Apple restores card payment support for Indian users

The company suspended direct card support in May 2022 following the Reserve Bank of India’s introduction of a new recurring payments framework. These regulations mandated stronger customer authentication and the adoption of tokenized credentials, forcing merchants to overhaul how they handled billing. For years, this forced Indian customers to navigate alternative payment routes, a friction point that limited the seamless experience typical of Apple’s global services.

This adjustment signals a broader strategic pivot for the Cupertino giant. As governments from the European Union to South Korea enforce localized digital rules, Apple is increasingly forced to abandon its uniform global model in favor of region-specific technical infrastructure. While Apple’s services business in India maintained double-digit growth during the hiatus, restoring credit and debit support is vital as the company’s installed user base expands. Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research, noted that the move effectively resolves a significant barrier to subscription retention. The update has already begun appearing in support documentation, though the company remains silent on whether this infrastructure work serves as a precursor to a wider Apple Pay rollout in the region.