# Can phones take Tap to Pay payments over the $250 tap limit? > Published: 2026-10-19 > Updated: 2026-10-19 > Author: Jackson Mclean > Category: Pay > Canonical: https://finalpos.com/blog/tap-to-pay-over-tap-limit Yes, an iPhone can take a Tap to Pay payment over the $250 tap limit: the customer enters their PIN right on your screen. Some Canadian cards still decline, and Android works differently. Here is what to expect and what to do about it. Yes, on an iPhone. When a Tap to Pay payment goes over the tap limit, the phone shows a PIN pad and the customer types their PIN right on your screen. No card reader needed. In Canada that tap limit is typically $250[¹](https://www.interac.ca/en/tap-to-pay-on-iphone/), and the sale goes through as long as the card supports PIN on tap. That last part matters. Some cards still decline over the limit, and Android phones play by different rules. Card and device rules change often, so treat the specifics below as a snapshot accurate as of publication. ## What is the $250 tap limit, exactly? The tap limit is set by the customer's card issuer (the bank that gave them the card), not by you or your POS. In Canada it is typically $250, but some issuers set it lower, and other countries have their own numbers. Above the limit, the bank wants proof the person holding the card is the cardholder. The industry calls this cardholder verification. On a countertop terminal, the old answer was "insert your chip and enter your PIN." A phone has no chip slot, so the PIN has to happen on the glass. ## How does PIN entry on the phone work? The customer taps as usual. If the amount is over their card's limit, a PIN pad pops up on your phone and they enter their PIN there. A few things to know so nothing surprises you at the counter: - **The PIN pad moves around.** It appears in a random spot on the screen on purpose, to make it harder for anyone nearby to read the PIN. That's a security feature, not a glitch. - **The phone needs to be current.** Tap to Pay on iPhone needs an iPhone XS or newer, and PIN entry needs iOS 16.4 or later (based on published payment processor documentation). - **Phone wallets usually skip it.** Apple Pay and Google Pay normally don't ask for a PIN, because the customer already unlocked their own phone with Face ID, a fingerprint or a passcode. ![Customer entering a PIN on the merchant's phone during a Tap to Pay payment above the tap limit](https://storage.googleapis.com/final-os-media/media/43399b6a-0d29-48b6-84dd-88ef01fcb193/generated/dd8f289f672c8008-tap-to-pay-pin-entry-inline.png) In Final, this is built into Tap to Pay. When a sale goes over the limit, Final prompts the customer for their PIN on the same phone you rang the sale up on, so you finish the sale without reaching for a reader. If you're new to accepting payments on a phone, our breakdown of [mobile tap payments vs Tap to Pay on mobile](/blog/mobile-tap-payments-vs-tap-to-pay-on-mobile) covers the basics. ## Which cards still won't work over the limit? PIN on a phone doesn't cover every card. Many cards issued in Canada are **offline PIN only** (the chip itself checks the PIN, so the card has to be physically inserted). Tap to Pay can't do that on any phone, so those cards decline above the limit (based on published payment processor documentation). You can't fix this in settings. When it happens, you have three options: - Ask for a different card, or a phone wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. - Send a payment link the customer pays on their own device. Here's [how to send a payment link](https://finalpos.com/help/send-a-payment-link). - Use a card terminal with a chip slot. ## What about Android phones? Android depends on the country and the device. In Canada, Interac says transactions above the tap limit are not supported with Tap to Pay on Android, and the customer gets prompted to use another payment method[²](https://www.interac.ca/en/tap-to-pay-on-android/). If your counter runs on an Android phone, plan on a terminal or a payment link for big tickets. Availability also changes by market, so check [where Final Pay is available](https://finalpos.com/help/where-final-pay-is-available) for your country. ## Do you still need a card terminal? It depends on your average ticket. If almost every sale is under $250, an iPhone with PIN entry covers you, and a payment link handles the odd exception. Coffee shops, market vendors and most small retail fit here. If you regularly sell over the limit (furniture, repairs, dental, bike shops), a chip terminal should be your default and the phone your backup. A declined $1,200 sale with a line behind it is the wrong time to find out a card is offline PIN only. A terminal with a chip slot, like Final Touch from our [hardware lineup](https://finalpos.com/hardware), takes chip, tap and PIN in one device. ![Customer inserting a chip card into a card terminal when Tap to Pay on a phone can't complete a large payment](https://storage.googleapis.com/final-os-media/media/43399b6a-0d29-48b6-84dd-88ef01fcb193/generated/0ee40da07488d4b3-tap-to-pay-chip-fallback-inline.png) Big sales also come in by phone call. For those, see [how to take a card payment over the phone without writing the number down](/blog/take-card-payment-over-the-phone). And if you're eyeing new hardware for Tap to Pay, we looked at [whether the iPhone Duo can take Tap to Pay](/blog/iphone-duo-tap-to-pay). ## So, can phones take Tap to Pay payments over the $250 tap limit? Yes, an iPhone can, with the customer entering their PIN on your screen. Phone wallets usually go through without one. Offline PIN only cards still decline, and in Canada Android phones can't take taps above the limit at all. Rule of thumb: if more than a few sales a week go over $250, keep a chip terminal on the counter. If not, your phone and a payment link have you covered. Ready to try it? Here's [how to take a Tap to Pay payment](https://finalpos.com/help/take-a-tap-to-pay-payment) in Final. ## FAQ **Q: What is the tap limit in Canada?** A: It is typically $250 per tap, but each card issuer (the customer's bank) sets its own limit, so some cards stop at a lower amount. **Q: Do Apple Pay and Google Pay need a PIN over $250?** A: Usually not. The customer already verified themselves on their own phone with Face ID, a fingerprint or a passcode, so most wallet taps go through above the limit. **Q: Why did a card decline over the limit even with PIN entry?** A: Many Canadian cards are offline PIN only, which means the PIN has to be checked by inserting the chip. A phone has no chip slot, so ask for another card, a phone wallet, or use a chip terminal. **Q: Is the PIN safe to enter on the merchant's phone?** A: Yes. PIN entry on a phone runs in a protected mode built for it, and the PIN pad appears in a random position on the screen to make it harder to observe. **Q: Which iPhones support PIN entry for Tap to Pay?** A: Tap to Pay needs an iPhone XS or newer on a current iOS version, and PIN entry needs iOS 16.4 or later. Keep the phone updated for the best results. **Q: Can an Android phone take a tap over $250 in Canada?** A: Interac says transactions above the tap limit are not supported with Tap to Pay on Android in Canada, so plan on a card terminal or a payment link for those sales.