UPI in 30+ Countries: Can You Pay Abroad Now?
India's UPI payment system is expanding to Uzbekistan, taking its global reach past 30 countries. This means Indian travellers and workers abroad may soon be able to pay in rupees directly — no cash, no forex card, no high transfer fees.
Sending ₹500 abroad via SWIFT costs ₹400-600 in fees — UPI could make it nearly free.
UPI now reaches this many countries — your payments go global
Key Takeaways
Check with your bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis) whether your UPI app is enabled for international payments — activation is usually free and done inside the app settings.
Compare your current travel spending method: if you use a forex card charging 3-4% markup, switching to UPI-enabled international payments on your next trip abroad can save ₹3,000-6,000 on a ₹1.5 lakh travel budget.
If you send money to family from abroad, ask your remittance provider whether they support UPI-linked transfers — newer corridors like UAE-India and Singapore-India already offer near-zero fee options via UPI.
India's UPI payment system is expanding to Uzbekistan, taking its global reach past 30 countries. This means Indian travellers and workers abroad may soon be able to pay in rupees directly — no cash, no forex card, no high transfer fees.
Here's what happened: India announced UPI will be rolled out in Uzbekistan following PM Modi's official visit, extending UPI's global footprint to over 30 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Gulf.. UPI international payments allow Indian travellers to scan QR codes abroad and pay directly from their Indian bank account, bypassing forex cards and currency exchange.. India has been signing bilateral digital payment agreements with multiple nations, positioning UPI as a global payment rail that could also reduce remittance costs for the Indian diaspora..
What you should do: Check with your bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis) whether your UPI app is enabled for international payments — activation is usually free and done inside the app settings.. Compare your current travel spending method: if you use a forex card charging 3-4% markup, switching to UPI-enabled international payments on your next trip abroad can save ₹3,000-6,000 on a ₹1.5 lakh travel budget.. If you send money to family from abroad, ask your remittance provider whether they support UPI-linked transfers — newer corridors like UAE-India and Singapore-India already offer near-zero fee options via UPI..
Enable UPI international payments at least 48 hours before travel — some banks require a one-time OTP-based activation that can't be done once your Indian SIM loses network abroad.
Explore TARA — Your Financial Co-Pilot
Retirement, tax, EMI, refinance and savings calculators — all free. Get a plan aligned to YOUR income, goals and CIBIL.
Try TARA — Free →References
- [1]“UPI set for Uzbekistan rollout as India expands digital payments footprint and strengthens bilateral ties” mint - money · 30 Aug 2026
This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.
Every story here posts to X the moment it breaks. Follow @gocredit_news →