International UPI Payments – Is It Available Yet?

Over the past few years, India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized domestic digital payments. Simple, fast, and highly secure, UPI has become a default choice for millions of Indians for everyday transactions. But as India’s global footprint grows and more Indians travel and work abroad, a key question is gaining momentum:

What Is UPI Global?

UPI Global is an initiative by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to extend the benefits of UPI beyond India’s borders. The goal is to enable Indians to use UPI apps to pay merchants in other countries-just like they would at home. This development also opens doors for foreign visitors in India to make payments through UPI, making travel and business smoother.

Where Is UPI Available Internationally?

According to NPCI’s official UPI Global Acceptance – Live Members list, UPI acceptance is live in several countries. As of mid-2025, these include:

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Nepal
• Bhutan
• Mauritius
• Sri Lanka
• Singapore
• France (selected merchants)
• Oman
• United Kingdom (pilot rollouts at certain locations)

Let’s look at how it works in a few of these regions.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE is among the earliest adopters of UPI Global. Indians visiting the UAE can now scan QR codes displayed by partnered merchants and pay directly using their Indian bank accounts via UPI apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and others. The transactions are completed in INR, converted at prevailing forex rates. This feature benefits not just tourists but also the significant Indian diaspora living and working in the UAE, making expenses like dining, shopping, and travel more seamless.

Singapore

Singapore is another key region where UPI has gone live. Through collaborations like the linkage of UPI with Singapore’s PayNow system, cross-border payments have become faster and cheaper. Individuals can transfer funds between India and Singapore instantly. However, as of now, this facility is primarily person-to-person (P2P) transfers rather than widespread merchant payments. Broader merchant acceptance may evolve over time.

Nepal and Bhutan

Both Nepal and Bhutan have adopted UPI for merchant payments, enabling Indian travelers to pay seamlessly at retail outlets, hotels, and tourism services using their UPI apps. The transactions typically settle in local currencies, converted from INR at prevailing rates.

Mauritius, France, Sri Lanka, Oman

These regions are gradually rolling out UPI acceptance, primarily with selected merchants in tourism and retail sectors. France, for instance, has limited acceptance in high-tourism zones but is expected to expand further. Similarly, in the UK, pilot rollouts are underway at certain locations, signaling growing interest in UPI as a global payment solution.

Is UPI a Replacement for International Money Transfer Services?

Currently, UPI Global is not a complete replacement for traditional international money transfers. Here’s why:

• Limited Coverage: UPI is live only in selected countries and often only at specific merchants. It’s not universally accepted like Visa or Mastercard yet.
• Merchant-Only Focus: Much of UPI’s current international rollout is focused on merchant payments, not remittances or bank-to-bank transfers.
• Regulatory Limitations: Different countries have strict foreign exchange and anti-money laundering regulations, which limit UPI’s use for high-value cross-border payments.
• Currency Conversions: Transactions are converted from INR to local currencies at forex rates. The rates and possible fees depend on your UPI app and banking partner.

So while UPI Global makes small everyday purchases abroad simpler, it’s not yet a substitute for large-value international remittances or business payments.

How Can You Use UPI Internationally?

If you’re traveling abroad and want to try UPI payments:

• Check if the country you’re visiting is on the live acceptance list.
• Ensure your UPI app supports international payments. Not all Indian apps or banks have enabled the feature yet.
• Confirm whether the merchant accepts UPI payments. Look for “UPI accepted” signs or QR codes.
• Be mindful of foreign exchange rates and potential charges.

Future of International UPI

NPCI and banks are working actively to expand UPI’s global reach. More partnerships are in progress with countries like the USA, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and others. The goal is to eventually make UPI as familiar as global payment giants, reducing reliance on cash or expensive forex cards while traveling.

For now, UPI Global is still in its early stages, but it’s steadily gaining traction. If you’re planning international travel, it’s worth checking whether your UPI app can be your payment partner abroad-it might save you money and hassle.

Final Thoughts

UPI has already transformed how Indians transact within the country. As it steps onto the global stage, it holds significant promise for making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more user-friendly. While it’s not yet a universal solution for all international payments, the progress so far is impressive and signals a future where UPI might become a global payment powerhouse.