UPI payments are now available outside India. Indian travellers can scan and pay straight from their bank accounts in ten countries. These include places in Asia, the Gulf, and now Europe.
UPI itself does not charge a transaction fee. However, banks might charge for international transfers, and you will incur currency conversion fees. Still, using UPI means you can avoid carrying cash or dealing with currency exchange counters.
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Where UPI Works Today
Bhutan was the first country outside India to use UPI. Today, more than 20,000 merchants there accept UPI payments, making shopping and trekking easier.
Singapore joined next, with the UPI-PayNow link in 2023, allowing people to send money instantly from Indian accounts to PayNow users. Nepal joined after NPCI International Payments Ltd partnered with Fonepay in March last year. Now, you can use apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm to pay at stores across Nepal.
Sri Lanka joined the network through a partnership between NPCI International and LankaPay, enabling travellers to make instant payments using LankaQR. Mauritius launched UPI and RuPay card services in February 2024, alongside Sri Lanka, and now offers a co-branded RuPay card for cross-border use.
Gulf and European Expansion
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The UAE added UPI to Network International’s merchant network in July 2024. Now, more than 200,000 terminals across shops, restaurants, and tourist spots accept UPI. Qatar joined in September 2025 through a partnership between NPCI and Qatar National Bank. Indian tourists are the second-largest visitor group there.
Cambodia joined in June 2026 through a cross-border QR link between NPCI International and ACLEDA Bank. Now, more than 4.5 million merchants across Cambodia accept UPI payments.
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France was the first European country to adopt UPI, thanks to a partnership between NPCI International and Lyra. Right now, you can mostly use it to book Eiffel Tower tickets online, since QR codes are not widely used there yet. Greece became the tenth country to join on June 30 through a partnership between Eurobank and NPCI International. Travellers can now pay by scanning QR codes at Eurobank merchants.
What Travellers Should Know
You can use UPI payments abroad with the same apps you use in India, like Google Pay, BHIM, Paytm, PhonePe, and Tata Neu. Many banks, such as Axis Bank, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and State Bank of India, support international UPI transactions.
UPI coverage varies by country. In places like Bhutan and Cambodia, almost all merchants accept UPI. In others, like France, you can only use it for certain things right now. Before you rely on UPI as your main way to pay abroad, check with your bank about transfer fees and currency conversion rates. npci.org.in
UPI payments from India are accepted in Bhutan, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the UAE, Qatar, Cambodia, France, and Greece.
Keep this in mind
- UPI does not charge a transaction fee for international use. However, your bank may apply transfer charges, and foreign exchange rates will affect the payment amount.
- Apps like Google Pay, BHIM, Paytm, PhonePe, and Tata NeU support UPI payments abroad if your bank account is linked and enabled for international transactions.
- Major Indian banks such as Axis Bank, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and State Bank of India support international UPI payments.
- UPI is not accepted everywhere in these countries. Bhutan and Cambodia offer broad merchant coverage. Countries like France currently limit UPI to specific services, such as booking tickets for the Eiffel Tower.
- Check with your bank before using UPI abroad, as not all UPI-linked accounts are enabled for cross-border transactions and fee structures may vary.
- UPI payments use secure, bank-linked channels, reducing the risks associated with carrying large amounts of cash. Standard travel safety precautions still apply.
