Apple Pay could finally make its long-awaited debut in India later this year, almost ten years after Apple’s payment service first expanded globally. A new report suggests Apple is now ironing out the final commercial terms with Indian banks, with a card-focused rollout potentially arriving in late September or October 2026.
According to a Business Standard report, Apple is in talks with card-issuing banks over the commission it would receive from Apple Pay transactions. Apple is reportedly asking for between 15 and 20 basis points per transaction. Some banks, meanwhile, are seeking a lower rate of roughly 10 basis points.
The proposed commission would reportedly be carved out of the banks’ existing interchange revenue. As a result, customers and merchants would not face a separate charge for using Apple Pay.
The fee dispute also appears to be linked to the delay surrounding Apple’s India rollout earlier this year. Apple’s technical groundwork is reportedly already in place, leaving commercial negotiations as one of the remaining hurdles before launch.
Apple Pay Could Start With Visa and Mastercard
Apple is expected to take a limited approach during the first phase of its India launch. The service could initially work with eligible credit cards issued on Visa and Mastercard networks.
Users would then be able to add supported cards to Apple Wallet and use compatible iPhones and iPads for contactless payments at NFC-enabled terminals.
There is one major omission, though. UPI is not expected to feature during the initial rollout.
Adding UPI to Apple Pay would involve a separate approval process with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and a sponsor bank. Those requirements would add another layer of regulatory and banking coordination to Apple’s entry into the Indian payments market.
This points towards a phased strategy. Apple could first introduce card-based payments, establish the service among Indian users, and pursue UPI integration at a later stage.
Earlier reports had also indicated a similar approach for Apple Pay in India.
Apple Pay India Launch Target Set for Late 2026
Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau, cited by Business Standard, expects Apple Pay to reach India before the end of 2026.
Rau also pointed to continued growth in credit card usage. Credit card transactions are reportedly increasing by around 10% to 15%, even though UPI still commands a dominant position in India’s digital payment ecosystem.
That backdrop gives Apple a sizeable market for a card-led launch. Still, the absence of UPI at launch would leave Apple Pay without one of the most widely used payment methods in the country.
Apple Has Yet to Confirm the Launch
Apple has not officially announced an India launch date for Apple Pay. Business Standard reportedly contacted the company for comment but did not receive a response.
For now, late September or October 2026 appears to be the reported target window. The timing is still tentative, though, until Apple formally confirms its plans.
If the reported schedule holds, Apple Pay’s arrival would mark a significant shift in Apple’s payments strategy for India. The company appears poised to begin with traditional card payments rather than attempting an immediate UPI integration.
