Apple has resumed accepting credit and debit card payments for App Store purchases and subscription services such as iCloud in India, marking a significant shift following regulatory-induced withdrawal in 2022. This move comes as the company complies with the Reserve Bank of India's updated card tokenisation norms and prepares for the forthcoming launch of Apple Pay in the country.
- Apple testing credit/debit card payments for Indian App Store users.
- Move follows RBI-mandated card tokenisation and local data storage.
- Part of broader prep for Apple Pay launch in India.
What happened
Apple has resumed accepting credit and debit card payments for purchases and subscriptions on its App Store and iCloud services in India. This functionality, withdrawn nearly four years ago after the Reserve Bank of India introduced new recurring payment and card security regulations, is currently being tested with a limited group of users before a wider rollout is expected in the coming months.
The restoration of card payments follows Apple’s compliance with RBI’s card tokenisation framework, which requires merchants to replace stored card details with unique encrypted tokens and mandates that tokenised data be stored locally. Until now, Indian users were restricted to paying through UPI, net banking, or Apple ID balance, as Apple temporarily disabled card-based payments for digital content.
Why it matters
This development signals Apple’s adherence to stringent Indian regulations aimed at enhancing payment security and protecting consumer interests. The RBI’s card tokenisation rules prevent merchants from storing sensitive card data, reducing fraud risks and adding layers of customer authentication. Apple’s previous withdrawal of card payments had caused disruption for many users relying on saved card details for subscription renewals.
The acceptance of card payments also supports Apple’s broader strategy to launch its proprietary Apple Pay service in India. Collaborations with major Indian banks and global card networks are reportedly underway, and restoring card payments lays important groundwork for a phased Apple Pay rollout focused initially on NFC contactless payments through Apple Wallet-enabled devices.
What to watch next
Monitor Apple's expansion of card payment acceptance to all users across India and its timeline for fully implementing compliance with RBI’s tokenisation and local data storage requirements. The initial limited user testing phase will provide insights into possible challenges or user adoption trends before a general availability announcement.
Stay alert to announcements about Apple Pay’s formal launch in India, which is expected to enable adding debit and credit cards to Apple Wallet and making contactless merchant payments via iPhone and Apple Watch. The sequence and scope of bank partnerships, as well as competitive dynamics with UPI and other digital payment platforms, will be important to assess.
Regulatory updates from the RBI regarding recurring payments and tokenisation standards could influence the final design and rollout timing for Apple Pay and other merchant payment experiences in India. Apple's adherence to local rules will be closely watched, given the impact of these regulations on global tech platforms operating in the Indian financial ecosystem.