Apple shipped a record 5 million iPhones in India during Q3 2025, reaching fourth place in the market for the first time. Apple also opened its sixth store in the country, and second outlet in Mumbai, on Thursday.

If timelines hold, Apple Pay will reach India more than 11 years after its launch in the United States. The combination of new biometric rules, strong UPI usage, and rising iPhone sales creates a distinct moment for Apple. The final impact will depend on regulatory approvals and how smoothly UPI integration follows card-based payments.