Unified Payments Interface (UPI), developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has transformed how Indians pay digitally. Beyond India, UPI is expanding globally, making it easier for Indian travelers, NRIs, and businesses to pay abroad using familiar UPI apps like PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, and BHIM.
Below is the updated list of countries where UPI is accepted internationally, along with launch year, partner networks, and usage details.
Country | Year of Launch | How UPI Works There |
Bhutan | 2021 | BharatQR payments via Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) and NPCI International |
Nepal | 2022 | UPI QR payments enabled through Gateway Payments Service & Fonepay |
United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 2022 | UPI QR codes live at Neopay / Mashreq Bank merchants, malls, and airports |
Singapore | 2023 | Cross-border UPI payments linked with PayNow |
Mauritius | 2024 | Payments accepted at retail & tourist outlets via Bank of Mauritius partnership |
Sri Lanka | 2024 | LankaPay & NPCI International enable UPI through LankaQR network |
France | 2024 | UPI accepted at Eiffel Tower and expanding to tourist merchants via Lyra Network |
UPI is also being piloted or partially accepted in some countries. Coverage may be limited to selected merchants or tourist areas:
No. Only merchants partnered with UPI-enabled networks (like PayNow in Singapore or Neopay in UAE) currently accept UPI.
For most banks, yes. However, UPI on international mobile numbers has been rolled out for NRIs in countries like Singapore, UAE, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UK, and USA.
Banks may apply forex conversion and service fees. Always check with your bank before using UPI abroad.
Popular apps like PhonePe, Google Pay (India), Paytm, and BHIM are compatible where UPI is enabled.
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