Apple Pay in Australia: How It Works and Setting It Up on iPhone or Apple Watch
Set up Apple Pay in Australia on iPhone or Apple Watch in minutes. See which banks support it, how Face ID payments work and how secure it is.
Apple Pay has gone from a handful of early-adopter banks to something close to universal support across Australian banks, credit unions and card providers. If you haven’t set it up yet, or you’re helping someone else get started, here’s what it actually involves.
Which banks support Apple Pay?
Virtually all major Australian banks and credit unions now support Apple Pay, a big change from a few years ago when some of the big four banks held out for a long time. Apple Pay support varies by bank and card issuer.
Some smaller banks and credit unions do not support every card. If Wallet will not add yours, ask the bank whether that specific card supports Apple Pay.
Setting up Apple Pay
Getting Apple Pay running on your iPhone takes only a few minutes:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the + button in the top corner.
- Follow the prompts to add a debit or credit card, either by entering the details manually or using your iPhone’s camera to scan the card.
- Your bank will verify the card, sometimes instantly, sometimes with a text message or a quick call, depending on your bank’s process.
- Once verified, your card is ready to use.
Setting it up on Apple Watch is just as straightforward: open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and add a card the same way. You can also add a card directly from the Watch app itself if it’s already set up on your iPhone.
Using Face ID (or Touch ID) with Apple Pay
On iPhones with Face ID, paying is simple: double-click the side button, glance at your phone to confirm it’s you, then hold your iPhone near the payment terminal. On older iPhones with Touch ID, you’ll rest your finger on the Home button instead of glancing at the screen. Either way, the actual tap-to-pay step is the same, you’ll feel a small vibration and see a checkmark once the payment goes through.
On Apple Watch, it’s even simpler: double-click the side button, then hold your wrist near the terminal.
Is it actually secure?
Yes, and in some ways it is safer than handing over your card. When you pay with Apple Pay, the shop never sees your actual card number. Instead, your iPhone or Apple Watch sends a separate number that belongs only to that device, along with a one-off security code created just for that payment.
That matters because shops are a common target for scammers and hackers. If a shop’s payment system is ever breached, or someone gets hold of a receipt, your real card number is not there to be stolen. The device number on its own is not enough to make a purchase, because each payment also needs that one-off code and your phone or watch.
Payments also need your Face ID, Touch ID or passcode, so someone who picks up your phone cannot simply tap and pay. The exception is Express Mode, which lets a transit card or a chosen payment card work without unlocking your device, so it is quicker at the gates.
Beyond in-store payments
Apple Pay isn’t limited to tapping a terminal at the checkout. It also works for online and in-app purchases wherever you see the Apple Pay option at checkout, and can be used to top up transit cards in some cities, or in some cases, tap directly onto public transport readers. If you’re in Melbourne and wondering about using your iPhone or Apple Watch for myki, that’s covered in more detail in our separate piece on ditching your myki card for Apple Pay.
Need a hand setting it up?
If you’re having trouble getting a card verified, or Apple Pay isn’t showing up as an option at all, it’s often a quick fix, get in touch and we’re happy to help sort it out.
