Apple Pay: Supported Operation, Countries and Banks

Credit and debit cards arrived and cash was relegated to the background in many aspects and now it seems that these cards are the ones left aside thanks to the possibility of paying with an iPhone or any other mobile phone. In this article we tell you everything about Apple Pay, available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS and even watchOS. We also highlight the countries in which it is operating as well as the banks that accept it.

What is Apple Pay

Apple Pay is a digital payment system that allows transactions from devices such as an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac. It was presented and launched in 2014 and since then it has spread to many countries, reaching agreements with many of banking entities of all kinds.

Apple Pay

Its operation is really simple, since it resembles payments made with a contactless card, taking advantage of NFC technology. These payments can be made in physical stores, places such as buses or trains, airports and even in digital stores using their corresponding application or the Safari browser on Apple devices. A private payment function is even available, although at the moment it is operational in few countries.

As for security , Apple ensures complete data privacy , without anyone being able to access it and transactions can be carried out securely without fear of someone obtaining the card’s data. In fact, with each payment a new random card number is simulated that will serve only for that payment, preventing the number of the linked card from being visible by the payment recipient.

Compatible Devices

Dispositivos compatibles Apple Pay

iPhone

  • Iphone 6
  • iPhone 6 Plus
  • iPhone 6s
  • iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone SE (1st generation)
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 8
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation)

iPad

  • iPad (5th generation)
  • iPad (6th generation)
  • iPad (7th generation)
  • iPad Air 2
  • iPad Air (3rd generation)
  • iPad mini 3
  • iPad mini 4
  • iPad mini (5th generation)
  • iPad Pro (all models)

Mac

All Mac models that have Touch ID support Apple Pay as standard. So are the models released in 2012 and later have this functionality available, although not natively, since they need an associated iPhone or Apple Watch that if they have this service activated.

Apple Watch

All models are compatible, that is, the following:

  • Apple Watch (1st generation)
  • Apple Watch Series 1
  • Apple Watch Series 2
  • Apple Watch Series 3
  • Apple Watch Series 4
  • Apple Watch Series 5

How to add cards in Apple Pay

Añadir tarjeta Apple Pay iPhone

To add cards to an iPhone or iPad you must follow these steps:

  • Open the Wallet app .
  • Click on the + icon to add.
  • Click continue.
  • If you have the card nearby you can scan it with the camera. If not, you must click on “Enter the data manually” .
  • Follow the steps indicated to verify your card.

To pay by Apple Pay on an iPhone or iPad with Touch ID you will have to double click on the Home button and enter your fingerprint. If your device has Face ID you will have to press the side button twice and place your face to be detected. In both cases you can also pay by entering the security code of the device (the same one used to unlock it).

Añadir tarjeta Apple Pay Apple Watch

The previous steps will also allow you to have the service enabled on Apple Watch , although if you want it to be only available on the watch, you can follow these instructions.

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Go to the My Watch tab.
  • Go now about Wallet and Apple Pay .
  • Tap Add card .
  • If you have the card at hand you can proceed to scan it with the iPhone camera. If this is not the case, you must click on “Enter the data manually” .
  • Follow the steps indicated to verify your card.

To proceed to pay with Apple Watch through Apple Pay you just have to press the side button of the watch.

Añadir tarjeta Apple Pay Mac

In the case of Macs, we refer again to the fact that it will be necessary to have a computer with integrated Touch ID, since otherwise it will be necessary to have linked the card through the iPhone. In these mentioned equipment you must follow these steps:

  • Go to System Preferences .
  • Click on Wallet and Apple Pay .
  • Tap Add card .
  • Enter your card details.
  • Follow the steps indicated to verify the card.

Problems adding cards

Problems may arise during the process of adding cards to Apple Pay that prevent them from being added correctly. Most of them are associated with the card issuing entity , either for not being compatible with this service, for having exceeded a limit of adding to services of this type or for any other reason related to its conditions. In order to solve it, you will have to contact your entity to explain the problem and suggest a satisfactory solution.

Countries where Apple Pay is available

Paises Apple Pay

  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Croatia
  • Mainland China
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • U.S
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France and Monaco
  • Georgia
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy, San Marino and Vatican City
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macao
  • malt
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • New Zealand
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Ukraine

Why is Apple Pay not in my country?

Unfortunately this service is not available in all territories. In fact, there are some countries in which Apple even has physical stores, but does not have collaborating entities for Apple Pay. This is fundamentally because this service is not only implemented by the Californian company, but also has to reach agreements with the country’s banks and even with government entities, since sometimes the conditions could vary depending on the laws in force in these places.

The fact that a country or bank is not on the Apple Pay list does not mean that it will never be available. Since its inception, this service has gradually reached a multitude of territories and entities, so nothing is ruled out, especially knowing that the intention of the apple signature is to reach as many countries as possible.

You can check operating banks in other countries through the Apple website .