UPI goes international! What started in India as a fast, secure, and convenient way to send money instantly has now crossed borders. From enabling millions of Indians to pay seamlessly at local shops, UPI has expanded to become a global digital payment solution. Today, it has become part of the financial ecosystem in several countries, allowing travelers, NRIs, and businesses to make instant payments abroad. Here’s the complete UPI accepted countries list and an overview of the countries where UPI is accepted.
List of Countries Where UPI Is Accepted
1. Bhutan – First Country to Accept UPI
Launch date: 13 July 2021 (virtual ceremony).
Partner: Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of Bhutan
Launched by: Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman & Finance Minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Namgay Tshering.
First country to adopt UPI standards for QR deployment.
First country in India’s immediate neighbourhood to accept mobile payments using the BHIM App.
Builds on earlier integration: Acceptance of RuPay cards issued in India at Bhutan ATMs and PoS terminals, and vice versa.
As part of the launch, FM Sitharaman made a live transaction using BHIM-UPI to purchase an organic product from a Bhutanese OGOP outlet. Source: NPCI , PIB
2. France – UPI Arrives in Europe
Official Launch: Announced on 2nd February 2024 at a Republic Day event in Paris by M. Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India to France and Monaco and French officials.
UPI Acceptance in France: Started with the Eiffel Tower, making France the first European country to accept UPI.
Tourist Benefit: Indian tourists can now buy Eiffel Tower tickets online using UPI for quick and secure payments.
Expansion: On 3rd July 2024, UPI was launched at Galeries Lafayette in Paris, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, further expanding UPI acceptance.
Significance: Helps Indian tourists with seamless cross-border payments and opens opportunities for French merchants in tourism and retail.
UPI Reach: Over 380 million users in India; recorded 12.2 billion transactions in January 2024 alone.
NPCI International (NIPL): Focuses on enabling UPI and RuPay internationally and supporting countries in building real-time payment systems.
Lyra Group: French partner securing e-commerce and proximity payments; partnered with NIPL for UPI expansion in France. Source: Embassy of India, NPCI Press Release
3. Nepal – QR Payments Go Live
Launch Date: Announced on 8th March 2024; first phase enables person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions.
UPI Acceptance in Nepal: Indian citizens can now make QR-code-based UPI payments in Nepal.
Partnership: NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) partnered with Fonepay Payment Service Ltd, Nepal’s largest payment network.
Tourist & Merchant Benefit: Indian tourists can pay easily; Nepali merchants on Fonepay network can accept UPI seamlessly.
Significance: Strengthens India-Nepal ties and makes cross-border payments instant, secure, and convenient.
Economic Impact: Expected to boost trade, tourism, financial inclusion, and regional economic growth.
About Fonepay: Nepal’s first non-card-based Payment System Operator, PCI DSS certified, ISO 27001:2013 certified, regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank.
About NIPL: International arm of NPCI, deploying UPI and RuPay globally, providing technological support for real-time payment systems. Source: NPCI Press Release
4. UAE – Widespread Merchant Network
Launch Date: Announced on 3rd July 2024; rollout is progressive across 200,000+ POS terminals in 60,000+ merchants.
UPI Acceptance in UAE: Indian tourists and NRIs can now pay using QR-code-based UPI across merchants.
Partnership: NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) partnered with Network International, a leading digital payments company in the Middle East and Africa.
Coverage: Includes retail, hospitality, transport, supermarkets, and major tourist destinations like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates.
Significance: Provides seamless, secure cross-border payments for Indians; supports a cashless and digital UAE.
Tourist Impact: UAE expects 5.29 million Indian visitors in 2024; UPI makes payments convenient and familiar for them.
About Network International: Leading payments enabler in MEA, operating in 50+ countries, serving 120,000+ merchants.
About NIPL: International arm of NPCI, promoting UPI and RuPay globally and assisting countries with real-time payment systems. Source: NPCI Press Release
5. Mauritius — UPI & RuPay Jointly Launched with Sri Lanka
UPI & RuPay Launch: UPI services launched in Sri Lanka and Mauritius; RuPay card launched in Mauritius.
Inauguration: Jointly inaugurated on 12th February 2024 by PM Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth via video conference.
Tourist & Citizen Benefit: Indian tourists, people of Indian origin, and students in these countries can make seamless UPI payments; Mauritian banks can issue RuPay cards for settlements in India and Mauritius.
Economic & Digital Impact: Enhances cross-border transactions, boosts digital transformation, promotes tourism, and reduces dependency on hard currency.
Significance: Reflects India’s “Neighborhood First” policy, strengthens people-to-people ties, and demonstrates India’s role in supporting the Global South.
Transaction Scale in India: Over 100 billion UPI transactions last year, worth ₹2 lakh crore (~8 trillion Sri Lankan rupees / 1 trillion Mauritian rupees).
Future Potential: May expand to cross-border P2P remittances, enabling real-time, cost-effective payments between countries. Source: PIB
6. Singapore – UPI Merchant Payments & QR Acceptance
Launch: Virtual launch on 21st February 2023 by PM Narendra Modi and PM Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore.
Cross-Border Payments: Enables real-time, low-cost, and convenient person-to-person (P2P) transfers between India and Singapore.
First Transaction: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and MAS MD Ravi Menon made the first live cross-border transactions using UPI and PayNow.
Target Users: Benefits Indian diaspora in Singapore, including migrant workers and students.
Existing UPI Acceptance: QR-code-based UPI payments are already available at selected merchant outlets in Singapore.
Significance: Strengthens India-Singapore financial connectivity and showcases the impact of digitalisation and fintech. Source: PIB
Countries Where UPI for International Payments via Paytm Is Accepted
UPI for international payments via Paytm are currently accepted in 6 countries where Indian travellers can use their Paytm app to make seamless, cashless payments.
Currently Supported Countries:
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Available at shopping spots, restaurants, and popular tourist destinations in Dubai and other emirates
- Singapore – Accepted at marketplaces, restaurants, and various merchant locations throughout the country
- France – Available at select international locations and tourist spots
- Mauritius – Accepted at beach markets, local shops, and tourist venues
- Bhutan – Available at artisanal craft shops, local markets, and merchant locations
- Nepal – Accepted at local shopping venues, restaurants, and various merchant establishments
Author
