A Celebrant Institute member was asking a question of us this week and mentioned taking payment in person. Sarah offered the correct advice that she might want to consider getting a Square card reader that you connect to your phone over Bluetooth so you can take credit card or debit card payments in person.

Which was great advice before May 2023, and I’d neglected to tell Celebrant Institute readers only because no-one asked and I do all my payments online using Stripe/Xero.

So here’s the news: As of last year you can accept “Tap To Pay” payments directly on your iPhone.

From the Apple press release:

New capability empowers local businesses to seamlessly and securely accept contactless payments, using only an iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app.

Apple today introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Australia, empowering local businesses of any size to accept in-person contactless payments on iPhone. From small to medium-sized businesses — including tradies and market stall holders — to large retailers and hospitality groups, merchants in Australia can now use their iPhone to seamlessly and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards,1 and other digital wallets using their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app — no additional hardware or payment terminal needed.

In Australia, contactless payments are ubiquitous. Now, with the introduction of Tap to Pay on iPhone, Australian businesses can accept contactless payments from wherever they do business. Merchants can enable Tap to Pay on iPhone through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later device running iOS 16.4 or later. Once enabled, merchants will simply prompt customers to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.

And not to leave our Android friends out, the same technology exists for them as well.

So the short of it is:

  • You need a new-enough phone
  • With the latest software updates
  • and finally, a merchant app like Square’s, Westpac, NAB, or ANZ’s … and probably more to come as well.

The easiest way to access the technology is by installing the Square app on your phone – search in your app store – and if you sign up for Square using this referral link you get $1000 of transactions fee-free.

Once you’re installed and set up you can now transact using the technology built-in to your phone instead needing a separate card reader.

For more information: