UPI in Foreign Countries — Complete Guide 2026
India's Unified Payments Interface has gone truly global. From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the souks of Dubai — here's every country where you can pay with UPI, and what's coming next.
As of May 2026, India's UPI is live in 12+ countries across South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe — with 30+ more nations in active discussions. Whether you're a tourist, NRI, or business traveller, this guide has everything you need.
What is UPI International?
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016. It allows instant bank-to-bank transfers via a mobile app using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) — no bank account number needed.
UPI International is the cross-border extension of this system, enabled by NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary that negotiates partnerships with foreign governments, banks, and payment networks.
Did You Know?
In 2025, UPI surpassed Visa in daily digital payment volume — processing over 640 million transactions per day vs Visa's 639 million, according to the IMF. UPI processed a record 21.63 billion transactions in December 2025.
UPI Global Statistics — May 2026
Complete List: Countries Where UPI Is Accepted (May 2026)
Here is the full, updated country-by-country breakdown — sourced from NPCI, RBI, and official government announcements.
🌏 South Asia
🌍 Middle East & Gulf
🌏 Southeast Asia & Pacific
🌍 Europe
🤝 New in 2026: Israel
Israel joins UPI — February 2026
During PM Narendra Modi's visit to Israel in February 2026, India and Israel signed bilateral agreements including the extension of UPI to Israel. PM Modi met PM Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss strategic and technological ties, with UPI being a centrepiece of the digital cooperation agenda. Israel becomes the latest country to agree to UPI adoption.
UPI Countries — Feature Comparison Table
| Country | Region | Status | P2P Transfers | Merchant QR | Remittance | Key Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan | South Asia | ● Live | Yes | Yes | Yes | Royal Monetary Authority |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | South Asia | ● Live | Yes | Yes | Yes | Fonepay Network |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | South Asia | ● Live | Partial | Yes | Partial | NIPL – Local banks |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | Indian Ocean | ● Live | Yes | Yes | Yes | RBI – Bank of Mauritius |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | Middle East | ● Live | Partial | Yes | Yes | Mashreq NEOPAY |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | Middle East | ● Live | No | Yes | Partial | QNB Group / NETSTARS |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | Middle East | ● Live | No | Select | Partial | NIPL – local partners |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | South East Asia | ● Live | Yes | Yes | Yes | PayNow (MAS–RBI link) |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | South East Asia | ● Live | Partial | Yes | Partial | NIPL – DuitNow link |
| 🇫🇷 France | Europe | ● Live | No | Yes | No | Lyra Network |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Europe | ● Live | No | Yes | Partial | Eurobank Cyprus |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | Middle East | ◐ Agreement | TBD | TBD | TBD | India–Israel bilateral |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | Middle East | ◐ Remittance | No | No | Yes | Fawri+ Network |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | South East Asia | ○ Pilot | TBD | TBD | TBD | Under MoU |
How to Use UPI in Foreign Countries — Step-by-Step
Before You Travel
Not all UPI apps support international transactions by default. Enable "UPI Global" or "International Payments" in your app settings before you leave India.
Enable International UPI in Your App
Open PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM, or Paytm → Settings → Enable "UPI Global" / "International Payments". Some banks may require a call or net-banking activation.
Look for UPI / BharatQR Logos
At merchant counters, look for the UPI logo, BharatQR sticker, or NIPL-enabled QR stands. Ask the cashier if unsure — "Do you accept UPI?"
Scan, Verify & Pay
Open your UPI app → Scan QR Code → The amount in local currency will show converted to INR → Verify → Enter UPI PIN → Done. Payment is instant, 24×7.
Currency Conversion (Forex)
Your payment is debited in INR from your Indian bank account. Conversion happens at bank-determined forex rates. Some banks charge a small international transaction fee (check with your bank beforehand).
Check Your Transaction Limits
Daily UPI limit: ₹1 lakh (general). P2M (merchant) sectors like insurance: up to ₹10 lakh. Max 20 transactions/day across apps. International limits may vary by bank.
Which UPI Apps Work Internationally?
The following apps support UPI international transactions (availability depends on country):
| App | International Support | Countries (Key) | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📱 BHIM | Full | All live countries | Official NPCI app; widest coverage |
| 📱 PhonePe | Full | All major countries | UPI Global toggle; notification on arrival |
| 📱 Google Pay (India) | Full | Singapore, UAE, France+ | Google–NPCI MoU for seamless UX |
| 📱 Paytm | Full | All major countries | Forex rate preview before payment |
| 📱 Amazon Pay | Partial | Singapore, UAE | Works for online merchants primarily |
| 📱 WhatsApp Pay | Coming | Beta testing | International payments in development |
Why UPI International is a Game-Changer
- Zero or Near-Zero Fees: Unlike Visa/Mastercard (1.5–3% transaction fees), UPI transactions are free or nearly free. This saves significantly on foreign trips.
- Real-Time Settlement: Payments complete in seconds, 24×7×365, with no banking hours restriction.
- No Foreign Currency Needed: You pay in INR directly from your Indian bank account. No need to carry cash or exchange currency.
- Familiarity: Use the same apps you use daily — PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm. No learning curve.
- Reduced Remittance Costs: International money transfers are faster and cheaper. The UPI–Fawri+ corridor in Bahrain alone cut transfer time from 3–5 days to instant.
- Surpasses Visa: In 2025, UPI became the world's largest digital payment system by volume, processing 640M+ daily transactions vs Visa's 639M (IMF data).
"UPI gives other nations a chance to absorb knowledge from India's experience and get inspiration for implementing their own real-time payment systems." — Prof. Carlos Montes, Cambridge Judge Business School
Project Nexus — The Multilateral Future
Beyond bilateral links, India is part of Project Nexus, a Bank for International Settlements (BIS) initiative to interlink the domestic fast payment systems of India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand into one multilateral cross-border payment network.
Signed on June 30, 2024 with the central banks of all founding members, Project Nexus is expected to go live by 2026 and will dramatically simplify cross-border retail payments across Asia.
NPCI's Vision: 20 Countries by FY2029
As per RBI Annual Reports 2024–25, NPCI and RBI aim to expand UPI to 20 nations by FY2028–29 in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 objectives. Cross-border UPI transactions grew 20× in one year to mid-2025.
Foreign Tourists Using UPI in India
Foreign nationals visiting India can also use UPI through the "UPI One World" service. Here's how:
- Requires full KYC verification with passport and valid visa
- Available at UPI One World issuer counters at international airports
- Load INR value against foreign currency or credit/debit card
- Use the preloaded wallet at any UPI-enabled merchant in India
- Encash remaining balance before departure
NRIs in countries like Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, UK and USA can use UPI for INR transactions in India through their registered overseas mobile numbers.
UPI International vs Traditional Payment Methods
| Feature | UPI International | Credit/Debit Card | Forex Card | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | Near Zero | 1.5–3% | 0.5–1% | None |
| Speed | Instant | Instant | Instant | Instant |
| Safety | Very High | High | Medium | Low |
| Ease of Use | App-based | Tap/Swipe | Medium | Medium |
| Forex Conversion | Bank rate | High markup | Preloaded rate | Exchange counter |
| Works 24×7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Global Coverage | 12+ Countries | 150+ Countries | Varies | Universal |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Conclusion
India's UPI has transformed from a domestic payment revolution into a genuine global financial force. With 12+ countries live, 30+ in discussion, and ambitious targets of 20 nations by FY2029, the message is clear: paying with your phone, in your language, from your Indian bank account — anywhere in the world — is fast becoming a reality.
For Indian travellers, the advice is simple: enable UPI international on your app before you travel, look for the UPI QR logo at merchant outlets, and enjoy the zero-fee, instant convenience that was once only a domestic privilege.
For the global fintech ecosystem, UPI's international journey proves that a government-backed, open-architecture, interoperable payment system can beat legacy networks that have dominated for decades.
UPI Surpassed Visa in 2025
The IMF confirmed that in 2025, UPI became the world's largest digital payment system by daily transaction volume — 640 million+ transactions per day, surpassing Visa's 639 million. A remarkable feat for a payment system that launched just 9 years ago.