On January 15, 2026, Apple Inc. made a significant announcement regarding the expansion of its cross-border Apple Pay payment service. This new development allows users in mainland China to leverage Visa credit and debit cards issued by local banks for seamless transactions at offline merchants and online platforms overseas that accept contactless payments.

At present, Visa credit cards from prominent banks such as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, CITIC Bank, Ping An Bank, and Industrial Bank are compatible with this service. Additionally, Visa debit cards issued by CITIC Bank also support this functionality.

In the upcoming months, more financial institutions, including Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, China Minsheng Bank, and China Everbright Bank, are set to gradually incorporate this service into their offerings.

Moreover, Mastercard has also revealed its intentions to roll out comparable services for cardholders affiliated with specific issuing institutions.

To take advantage of this feature, users can add their cards either through the bank's dedicated App or the iPhone Wallet App. For added security, payments necessitate dual authentication methods, including Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode, in conjunction with a one-time dynamic security code, ensuring the utmost protection for every transaction.