Apple is preparing to bring Apple Pay to India next month, beginning with credit cards issued by Axis Bank, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The planned rollout would mark Apple Pay’s entry into one of the world’s largest digital payments markets. India is among the major economies where Apple’s payment service has not yet been available. 

The initial launch is expected to begin with Axis Bank, which is the fourth-largest credit card issuer in India. Apple is also in discussions with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank to expand Apple Pay support, but commercial terms with the two lenders have not yet been finalised. 

Apple Pay allows users to make contactless payments using compatible Apple devices, with tokenised card information used during transactions. The service could therefore give iPhone users in India another way to make card payments without relying on a separate payment application.

The planned entry comes as India’s digital payments market continues to be dominated by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). UPI accounted for about 84% of digital transaction volume, according to the reported figures. 

Recent changes to payment authentication rules have also helped create conditions for card payments using device-based biometric authentication.

The rollout is expected to be phased, with Apple negotiating separately with individual banks before adding broader card support. Neither Apple nor the banks have publicly confirmed a final launch date, and the commercial discussions with additional lenders remain ongoing.