Apple Announces Tap to Pay on iPhone Now Available in the UK

Apple today announced the immediate availability of Tap to Pay on iPhone in the United Kingdom. The new capability allows small businesses to large retailers in the country to use their iPhones as a payment terminal and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, as well as other digital wallets.

Tap to Pay on iPhone was first announced for use in in the United States in February 2022. The feature is available to payment platforms and app developers to integrate into their iOS apps, allowing them to offer it as a payment option to their customers. Apple first tested the feature to accept payments from customers at its Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino, California in May of last year.

Individuals and merchants that have an iPhone XS or later handset can now accept contactless payments through iPhone apps that offer support for the feature. The merchant simply holds out their iPhone, while the customer holds their iPhone, Apple Watch, other digital wallets, or contactless (tap to pay) capable credit card near the iPhone to perform a secure payment via NFC technology.

Previously, making contactless payments on an iPhone required additional hardware connected to the iPhone’s headphone or Lightning connector, such as the Square Reader.

“We’ve seen Tap to Pay on iPhone transform the checkout experience for so many different types of businesses, and we’re thrilled to now support merchants across the U.K. by offering an easy, secure, and private way to accept contactless payments using the power, security, and convenience of iPhone, with no additional hardware needed,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “Small and medium-sized businesses have long played a vital role in the U.K. economy, and alongside payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, we’re making it easier than ever for U.K. businesses to seamlessly accept contactless payments and continue to grow their business.”

Revolut and Tyl by NatWest are the first U.K. payment platforms to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to their business customers. Soon to follow will be Adyen, Dojo, myPOS, Stripe, SumUp, Viva Wallet, Worldline, and Zettle by PayPal. Apple Store customers will see Tap to Pay on iPhone become available in-store in the U.K. in the coming weeks.

Apple Pay is already accepted by nearly 100 percent of the retailers in the U.K., and this new Tap to Pay capability will allow virtually every business, large or small, to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to accept payments for goods and services.

Tap to Pay on iPhone is currently available to more than 700,000 businesses in the United States. U.S. Apple Stores already accept Tap to Pay on iPhone. The U.K. is the fourth country to add support for the Tap to Pay feature, joining Australia and Taiwan, which added the feature earlier this year.

Payment platforms and app developers who wish to include Tap to Pay on iPhone in their software development kits (SDKs) can find more information on the Apple Developer website.