Apple Pay Revolutionizes Setup: Adding Cards to Your iPhone Easier Than Ever With Tap to Provision!

In iOS 18, Apple has introduced an even simpler way to add a credit or debit card to Apple Pay on the iPhone. Traditionally, adding a card starts with entering its number and the cardholder’s name. Previously, the Wallet app made this process easier by enabling users to “scan” their card using the iPhone’s camera. However, from experience, the number recognition was not always reliable.

With the release of iOS 18, a new feature called Tap to Provision has been introduced for this initial step. By simply bringing the iPhone close to the card’s chip, the device captures the card’s data via NFC. Within a few seconds, both the card number and the cardholder’s name are automatically filled in on the iPhone. Users must then manually enter the three-digit security code found on the back of the card to complete the addition.

Tap to Provision has become the default method for registering cards on iOS 18. During our tests, it successfully worked with a French bank card (Boursobank) as well as with an international credit card. However, it’s important to note that it may not work with all cards or in all countries. At the time of its announcement, Apple mentioned that Tap to Provision might not be available in all markets. If this new method does not work, users still have the option to photograph the card or enter the number manually.

Once a card is added using Tap to Provision (or another method), there are two additional steps required to make it usable with Apple Pay: agreeing to the terms and conditions and confirming the registration.