Apple is restarting credit and debit card payments for App Store and iCloud purchases in India after nearly five years, according to multiple reports. Apple had disabled card payments in 2021, following the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) card tokenisation requirements. Since then, users generally have been limited to other options such as UPI, net banking, and prepaid Apple ID balances for purchases and subscriptions.
The renewed card support is described as part of a limited beta or testing phase with select users, with plans to expand access in the coming months. Reporting also links Apple’s change to compliance with RBI requirements, including rules that affect how tokenised payment data is handled and where it is stored. One outlet says Apple is able to add card payments without building local infrastructure in India, while another describes the effort in the context of Apple working toward a broader Apple Pay launch in the country.
Apple’s earlier withdrawal was also associated with additional banking requirements applied to online recurring payments such as subscriptions. Overall, the sources agree that Apple is adjusting its payment approach to meet Indian regulatory demands while restoring card-based purchasing for users.
