Payments in Belgium center on the Bancontact debit card, linked directly to bank accounts, and as major banks have enabled Apple Pay registration for their own cards, iPhone users have grown accustomed to putting their cards into the wallet app. Apple Pay uses a device-specific token instead of the actual card number and authorizes via Face ID or Touch ID, satisfying PSD2's SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) requirement with a single biometric check, which reduces drop-off during online payment.

For commerce with a high share of mobile web/app sales and a young, urban customer base, pairing Bancontact as the primary method with Apple Pay on top is a solid combination in Belgium. It is especially effective at reducing drop-off among customers reluctant to enter a card number during guest checkout.

When a consumer taps the Apple Pay button, the payment is constructed using the tokenized card information stored on the device, and the transaction is completed with a single Face ID or Touch ID approval. Because this biometric authentication satisfies the PSD2 SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) requirement, authentication is often completed without a separate 3DS screen redirect, which helps manage mobile drop-off. The actual card number is never passed to the merchant, and the authorized euro amount is collected by Hecto Financial.

Integrating through Hecto Financial lets a Korean corporation consider adopting Apple Pay without a separate local contract in Belgium. The scope of supported card networks, the requirements for each of web (Safari) and app integration, and the settlement cycle, fees, and currency options vary based on the merchant's environment and transaction volume, so confirmation before contracting is necessary.

• Business registration country

  Confirm whether contracting is possible on a Korea-based business basis

• Sales channel

  The integration method and priority differ depending on the mix of online sales channels, such as a direct-to-consumer store, marketplace, or mobile app

• Product categories handled

  Advance confirmation is needed on whether your industry falls under a restricted category per Apple Pay's merchant policy

• EU regulatory compliance

  Confirmation is needed on compliance with EU payment regulations such as PSD2 and SEPA (see official sources below)

Revenue generated through Apple Pay is processed as the actual card transaction behind the token, with the euro (EUR) amount collected by Hecto Financial, converted, and settled to the merchant in Korea in the contracted currency among USD, KRW, and JPY (the cycle follows the contract terms). Refunds are returned to the original card based on the original payment token, working the same way as a standard card refund, and handling the EU distance-sale 14-day withdrawal right is also processed within this same card refund flow, so there is no need to build a separate channel.

• National Bank of BelgiumOfficial source for Belgian payment system oversight and statistics. If this page's content differs from the actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.