India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has gone live in 11 countries, offering new cross-border payment options for Indian travellers, though actual merchant acceptance remains uneven across markets.
India’s Unified Payments Interface has widened its international footprint, with government data showing it is now live in 11 countries, but the practical reach for travellers remains uneven. According to Business Today, UPI can be used for merchant payments in nine of those markets, while Greece and the Maldives currently support cross-border transfers rather than everyday QR-code shopping.
The countries where Indian travellers can scan and pay include Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Cambodia. Cambodia was the latest addition in June 2026, when the first phase of the India-Cambodia payment linkage enabled visitors to use Cambodia’s KHQR system at participating merchants. Government data cited in the report says the arrangement covers more than 4.5 million merchants, although acceptance still depends on whether individual businesses and locations are part of the network.
That distinction matters. A country being “UPI live” does not mean every shop, hotel or restaurant will accept it. Merchant use depends on local payment rails and the willingness of businesses to join the scheme, so travellers still need to look for a compatible BHIM UPI or partner-network QR code before trying to pay.
Greece and the Maldives sit in a different category. Business Today said UPI-linked facilities in both countries are currently designed for remittances: in Greece, transfers run through Eurobank, while in the Maldives the local instant payment system Favara was connected to UPI on 30 July 2026. That means the service is useful for sending money, but not yet a substitute for routine retail spending.
For travellers, the process still starts before departure. Users need to switch on UPI Global or UPI International through a supported app and an eligible bank account, then check the foreign-currency amount, the rupee equivalent, the exchange rate and any charges before entering their UPI PIN. The wider expansion comes as UPI’s role in digital payments continues to grow sharply, with related reports saying it has become one of the world’s largest real-time payment systems and is now a significant part of India’s push to export its payment technology abroad.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
