In which countries can Indians use UPI to make payments?

India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) continued its global expansion this week.

On Tuesday, 13 February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan reached an agreement to launch the UPI service in the UAE .

A day earlier, on Monday, Modi had launched UPI services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius through a virtual event.

“The launch of India’s UPI services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius underscores the robust linkages between our countries,” he shared during a video conferencing, joined by Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

The launch of India’s UPI services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius underscores the robust linkages between our countries. https://t.co/u9da79j7L2

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2024

Indian tourists in Sri Lanka and Mauritius can make QR code-based payments at merchants using their familiar UPI apps. Similarly, visitors from these countries will be able to utilize similar services while traveling to India, promoting cross-border transactions and tourism.

Earlier this month, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and French independent payment service provider Lyra partnered to enable UPI payments at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Here is a list of countries where Indians can make payments using UPI apps:

Bhutan
Since July 2021, in collaboration with the Royal Monetary Authority, UPI QR-based payments have been available in Bhutan, fostering financial integration between the two nations.

Oman
Indian expats can use UPI to pay merchants in the Sultanate of Oman. Indian RuPay cards are also accepted at ATMs, POS terminals, and e-commerce websites across Oman’s OmanNet network, as per the agreement. Additionally, real-time cross-border transfers of funds between India and Oman are now functional.

Nepal
Users can leverage UPI IDs through mobile banking to make bank transfers to India, simplifying financial exchanges.

France
Even the iconic Eiffel Tower now welcomes UPI payments, thanks to a partnership between NIPL and Lyra. So, next time you’re capturing Insta-worthy moments there, you can even pay like a pro.

Mauritius
Indian visitors to Mauritius can enjoy seamless local payments using their UPI apps, while Mauritian tourists make payments in India through Instant Payment System (IPS) app. Banks in Mauritius can even issue RuPay cards through the MauCAS network.

Sri Lanka
QR code-based payments using your UPI app can be done at merchant locations across Sri Lanka, making your travel smoother.

Southeast Asia
NIPL’s collaboration with Singapore-based Liquid Group opens up a whole new region of North and Southeast Asia for UPI payments. This will enable BHIM App users to make transactions in the 10 countries in that region, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

UAE
India and the UAE are set for smoother cross-border transactions with the agreed linking of their instant payment systems – India’s UPI and UAE’s AANI. This follows a 2023 memorandum of understanding on integrating financial systems and promises faster, cheaper transfers, potentially boosting trade and tourism between the two nations.