Making UPI payments within the country is a well-known fact, but here’s an interesting part: you can now make international UPI payments with just a few clicks.
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National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI), in 2020, launched an inter-country payment initiative on UPI to allow Indian citizens to transfer money to their family, friends or merchants overseas.
What is International UPI Payment?
UPI (Unified Payment Interface) gives Indian citizens the privilege to make payments to merchants across the country by scanning a QR code or by using a virtual payment address (VPAs). The NPCI has set an official amount i.e Rs 2,00,000, that can be transferred in one day using UPI by activating the international payment facility on your UPI account by clicking on “UPI International”
As of now, there are countable countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, France, UAE, Japan along with many others that have permitted access to Indian citizens for foreign remittance. It is worth noting that once a UPI international payment is initiated, it can not be canceled since it is a bank-to-bank transfer. Across India, people have started using UPI for international payments considering it is an easier alternative to a lengthy conventional process of transferring funds.
How to Activate UPI International?
To use UPI for international payments, the user needs to activate the facility on their UPI account. Following is a step-to-step guide on how to activate the UPI international.
Step 1: Open your UPI app and click on your profile picture.
Step 2: Click on payment settings or UPI settings
Step 3: Find the UPI International option and click on it.
Step 4: Tap on the “Activate” button in front of the account you wish to activate the facility on.
Step 5: Enter your UPI PIN for verification.
Note: The steps provided above are fundamental for activating your UPI international feature. However, these steps can vary across different UPI apps. Moreover, it’s essential to understand that not all UPI apps support international transactions.
How to Make International UPI Payment?
Let us understand how can you use UPI for international payments:
Step 1: Open your UPI app and click on “Scan QR Code” option
Step 2: Scan the QR provided by the merchant or the concerned person to make a transaction.
Step 3: Enter the amount in the foreign currency. Make sure to use the right currency unit.
Step 4: Select the bank account you wish to make the payment from.
Step 5: The payment will be debited from your bank account in INR along with the conversion fee charged by the bank.
Step 6: Confirm the payment by entering your UPI PIN.
List of Countries that Accepts UPI International Payments
Find below the list of all the countries that allow Indian citizens to make payments internationally.
| Bhutan | Thailand |
| France | Philippines |
| Mauritius | Vietnam |
| Nepal | Cambodia |
| Oman | South Korea |
| Sri Lanka | Japan |
| UAE | Taiwan |
| Singapore | Hong Kong |
| Malaysia |
UPI Limits for International Transfers
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has recently established a defined limit for Indian citizens to carry out international transactions using UPI. Individuals can now transact up to Rs. 2,00,000 (approximately $2500) per transaction.
However, it’s important to note that the specific limit may vary depending on the UPI app you are using, as UPI companies have the authority to lower the per transaction limit if needed. If you need to make a transaction exceeding the set limit, it is advisable to consider a direct bank transfer instead of using UPI.
Banks That Support UPI International Payment
Following is a list of banks that support UPI for international payments:
| HDFC Bank | Indian Bank |
| Axis Bank | Central Bank of India |
| ICICI Bank | Bank of Maharashtra |
| State Bank of India | The Federal Bank Limited |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | IndusInd Bank Limited |
| Punjab National Bank | Karur Vysya Bank Limited |
| Bank of Baroda | South Indian Bank Limited |
| Union Bank of India | City Union Bank Limited |
| Canara Bank | Punjab and Sind Bank |
| Bank of India | ESAF Small Finance Bank Limited |
Disclaimer: This blog is here to make complex processes easier to understand. However, please be aware that information might become outdated or change over time, or updates may occur. As a result, there might be some differences in the information provided. We do our best to keep everything up-to-date, but we recommend verifying information on official websites for accuracy.
