Which Countries Accept UPI Payments? Full List Explained
Varnika Srivastava11 Nov, 2025
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India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has transformed digital transactions with its simple, secure, and real-time payment system. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI allows instant money transfers using a smartphone — and now, its reach is extending far beyond India’s borders. Interestingly, this topic recently appeared as a General Knowledge question in the UPSC exam, where aspirants were asked to identify how many countries, apart from India, currently accept international merchant payments through UPI.
What Is UPI and How It’s Going Global
To promote global usage, NPCI established NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), which has partnered with several foreign banks and payment networks. The aim is to let Indian travellers make payments directly through their UPI apps while shopping, dining, or visiting tourist attractions abroad.
Countries That Currently Accept UPI Payments
As of 2025, the following countries have enabled UPI-based merchant or cross-border payments for Indian users:
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Bhutan – The first country to adopt UPI for QR-based payments, enabling seamless transactions for Indian visitors.
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Nepal – Allows UPI transactions at partnered merchants and banks.
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Singapore – Linked its local system PayNow with UPI, supporting both person-to-person and merchant payments.
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United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Enables UPI payments at several retail and tourist establishments.
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France – Rolled out UPI acceptance in key tourist locations, starting with the Eiffel Tower.
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Sri Lanka – Introduced UPI payments at select shops, airports, and tourist destinations.
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Mauritius – Adopted UPI payments recently for both locals and Indian travellers.
These integrations allow Indians abroad to pay directly through their familiar UPI apps like PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay, without needing international cards or currency exchange.
Why It Matters
UPI’s global expansion marks a major step in India’s digital diplomacy, promoting “Make in India, Pay Abroad.” The fact that UPSC included a question on UPI’s international presence shows how significant this development is in both economic and current affairs contexts.
In short, UPI is now accepted in Bhutan, Nepal, Singapore, UAE, France, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, and more countries are expected to join soon — making this a key topic for general knowledge and competitive exams alike.