Traveling abroad just became significantly more convenient for Apple Pay users in Mainland China. Apple today announced the expansion of Apple Pay’s cross-border payment support, allowing users to use locally issued Visa credit and debit cards at millions of merchants worldwide. Whether you are shopping in a new city or grabbing dinner, you can now leave your physical card behind.
“With the further expansion of Apple Pay’s cross-border payment capabilities in mainland China, we are making the travel experience smoother and safer,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. She emphasized that whether users are taking public transit or shopping abroad, Apple Pay provides a simple, secure, and private way to pay.
A strong lineup of major financial institutions is already on board for this rollout. Currently, customers with Visa credit cards from the following banks can add them to their Apple Wallet for international use: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, China CITIC Bank (Both Credit and Debit cards), Ping An Bank, Industrial Bank.
This initiative is a collaborative effort, with these partners working alongside China UnionPay to ensure a seamless cross-border experience. If your bank isn’t on the list yet, don’t worry—support for Visa cards from China Construction Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Minsheng Bank, and China Everbright Bank is expected to follow in the coming months.
The expansion doesn’t stop with Visa. Apple also confirmed that Mastercard is preparing to launch similar cross-border functionality for select cardholders in the near future. This upcoming support will provide even more flexibility for Apple users who prefer different payment networks while traveling internationally.
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