Apple Brings Back Card Payments in India After 4 Years
Apple has officially started restoring credit and debit card payment options for Apple Account purchases in India, marking the end of a four-year hiatus as the tech giant adapts its services to the country’s evolving digital payment laws.
Why Apple Suspended Card Payments in India
The disruption dates back to May 2022, when Apple suspended all card payments in India. This decision followed a new recurring payments framework introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2021.
The RBI regulations required merchants and payment processors to implement stricter customer authentication for automated recurring card transactions. Additionally, the rules mandated the adoption of tokenized card credentials and strictly prohibited merchants from storing actual customer card details. This regulatory shift caused massive subscription billing disruptions for both domestic and international companies before they could overhaul their payment infrastructures.
During this multi-year gap, Apple users in India had to rely on alternative transaction methods, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), net banking, and manual Apple Account balance top-ups to pay for subscriptions and digital purchases.
How the New Payment System Works
The newly restored feature is rolling out in phases, allowing eligible Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cardholders in India to link their cards directly to their Apple Accounts. Once added, users can seamlessly pay for App Store purchases and recurring subscriptions such as iCloud+ and Apple Music.
To comply with India’s strict financial regulations, Apple has completed the necessary backend modifications to support tokenized transactions. The tech giant has also updated its official support documentation to reflect these changes. While the rollout is gradual, it is expected to reach all eligible users across India over the coming weeks.
Eliminating Subscription Friction
Industry experts view this move as a crucial step forward for Apple’s ecosystem in the region. Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research, noted that the update is long overdue and successfully resolves a major point of friction for users trying to renew their digital subscriptions.
Pathak highlighted that while Apple’s services division in India continued to deliver double-digit growth despite the card payment restrictions, restoring this payment option is essential as the company’s device install base expands and consumers demand more flexible payment methods.
Apple’s Global Struggle with Local Regulations
This policy reversal highlights a growing challenge for Apple on a global scale. Governments worldwide are increasingly implementing country-specific regulations on major digital platforms. This trend forces the Cupertino-based company to abandon its uniform global service model in favor of localized payment, product, and distribution frameworks.
Similar regulatory pressures have already forced Apple to restructure its App Store operations in the European Union. Meanwhile, legislative changes in Japan and South Korea have similarly transformed how apps are distributed and paid for in those markets.
Will Apple Pay Finally Launch in India?
The return of direct card payments has reignited industry speculation regarding the potential launch of Apple Pay in India. Previous media reports indicated that Apple had explored bringing the service to the Indian market, though negotiations reportedly stalled due to disagreements with local banks over commission fees. Apple has not yet made any official announcements regarding a mobile payments launch in the country, and the company did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
