Mastercard Enables Cross-Border Payments via Apple Pay for Chinese Cardholders

Gate News message, April 16 — Mastercard and its China-based card clearing organization Mastercard Network Union announced on April 16 that Mastercard-branded bank cards issued in China now support cross-border transactions through Apple Pay. The expansion follows Visa’s similar support and marks Mastercard’s completion of Apple Pay service rollout across all Greater China markets.

Cardholders of Mastercard credit and debit cards issued by Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, CITIC Bank, and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank can add their cards to Apple Wallet through their banks’ latest mobile apps or directly via iPhone’s Wallet app. Once added to iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad, cardholders can immediately use Apple Pay for payments. In-store transactions require users to double-press the side button, complete authentication via Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode, and tap their device near the payment terminal; each transaction generates a unique one-time dynamic security code. Apple Pay also supports app and web purchases without requiring account creation or repeated entry of card and shipping information. The participating banks have launched cashback promotions for overseas spending.

Mastercard’s Global Executive Vice President and Greater China President Qing Chang stated that the Chinese market is one of Mastercard’s most strategically important global markets, and this launch completes the company’s comprehensive Apple Pay service deployment across the Greater China region. Apple Pay, introduced by Apple in September 2014 using NFC technology, launched in China in February 2016 in partnership with China UnionPay and major Chinese banks. In January 2026, Apple expanded cross-border payment support, with Visa enabling Chinese cardholders to bind Visa cards to Apple Pay for payments at overseas merchants, apps, and websites.