Apple pay rolls out in PH, India eyes launch minus UPI
The gist
Apple Pay has officially landed in the Philippines and is set to launch in India—shaking up Asia’s contactless payments scene but skipping UPI (for now).
What to know
- Apple Pay debuted in the Philippines on August 4, 2026, teaming up with China Banking Corp., GoTyme Bank, Metrobank, and UnionBank to enable Mastercard and Visa payments at 5,000+ merchants.
- Indian users can expect Apple Pay by October 2026, but it’s launching without UPI support due to regulatory and fee-related standoffs with local banks.
- Visa touts Apple Pay’s security, using encrypted Device Account Numbers and dynamic codes—while Apple negotiates a 15-20 basis point fee with Indian banks to jumpstart its market entry.
Early Access Signals Strategy
Filipino users quietly enabled Apple Pay by changing Apple ID regions before the official launch, revealing Apple’s phased entry and a bid to catch up with Google Pay’s head start.
In early August 2026, users in the Philippines began reporting the ability to add select local bank cards, notably from GoTyme Bank, to Apple Wallet, signaling the onset of a phased or partial Apple Pay rollout in the country. This preliminary access appears unofficial and somewhat experimental, as neither Apple nor the banks have confirmed full payment functionality, and some users have had to switch their Apple ID region to enable the feature. This early user adoption hints at a strategic buildup toward an anticipated official Apple Pay launch around August 4, 2026, positioning Apple to catch up with Google Pay, which entered the Philippine market in November 2023.
Philippines Goes Cash-Lite
Apple Pay’s official rollout, backed by major banks and e-commerce platforms, is accelerating the Philippines’ shift from cash to digital payments and broadening access for both locals and tourists.
On August 4, 2026, Apple Pay made its official debut in the Philippines, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s evolving digital payments landscape. The launch enabled users to perform seamless contactless transactions across physical stores, apps, and online platforms, integrating over 5,000 merchants into its network. This expansive rollout was bolstered by Maya Business, which facilitated Apple Pay acceptance for thousands of e-commerce sites, significantly broadening the ecosystem's reach and convenience.
At launch, Apple Pay partnered with four key banks—China Banking Corp., GoTyme Bank, Metrobank, and UnionBank—allowing Mastercard and Visa cardholders from these institutions to add their cards to Apple Wallet. This strategic collaboration laid the groundwork for future expansion to additional banks and card products, signaling Apple’s commitment to deepening market integration and accessibility in the Philippines’ financial sector.
The introduction of Apple Pay in the Philippines was championed by Apple, Mastercard, and Visa as a catalyst for the country’s transition toward a cash-lite, digital-first economy. Emphasizing enhanced security, privacy, and user convenience, the launch not only benefits local consumers but also tourists, aligning with broader national goals to modernize payment infrastructure and reduce reliance on cash.
Visa Champions Security Edge
Visa’s partnership highlights Apple Pay’s advanced security—using encrypted device numbers and dynamic codes—to build trust and drive adoption of contactless payments in the Philippines.
On August 4, 2026, Visa took a significant step in expanding secure digital payments in the Philippines by launching Apple Pay for eligible Visa debit and credit cardholders, enabling seamless contactless transactions across Apple devices such as the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. This rollout was hailed by Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro as the 'next evolution of payments' in the country, underscoring Apple Pay's ability to facilitate smooth and secure transactions across diverse sectors.
Central to Apple Pay’s appeal in emerging Asian markets is its robust security architecture, which Visa emphasized during the Philippine launch. By employing a unique encrypted Device Account Number alongside dynamic security codes for each transaction, Apple Pay ensures that card details remain protected, significantly mitigating fraud risks and enhancing user confidence in contactless payments.
India’s Launch Faces Roadblocks
Apple Pay enters India without UPI support amid fee disputes and regulatory hurdles, risking limited appeal against dominant local platforms but aiming to boost credit card usage.
Apple Pay is poised to enter the Indian market by late September or October 2026, initially supporting Visa and Mastercard credit cards but notably excluding UPI payments. This limitation stems from pending approvals from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and sponsor banks, alongside unresolved disagreements over authentication methods—Apple’s reliance on Face ID or Touch ID contrasts with India’s UPI framework tied to banking and identity infrastructure, delaying full integration.
Negotiations over transaction fees have emerged as a critical hurdle, with Apple seeking 15-20 basis points per transaction from Indian banks, while some banks advocate for a lower 10 basis points fee. Importantly, these fees would be deducted from banks’ revenue rather than charged directly to consumers or merchants, highlighting the financial balancing act Apple must perform to gain regulatory and banking support in a competitive payments landscape.
The absence of UPI integration at launch could constrain Apple Pay’s appeal in India, where UPI-based platforms like Google Pay and PhonePe dominate digital payments. Despite this, industry experts such as Amrish Rau, CEO of Pine Labs, anticipate that Apple Pay’s entry could invigorate the country’s credit card payments segment, which is already growing at an annual rate of 10-15%, potentially reshaping consumer payment preferences over time.