Visa has introduced support for Apple Pay, allowing holders of Chinese-issued Visa cards to add their cards to the digital wallet for use outside mainland China.

This service facilitates payments at overseas merchants that accept Visa, including physical retail locations as well as in-app and online transactions. It is being rolled out in collaboration with Apple and participating Chinese banks. Users can add eligible Visa cards on their iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad and make contactless payments abroad.

Focusing on cross-border mobile payments and security

Visa officials stated that this move responds to increasing demand from Chinese consumers for mobile payment solutions that work globally and integrate with smartphones. The company is enhancing its investment in payment security and data protection, such as the broader use of tokenization for international transactions. This collaboration aims to extend these security features to overseas spending.

The initial group of issuing banks supporting this service includes Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, China CITIC Bank, Ping An Bank, and Industrial Bank. Visa and Apple are also working with additional lenders like Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, China Minsheng Bank, and China Everbright Bank, for further launches.

For users, Apple Pay transactions require device-level authentication using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Payment data sent to issuing banks is replaced with a dynamic code instead of the actual card number. Visa’s tokenization technology assigns a unique account number that is encrypted and stored in the device’s secure element.

Chinese Visa cardholders can add their cards through Apple Wallet or directly via their bank’s mobile application. Card rewards remain unchanged, but some overseas travel and transport-related promotions are available through Visa channels.