UPI Abroad 2026: Every Country Where You Can Pay With Indian UPI
By Vihaan Patel (Vihaan Patel covers the intersection of travel and digital payments — Indian OTAs, airline-direct booking flows, UPI vs credit-card surcharges, RBI tokenisation rules and the booking-funnel mechanics that quietly cost (or save) you money.) · Published · 14 min read
As of 2026, Indian UPI works for payments in 24+ countries including the UAE, Singapore, France, the UK, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bhutan and more. Acceptance is growing fast but uneven — coverage in tourist areas differs from local daily-use coverage.
Which countries accept Indian UPI in 2026?
TL;DR: Indian UPI works for merchant payments in 24+ countries as of June 2026, including the UAE, Singapore, France, UK, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bhutan, Mauritius, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada and others. Acceptance varies by city and merchant type — tourist-facing merchants in major cities are most reliably covered. Do not rely on UPI as your sole payment method abroad.
NPCI International (NPCI's global arm) has been signing bilateral UPI acceptance agreements since 2022 with the speed of a startup. The core mechanism is the same as domestic UPI: you open your Indian UPI app (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM, or your bank's app), scan a QR code or enter a UPI ID at the merchant, authenticate with your UPI PIN, and the rupee equivalent is debited from your Indian bank account. The currency conversion happens at the NPCI-negotiated interbank rate — no additional forex markup is typically charged by the UPI infrastructure itself, though your bank may apply a small service charge.
The strategic driver behind UPI international expansion is India's foreign policy and digital diplomacy agenda. The government has pushed NPCI International to sign bilateral agreements alongside state visits — the France announcement came during PM Modi's 2023 Paris visit; the Singapore PayNow-UPI link was a joint Reserve Bank of India–MAS initiative. This means country coverage often follows diplomatic momentum as much as purely commercial logic.
Full country list — where UPI works abroad as of 2026
| Country | Status | Key cities / coverage | Launch year |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Active — broad | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah — malls, restaurants, tourist sites | 2022 |
| Singapore | Active — broad | Linked with PayNow; most PayNow QRs accept UPI | 2023 |
| France | Active — tourist areas | Paris tourist spots, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, select hotels; expanding | 2023 |
| Nepal | Active — broad | Kathmandu, Pokhara — wide coverage including local shops | 2021 |
| Bhutan | Active — broad | Paro, Thimphu; used widely among Indian tourist community | 2021 |
| Sri Lanka | Active — tourist areas | Colombo, Kandy, Galle; growing fast post-2024 | 2024 |
| Malaysia | Active — partial | Kuala Lumpur tourist-area merchants; via DuitNow QR link | 2024 |
| Mauritius | Active — partial | Port Louis, tourist resorts; growing coverage | 2023 |
| Qatar | Active — tourist areas | Doha malls, Souq Waqif; FIFA-era rollout maintained | 2022 |
| Bahrain | Active — partial | Manama; select merchants and gold souk | 2023 |
| Oman | Active — partial | Muscat; Indian-community areas and select tourist spots | 2023 |
| Saudi Arabia | Active — select | Riyadh, Jeddah; expanding through Saudi payment processors | 2024 |
| UK | Pilot — limited | London; select Indian-community merchants; expanding | 2024 |
| Australia | Pilot — limited | Sydney, Melbourne; select merchants; via PayID link | 2025 |
| Canada | Pilot — limited | Toronto, Vancouver; Indian-community stores and some universities | 2025 |
Coverage evolves rapidly — verify current merchant acceptance in each country on the NPCI International website or via your UPI app before departure. Fees and features change — verify on the official site before you rely on them.
How does UPI abroad actually work — the mechanics
When you use UPI abroad, here is what happens under the hood:
- You open your UPI app (PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM etc.) and scan the merchant QR code
- The app recognises the international QR (typically a Mastercard, Visa, or local network QR that has been linked to UPI acceptance)
- NPCI International routes the transaction through the bilateral agreement with the local payment network
- Your Indian bank account is debited in INR at the day's NPCI exchange rate — typically close to the interbank rate
- The merchant is credited in local currency
The entire flow takes 3–5 seconds, same as domestic UPI. Your UPI PIN is required. There is no OTP or card number involved — the same security model as domestic transactions.
Exchange rates used by NPCI for international UPI transactions are typically competitive — the government has designed this as a low-cost alternative to card networks. However, your specific bank may charge a small flat fee per international UPI transaction (typically ₹5–25). Check your bank's schedule of charges.
One important detail: your Indian mobile number must be reachable at the time of payment for certain UPI apps that send an SMS verification. If you switch to a local SIM abroad and lose your Indian number temporarily, some UPI apps may fail the authentication check. To avoid this, either keep a dual-SIM setup with your Indian number active on one slot, or use a travel eSIM that preserves your Indian number as active.
UPI abroad vs forex card vs credit card — which is cheapest?
For countries where UPI acceptance is broad (UAE, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan), UPI is often the cheapest payment method because:
- No forex markup on the base transaction
- No card network fee (Visa/Mastercard cross-border interchange)
- At most a small flat bank service charge (typically ₹5–25 per transaction)
Compared to a zero-markup forex card (Niyo/Scapia), UPI abroad can actually be marginally cheaper because even "zero markup" forex cards have thin spreads on reload and Visa/Mastercard's own small cross-border fee that is absorbed differently. For a ₹5,000 transaction at a UAE mall, the saving versus a standard 3.5% markup credit card is around ₹175.
| Payment method | Typical cost overhead on ₹5,000 spend | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UPI abroad (NPCI rate) | ₹5–25 flat fee | Cheapest where accepted |
| Zero-markup forex card (Niyo/Scapia) | ~₹0–20 | Near-interbank rate; network spread minimal |
| Premium credit card (1.5–2% markup) | ~₹75–100 + GST | Partially offset by rewards if redeemed well |
| Standard bank credit card (3–3.5% markup) | ~₹150–175 + GST | Most expensive; avoid for foreign spend |
That said, UPI abroad has real limitations: merchant coverage is patchy outside tourist zones, ATM cash withdrawal is not possible via UPI, and in countries with only pilot coverage you cannot rely on it exclusively. Always carry a forex card or zero-markup credit card as backup. See our guide on credit-card forex markup to understand what you pay with a standard Indian credit card abroad.
Which UPI apps work for international payments?
Not every Indian UPI app supports international transactions — the feature must be enabled by the app and your bank. As of 2026:
- PhonePe — supports UPI abroad in most NPCI-linked countries; international QR scan enabled by default for eligible accounts
- Google Pay — international UPI supported; look for the international payment option in the scan section
- BHIM — supports international UPI as part of NPCI's flagship rollout
- Paytm — international UPI supported in select countries; check the Paytm international payments section
- Bank UPI apps (SBI Pay, HDFC PayZapp etc.) — support varies by bank; check with your bank before travelling
Ensure your UPI app and your mobile phone plan have data access abroad (international roaming or a travel eSIM). UPI requires a live internet connection — it does not work on offline/airplane mode.
Before your trip, test international UPI by scanning a QR in your destination country using a test merchant or at the airport's UPI-enabled kiosk. Some airports — including Dubai International (DXB) and Changi (SIN) — have UPI-enabled kiosks at tourist information desks. A successful test scan before you reach your hotel is the best way to confirm your app and bank account are configured correctly.
What are the limits and risks of using UPI abroad?
Key limitations to be aware of:
- Transaction limits: International UPI transactions may have lower daily limits than domestic UPI. Check with your bank. A typical limit is ₹1 lakh per day for international UPI, but this varies.
- LRS counting: International UPI payments are covered under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). They count towards the USD 250,000 annual LRS limit. TCS implications at the ₹7 lakh threshold apply the same way as forex card spends.
- Merchant rejections: Some international QR codes do not support the UPI interoperability pathway even if the country has an NPCI agreement. You may scan and get a "not supported" error — always have a backup card.
- No UPI for online purchases: UPI abroad works at physical merchant QR codes and some in-app payment experiences. It does not work for general online shopping on foreign websites the way a Visa card does.
Visit FlightGPT Forex to compare forex cards that complement your UPI abroad setup. And see our coverage of RuPay cards abroad in 2026 for another India-first payment option that is expanding internationally.
Step-by-step: how to set up and test UPI for international use before you fly
Getting UPI ready for international travel takes about 10 minutes before you depart. Here is the exact process:
- Update your UPI app to the latest version on the App Store or Play Store. International UPI features are pushed as app updates and older versions may lack the QR routing logic.
- Check your bank's international UPI eligibility. Log in to your bank's net banking or mobile app, navigate to UPI settings, and look for "International UPI" or "UPI abroad" toggle. Some banks (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI) require you to enable this feature explicitly — it is off by default on many accounts for fraud-control reasons.
- Verify your daily international UPI limit. The default is often ₹25,000–₹50,000 per day, which is limiting for hotel check-outs. Request an increase to ₹1 lakh per day if you expect larger transactions.
- Test before departure. At any NPCI-International-linked merchant near you (some Indian stores at international airports sell duty-free and accept UPI abroad test transactions), do a small test payment. Alternatively, pay via the UPI international option on select e-commerce apps that support it.
- Screenshot the NPCI country list for your destination and save it offline — you will not always have data when you need to verify acceptance.
The entire setup takes under 10 minutes and can save both money and the panic of a declined payment at a Bangkok night market or a Paris bakery.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use PhonePe or Google Pay in Dubai?
Yes. The UAE was one of the first countries to enable Indian UPI acceptance, and coverage in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is broad — major malls, restaurants, tourist sites and many smaller merchants accept Indian UPI QR codes. PhonePe and Google Pay both support UPI abroad in the UAE. Your Indian bank account is debited in INR at the NPCI exchange rate.
Does using UPI abroad attract TCS?
Yes. International UPI payments fall under LRS and the same TCS rules that apply to forex cards apply here. Spending above ₹7 lakh per financial year on overseas transactions (across all methods including UPI, card, and cash) attracts 20% TCS, which is refundable via your ITR. Below ₹7 lakh, no TCS is collected.
Can I withdraw cash from an ATM abroad using UPI?
No, not in the standard sense. UPI does not work for ATM cash withdrawals in foreign countries in the way a Visa/Mastercard debit card does. A few pilot programs in countries like Nepal allow interoperable QR-based cash-out, but this is not mainstream. For cash, use a forex card or international debit card at ATMs.
Does UPI work in Thailand?
As of June 2026, Thailand is in active negotiations with NPCI International but a full bilateral live-network launch has not been confirmed in major payment apps. Coverage may be available at some pilot merchants; verify on NPCI International's website or your UPI app before relying on it. Singapore, which many Indian travellers transit through, has robust UPI support via the PayNow link.
What exchange rate does UPI use for international payments?
NPCI International negotiates exchange rates with partner payment networks in each country. These rates are typically close to the interbank rate — competitive with or better than card network rates. Your UPI app will usually show you the INR debit amount before you confirm the payment so you can see the effective rate.
Does my Indian mobile number need to be active when I use UPI abroad?
For most UPI apps, your linked Indian bank account must be in good standing and the app must have a live internet connection — your Indian phone number does not need to receive an SMS in real time for every transaction. However, if you switch to a local SIM and lose your Indian number, some bank-linked UPI apps trigger a re-verification SMS at first use. Keep a dual-SIM setup or eSIM with your Indian number active to avoid this.