Apple is preparing to restore credit and debit card payments for App Store and iCloud subscriptions in India after nearly four years. The company has reportedly begun testing the feature with a limited group of users and could expand access across the country in the coming months.
The change marks a major shift in Apple’s payment strategy for one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets. It also signals progress toward the company’s long-awaited launch of Apple Pay in India.
Why Card Payments Disappeared
Apple stopped accepting credit and debit cards for recurring online payments in India in June 2022. The decision followed new banking regulations introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which required stronger protections for recurring transactions.
Under the updated rules, banks must notify customers at least 24 hours before recurring payments and allow them to cancel subscriptions easily. In addition, merchants cannot store customers’ card details directly. Instead, they must use encrypted payment tokens issued by Indian banks.
Rather than immediately redesign its payment systems, Apple encouraged users to switch to India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for subscriptions.
Apple Appears Ready to Meet Local Rules
Recent reports suggest Apple has now adapted its systems to comply with India’s payment framework. Testing of card payments indicates the company may have established the necessary partnerships with local banks while meeting the RBI’s data storage and security requirements.
Although Apple has not officially announced a nationwide rollout, the move represents an important milestone after years of negotiations and technical adjustments.
Apple Pay Could Be the Bigger Goal
Industry observers believe restoring card payments is closely tied to Apple’s broader ambitions. The company has worked to bring Apple Pay to India since at least 2018, but regulatory requirements delayed those plans. Reports earlier this year suggested Apple had renewed discussions with several Indian banks about launching the service.
India’s massive population of roughly 1.4 billion people presents significant growth opportunities for Apple. However, the iPhone accounted for only about 6% of the country’s smartphone market as recently as 2024.
By restoring card payments and moving closer to an Apple Pay launch, Apple hopes to improve the customer experience while strengthening its position in one of the world’s most important technology markets.
