How to use Apple Pay in Singapore: Complete Guide

Apple Pay¹ can be a handy way to tap and pay to make mobile payments on the go as well as making online shopping a breeze. But is Apple Pay available in Singapore, and if so, how can you use it?

This guide covers everything there is to know, including how to get Apple Pay, how to activate Apple Pay, how to start making payments and even how to use Apple Pay for a bus in Singapore so you can leave home with nothing more than your phone or smart device and still travel, spend in stores and shop digitally.

Plus, we’ll introduce Wise which has a handy international card for spending with Apple Pay and no foreign transaction fees, in 150+ countries globally.

Apple Pay supported banks and providers in Singapore

If you have a bank account with one of the major providers here in Singapore, you’ll probably find you can get set up with Apple Pay.

Here’s a list of all the Singapore banks and providers which allow customers to use Apple Pay with some or all of their cards. It’s worth knowing that some banks which support Apple Pay may only offer this service with certain of their cards, so you’ll have to double check the full details of your card type if you’re unsure. Here’s the list of Apple Pay supported banks and cards you’ll be able to choose from in Singapore²:

• Airwallex
• American Express - only when your AmEx card comes direct from the network; bank issued cards aren’t supported
• Citibank - Mastercard debit cards and both Mastercard and Visa credit cards
• DBS - Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards
• HSBC - Visa debit cards and both Mastercard and Visa credit cards
• Maybank - Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards
• OCBC - Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards
• POSB - Mastercard credit and debit cards
• MatchMove
• Singtel Visa Prepaid Card
• Standard Chartered Bank - Visa credit cards and Mastercard debit and credit cards
• United Overseas Bank - Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards
• Wise card
• YouTrip card Singapore

New banks and cards are added to the list continuously, so if yours isn't there it’s worth asking your bank about their plans. Or, pick up a handy debit card from Wise, to get started using Apple Pay even faster.

Where can you use Apple Pay in Singapore?

With Apple Pay you can link your bank cards and use your preferred smart device to make payments - both when shopping online and in apps, and when you’re in stores and restaurants in person. Apple Pay is available on all Apple devices including the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac, so if you have one of these, you can get started using Apple Pay in Singapore easily.

You can use your Apple Pay enabled device in Singapore anywhere that accepts contactless payments and supports your card type. That means you can tap your phone or watch in store when you check out, when you’re paying in a restaurant or bar, or even when you hop on the MRT or bus. Just fire up Apple Pay, and hold your smart device up to the POS terminal, to pay in just the same way that you would with a contactless card.

How to use Apple Pay for buses and MRT

Using your phone or other smart device to tap in and out on buses and trains means you don’t need to fumble around in your purse or worry about card clash when the card reader tries to register more than one card in your wallet. Just tap and pay with your phone or watch, and you’re all set. As an example, here’s how to use Apple Watch to pay for the MRT in Singapore³:

1. Approach the MRT barriers and double-click the side button of your Apple Watch
2. Your default card will open on your watch
3. Hold the display of your Apple Watch near the reader on the MRT barrier gate
4. Wait until you feel a gentle tap and hear a beep, the gates will open
5. When you exit the station after your journey just complete the same process to activate the exit gate and complete your trip

If you want to use a card that’s not your default card, you can also scroll down before you tap to change the card you pay with. Easy.

Apple Pay limits in Singapore

In some shops in Singapore you may not be able to use Apple Pay when you’re spending more than 200 SGD⁴. In other stores you may need to sign a receipt or enter your PIN as a security measure when making a higher value payment.

How to activate Apple Pay

New to Apple Pay? Getting started is pretty easy - and like most things Apple, you’ll be guided through an intuitive process on your device.

You’ll need to add a card to your Apple Wallet before you can use Apple Pay, but once you’ve done this you’ll see your card - or cards - whenever you activate Apple Pay on your device. It’s helpful to know that if you’re planning on using your Apple Watch to make Apple Pay payments, you’ll need to start off with your phone to add a card, and then activate it in the watch after.

Here’s how to activate Apple Pay with your iPhone or iPad⁵:

1. Go to Wallet and select the Plus symbol
2. Select Add Card, and either enter your card details manually or use the scan card feature on your phone for ease
3. Depending on which bank issued your card, you may then have to take further authentication steps - complete these if prompted

You should now see your card in your Apple Pay Wallet. And here’s how to activate Apple Pay with your Apple Watch:

1. Go to the My Watch tab on your iPhone
2. Tap Wallet
3. Select the feature to add your card, and enter the card details following the onscreen instructions
4. Depending on your own bank, you might have to complete an additional security step - follow the prompts to confirm your card details
5. You’ll be asked if you want that card to be the default for Apple Watch payments, and should be set to go

An easy way to start using Apple Pay and save money when travelling - order a Wise card

Spending internationally with Apple Pay can cost less with a handy international debit card from Wise.

Open your Wise account online or in-app and order your Wise card for a one time fee of just 8.5 SGD.

There are no ongoing fees to maintain your account or card, and you’ll be able to hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%⁶. It’s free to spend any currency you hold with your card, using Apple Pay, tapping your physical card, making a chip and PIN payment or shopping online - you can also make some free international ATM withdrawals monthly for those times you need cash overseas.

Here’s how to order a Wise card and link it to Apple Pay:

1. Head to the Wise desktop site or download the Wise app
2. Get verified with Singpass or by uploading your ID document
3. Open a currency balance in the currency of your choice, and add funds
4. Order a physical card and pay the low, one time fee of 8.5 SGD
5. Generate your Wise virtual card in the Wise app
6. Your virtual card is available for immediate use - your physical card will arrive in the mail a little later
7. Tap on the Card tab, select your new card and tap on Add to Apple Wallet

Order your Wise card today! 💳

Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Frequently asked questions

Still got questions about how to use Apple Pay in Singapore? Here are a few common questions and answers.

Can I use Apple Pay with YouTrip?

Yes - YouTrip is Apple Pay compatible, so you can add your YouTrip card to your phone before you travel and tap to pay without having your physical card with you.

The easiest option is to add your YouTrip card to Apple Pay from the YouTrip app. Here’s what to do⁷:

1. Open the YouTrip app and tap on your Cards tab
2. Select you YouTrip card
3. Tap Add to Apple Wallet - your card will be added and you’re ready to get started spending

Does Apple Pay work with Grab?

At the time of writing, the digital Grab Card is not Apple Pay compatible. That means you can’t add your card to Apple Pay, or to another wallet like Samsung Pay or Google Pay⁸.

How to link Apple Pay to EZ Link

At the time of writing, Apple Pay and E Z Link cards aren’t usually compatible. E Z Link does offer a lot of different products and services, with a range that's ever expanding. In 2022, E Z Link announced a Mastercard partnership which offers ways to pay via Google Pay⁹ - so it’s worth keeping an eye out to see if Apple Pay compatible solutions appear in future.

---

Sources:

1. Apple Pay
2. Apple Pay supported banks in Singapore
3. How to use Apple Pay
4. Apple Pay limits
5. Apple Support - Set up Apple Pay
6. Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
7. How to link YouTrip cards with Apple Pay
8. Grab Support - can I add my card to Apple Pay
9. EZ Link press release - Mastercard partnership