Visa Acceptance Platform Adds Tap to Pay on iPhone Support

Visa Inc. has expanded its Visa Acceptance Platform to support Tap to Pay on iPhone, enabling merchants to accept in-person contactless payments directly through compatible iOS apps — without requiring dedicated card readers or separate terminals.

The new capability comes via a software development kit (SDK) that Visa is providing to clients of its Acceptance Platform, including payment service providers (PSPs), independent software vendors (ISVs) and merchants building payment apps in-house. By integrating the SDK, these partners can offer Tap to Pay functionality within their iOS applications, allowing payments to be accepted anywhere an iPhone is being used for business.

In practical terms, this means a merchant with a supported app can turn an iPhone into a fully functional point-of-sale device, accepting digital wallets and physical contactless credit or debit cards with a simple tap.

Eliminating Barriers to Merchant Adoption

One of the most striking aspects of this development is the removal of traditional payment hardware barriers. Merchants — especially small businesses, pop-ups, gig workers and on-the-go sellers — can now begin accepting secure contactless payments by downloading a compatible iOS app and registering their device. There is no need for separate payment terminals or card readers, which historically have been a hurdle for low-volume or mobile merchants.

“With Tap to Pay on iPhone, we’re making it easier than ever for businesses to start accepting contactless payments securely in minutes, anywhere in-store or on the go, without the need for additional hardware.” said Andre Machicao, Head of Product at Visa Acceptance Solutions.

The feature supports a broad range of payment methods, including digital wallets and traditional NFC-enabled debit and credit cards. Visa expects additional PSPs to roll out Tap to Pay on iPhone capabilities in the coming months as they integrate Visa’s SDK into their apps.

What This Means for Merchants and the Payments Ecosystem

Tap to Pay on iPhone is part of a broader trend toward software-defined, hardware-light payment experiences that mirror the success of mobile contactless wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet and others. Instead of investing in bulky terminals, merchants can use a device they already own — an iPhone — to accept payments securely and efficiently.

This transition has been underway for several years, with platforms such as Apple’s own Tap to Pay program expanding globally and partners integrating the functionality into third-party apps. Visa’s SDK broadens that ecosystem by enabling partners to build Tap to Pay acceptance directly into their merchant-facing solutions.

For payment processors and app developers, this unlocks a new channel to reach merchants who prioritise simplicity, mobility and security in their payment setup.

The Broader Contactless Payments Context

Tap to Pay on iPhone works using near-field communication (NFC), the same secure technology underlying Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods that have proliferated worldwide. Apple has been expanding the availability of its Tap to Pay feature across multiple regions, often in collaboration with payment platforms and developers, making iPhones viable point-of-sale devices in dozens of markets.

Visa’s support for Tap to Pay on iPhone via its Acceptance Platform aligns with this ecosystem expansion while giving Visa’s partners and merchant clients the tools to integrate this capability into their bespoke applications and workflows. This positions Visa to meet rising demand for flexible payments in a world where physical terminals are increasingly optional.

Conclusion

Visa’s announcement that the Visa Acceptance Platform now supports Tap to Pay on iPhone represents a meaningful step in making contactless acceptance more accessible for merchants of all sizes. By embedding payment acceptance within iOS apps using a turnkey SDK, Visa and its partners are lowering barriers, enabling more commerce points, and redefining what mobile payments look like in 2026.

No hardware, no terminals — just a phone and an app. That’s the future Visa is helping accelerate.

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