Apple has resumed accepting credit and debit card payments for its App Store and iCloud services in India after a five-year gap. The company now complies with RBI's local card tokenization norms, which require all payment data to be stored within the country. This update simplifies payment processes for millions of Indian users who previously relied on UPI or prepaid balances.
Apple has officially begun testing the reinstatement of credit and debit card payment options for its App Store and iCloud services in India. This move marks the end of a five-year period during which the tech giant largely moved away from direct card-based transactions for its digital services in the country.
Compliance with RBI Data Mandates
The change follows Apple's efforts to align its payment infrastructure with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) strict card tokenization regulations. Introduced to enhance consumer security, the RBI mandate requires that all transaction data related to card payments be stored locally within India. Furthermore, under these rules, only card networks are permitted to store tokenized card data. For several years, Apple’s payment systems did not fully support these specific local requirements, leading the company to rely on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and prepaid Apple ID balances as primary payment methods for Indian customers.
Impact on User Experience
For the Indian user base, the return of direct card support is expected to streamline the purchasing process for apps, subscriptions, and iCloud storage. During the five-year absence of card payments, many users faced friction while completing transactions, as alternatives like maintaining a prepaid balance required advance funding. By reintroducing support for major credit and debit cards, Apple is likely aiming to reduce transaction failures and increase the ease of purchasing for its growing number of active users in the country.
Next Steps for Users
The feature is currently available to a select group of users during a testing phase. A wider release across the entire Indian customer base is expected to take place in the coming months as the company completes its rollout. Investors and users should monitor for official updates regarding the full-scale activation of this payment method across all iOS and macOS devices in the region.