Visa brings Garmin Pay to the Philippines, expanding smartwatch payments

Visa has announced the launch of Garmin Pay in the Philippines, allowing eligible Visa debit and credit cardholders to make contactless payments directly from compatible Garmin smartwatches.

The rollout enables Visa cards issued by GoTyme Bank, alongside supported foreign-issued Visa cards, to be added to Garmin Pay. Users can then make payments at contactless-enabled terminals across the country without needing to carry a physical card or mobile phone.

The launch marks another step in the Philippines' ongoing payments digitalisation efforts and follows Visa's collaboration with Google in 2025 to introduce Google Wallet and Google Pay to the market.

Don't miss: Google Wallet and Google Pay go live in PH with broad bank and merchant support

Garmin Pay transactions are powered by Visa's tokenisation technology, which replaces card numbers with unique digital tokens. The approach is designed to enhance security by preventing cardholders' account details from being shared with merchants or stored on devices while reducing the risk of fraud.

The Philippines becomes the fifth market in Southeast Asia where Garmin Pay is available, joining Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. The move expands the range of cashless payment options available to consumers as digital payments continue to gain traction across the region.

According to Visa's latest Consumer 360 research, more than 71% of consumers across Asia Pacific prefer using mobile or smart devices for in-store purchases and payment transactions.

"Contactless payment platforms such as Garmin Pay amplify Visa's benefit to Filipinos, enabling speed, convenience, and security with every contactless transaction. With Garmin Pay, Visa provides Filipinos with safer, more convenient ways to pay across shops, public transport, and tourist destinations, empowering local merchants to embrace digital payments and supporting the government's push to become a cash-lite economy," said Jeffrey Navarro, country manager for Visa Philippines.

Beyond everyday retail transactions, Visa said the launch could also support tourism by providing travellers with more seamless payment experiences both within and outside the Philippines.

Research cited by the company found that 97% of travellers across Asia Pacific prefer to use credit, debit or prepaid cards while travelling, while only 17% plan to carry foreign currency. Visa's findings also showed that 44% of tourists visiting the Philippines have experienced payment-related challenges, including situations where merchants do not accept their preferred payment methods.

The arrival of Garmin Pay further extends the range of connected devices consumers can use to transact, adding wearable technology to an increasingly diverse payments ecosystem in the Philippines.

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