Visa launches Payment Passkey in India with IDFC FIRST Bank

By Milan Rojan

Visa has launched Visa Payment Passkey (VPP) in India with IDFC FIRST Bank, introducing a new authentication solution designed to simplify online card payments while reducing reliance on one-time passwords (OTPs).

Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India & South Asia at Visa, said: “With Visa Payment Passkey, we are helping make digital commerce safer, more inclusive and easier to use by enabling people to authenticate card payments through familiar device-based experiences such as biometrics, PINs, passwords or patterns. Combined with tokenisation, this solution adds an important layer of protection, reduces friction and strengthens trust at every checkout.”

The solution has gone live with IDFC FIRST Bank, Visa’s first banking partner in the country to enable the service for cardholders. It has also been made available to select users across merchants including Myntra, Paytm, MakeMyTrip, Tata Starbucks, Reliance Digital and EatSure, supported by FinTech partners such as Juspay, Wibmo, Razorpay, PayU, Pine Labs, BillDesk, M2P FinTech and Paytm Payments Services.

Built on FIDO authentication standards, Visa Payment Passkey has enabled cardholders to authenticate online transactions using their device’s native security features, including fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, PINs, passwords or patterns. The solution has been developed in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s Framework on Alternative Authentication Mechanisms for Digital Payment Transactions, supporting authentication methods beyond traditional OTPs.

Visa has said the solution is expected to improve payment success rates while reducing the number of steps required to complete online transactions. Following a one-time enrolment, users can access a consistent authentication experience across participating merchants and platforms. The technology is compatible with major operating systems and browsers and supports billions of FIDO-enabled devices globally.

Visa said the launch forms part of its broader strategy to support secure, scalable and user-centric payment innovation in collaboration with financial institutions and ecosystem partners across India’s digital payments landscape.