Using Apple Pay in an unsupported country?

[m4a]

Anyone tried using Apple Pay while traveling to the countries where Apple Pay is not supported? I have seen mixed results online.

I really want Apple Pay. But my country probably isn't getting it for at least 3-5 more years even though we have a ton of contactless readers. But I think I have figured out how to get it!

There are couple online banking solutions in Europe like N26 which should allow Apple Pay in some countries. If Apple Pay works outside of those countries, then it's just a matter of figuring out how to get N26 card from a supported country.

 

[twinlight]

It usually works if the terminal has contactless activated.

Apple Pay isn’t available in Norway but works fine here for foreigners visiting.

 

[Manatlt]

All you need is a bank that supports Apple Pay. And change the language/region of your phone to a region that supports Apple Pay. Then you're gold. But before of any hidden bank exchange fees if you are using the card away from its original country.

 

[Brookzy]

I used Apple Pay in a Starbucks in Sweden while on my travels in early 2016. It worked fine without changing any settings or region on my phone. I didn't even think about it at the time. The barista was in awe. I believe Apple Pay has still not launched there even now!

 

[m4a]

Thanks everyone for the answers, so it's just a matter of finding an online bank/card that supports Apple Pay. Good!

I used Apple Pay in a Starbucks in Sweden while on my travels in early 2016. It worked fine without changing any settings or region on my phone. I didn't even think about it at the time. The barista was in awe. I believe Apple Pay has still not launched there even now!

Apple Pay is coming to Sweden by the end of the year.

 

[-Maxim-]

a lot of people are using apple pay in Germany with a virtual Mastercard from "boon." via the French or Irish app store. There are plenty of guide how to set that up.
With that "French" boon account I have used ApplePay so far in Germany, Austria, Italy and France. Works as long as Mastercard and contactless payments are accepted.
edit: paying outside the EU zone will cost a few % foreign currency fees with boon.

 

[lartola]

Anyone tried using Apple Pay while traveling to the countries where Apple Pay is not supported? I have seen mixed results online.

I really want Apple Pay. But my country probably isn't getting it for at least 3-5 more years even though we have a ton of contactless readers. But I think I have figured out how to get it!

There are couple online banking solutions in Europe like N26 which should allow Apple Pay in some countries. If Apple Pay works outside of those countries, then it's just a matter of figuring out how to get N26 card from a supported country.

After setting up Apple Pay with a US issued card, I have been using it regularly in Mexico for over two years since 2016. Works fine as long as the card selected is a Visa (my default card happens to be a Visa) or MasterCard. Doesn't work well with Amex (many merchants use a separate POS terminal for Amex, usually with nfc disabled on it, and at the few places where they do use the same POS terminal for all cards my payment was declined) or Discover (although some merchants do accept Discover in Mexico, apparently the POS systems are set up to accept those payments only using the chip card but not over nfc. Payment gets declined over nfc, and in one instance the terminal crashed and had to be rebooted).
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I used Apple Pay in a Starbucks in Sweden while on my travels in early 2016. It worked fine without changing any settings or region on my phone. I didn't even think about it at the time. The barista was in awe. I believe Apple Pay has still not launched there even now!

Changing the region is only necessary for people who live in unsupported countries to enable the Apple Pay functionality on their devices. If you came from a supported country with Apple Pay already set up, surely you can use it in unsupported countries without changing any of your region settings.