Do Apple Pay and Google Pay work in Georgia?
Mobile wallets with Georgian bank cards.
Short answer
Apple Pay and Google Pay work in Georgia with local bank cards: Bank of Georgia launched Apple Pay in 2019, Halyk Bank supports both and Terabank supports Google Pay. You add the card to the Wallet app and pay by holding the phone to the terminal. Whether a foreign card works depends on its issuing bank, so ask it before you travel.
Why
- On 3 September 2019 Bank of Georgia announced the launch of Apple Pay for credit and debit cards: payment in stores, apps and on websites.
- At Halyk Bank, Apple Pay is set up in Wallet (the + button, scanning the card) and Google Pay in the Google Wallet app; Apple Pay registration and service are free.
- Google Pay requirements at Terabank: Android 5.0 or higher, NFC, a screen lock, and a system language of English, Georgian or Russian.
Details
Apple Pay is added at Halyk Bank like this: open Apple Wallet, tap +, scan the card, enter the details and accept the terms. Payment works on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. For Google Pay the card is added in the Google Wallet app with the camera or manually, and you can pay anywhere that accepts contactless payments.
Google Pay works in stores, apps and on websites, and public transport charges 1 lari. Which cards to take on a trip is covered in How can Russian tourists pay in Georgia, and which cards work, and the banks of the country in What banks are there in Georgia, and which should a foreigner choose.
Tip
Before the trip, ask the bank that issued your card whether it supports Apple Pay or Google Pay, and add it to the wallet at home. Take some cash in case a terminal does not take contactless payments.
What may differ
Support depends on the bank that issued the card, on the phone model and version, and on the shop itself. Terms and the list of banks change, so check your bank's site.
Common misconception
Apple Pay does not work in Georgia.
What actually happens
Bank of Georgia launched Apple Pay for its customers on 3 September 2019, and Halyk Bank has instructions for setting up Apple Pay.
People also ask
- Does Apple Pay work in Georgia?
- Does Google Pay work in Georgia?
Sources
- Bank of Georgia: Apple Pay launch (investor announcement, 3 September 2019)Checked at:
- Halyk Bank Georgia: Apple PayChecked at:
- Halyk Bank Georgia: Google PayChecked at:
- Terabank: Google PayChecked at:
Terms depend on the bank and the card, check your bank's site.
How to pay in Georgia: cards, cash and taxisRelated questions
-
How do you receive a transfer from abroad to a Georgian account?
You can receive money from abroad by bank transfer to your IBAN, through a system such as Western Union, or via Visa+ by phone number to a TBC card.
-
What is a Georgian IBAN and where do you find it?
A Georgian IBAN has 22 characters: the country code GE, two check digits, two letters of the bank code and 16 digits of the account identifier assigned by the bank.
-
How can you top up a card or pay a bill at a terminal in Georgia?
Utilities, mobile, internet, television and state services in Georgia are paid at payment terminals: the TBC Pay network has more than 4,000 terminals and over 1,000 services.
-
Where can you exchange damaged or old lari banknotes?
Worn and damaged lari banknotes and coins are replaced free at face value at the National Bank of Georgia and commercial banks if they still meet the fitness criteria.