You must be at least 13 years old to use Apple Pay in the United States and most countries. Children under 13 cannot add a card to the Wallet app at all. In some countries the age threshold is higher, ranging from 14 to 18 depending on the region.
The Standard Age Requirement
Apple sets 13 as the baseline minimum age for Apple Pay in most of the world. If you’re under that cutoff, the option to add a debit or credit card to the Wallet app simply won’t appear. This isn’t a bank rule or a parental control setting. It’s built into the Apple Account system itself.
Several countries raise the bar. In Austria, Italy, South Korea, and a handful of other countries, the child account threshold is under 14. In France, Germany, and the Netherlands, it’s 15 or 16. In Brazil, the cutoff is 18. These thresholds determine when a young person can have their own Apple Account without parental setup, and they also affect access to Apple Pay.
How Younger Kids Can Still Use Apple Pay
Children under 13 can’t use Apple Pay directly, but Apple does offer a workaround for families through Apple Cash Family. A parent or guardian who organizes a Family Sharing group can set up an Apple Cash account for a child of any age in the group. That gives the child a balance in their Wallet app that works for tap-to-pay purchases in stores and within apps, funded by whatever amount the parent sends them.
There’s one important limitation: kids under 13 cannot add their own debit card to Wallet. They’re restricted to spending only the Apple Cash balance a parent has provided. Teens between 13 and 17 can also use Apple Cash Family, and they gain the additional ability to link a debit card to their Apple Cash account.
What You Need for a Teen’s Setup
If you’re a parent setting up Apple Pay for a teenager (13 or older), the process is straightforward. Your teen needs their own Apple Account, an eligible iPhone or Apple Watch, and a supported debit or credit card. Most banks and credit unions allow minors to hold a checking account with a parent as a joint owner, and the debit card from that account can typically be added to Apple Pay.
The card’s issuing bank also has to support Apple Pay, though the vast majority of major banks do at this point. Once the card is added, your teen can use Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to pay at any contactless terminal.
Apple Card for Family Members
Apple’s own credit card has a separate family feature worth knowing about. Anyone 13 or older in a Family Sharing group can be added as a participant on an existing Apple Card account. The primary cardholder (or a co-owner) controls spending limits for each participant, and the participant gets their own virtual card in Wallet that works with Apple Pay.
This can be a practical option for parents who want to give a teen spending access without opening a separate bank account. The primary cardholder remains responsible for all charges, and they can set a monthly spending cap for each participant directly from the Wallet app.
Age Verification in Some Countries
In a few countries, including Singapore, South Korea, and the UK, Apple requires adults to confirm they are 18 or older before using certain account features. Verification methods include scanning a passport, driver’s license, or government-issued ID, or having a credit card on file. Debit cards and gift cards don’t count for this verification step. If you skip the verification, you can still use your device, but some services and account actions may be restricted until you complete it.