Complete Guide to Making UPI Payments for Foreigners in India
UPI payments in India are now accessible to foreigners. Learn how NRIs & tourists can use UPI to send/receive money & make purchases seamlessly.
India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized digital payments within the country, and now with UPI One World, foreign travelers can experience the convenience and security of UPI payments. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of getting started with UPI One World, allowing you to navigate your Indian adventure with ease.
We'll also introduce you to Wise - which is not a UPI wallet, but does offer a convenient Indian Rupee travel card to users in supported countries, and offers convenient way to transfer money to UPI or bank accounts in India from abroad.
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UPI One World is a service that allows foreign nationals visiting India to use UPI payments without needing an Indian bank account. It's not a standalone app, but a platform supported by approved UPI-enabled partner apps. These apps provide a prepaid payment instrument (PPI) wallet that lets you make digital payments in Indian Rupees (INR).
With UPI One World, you can:
To get started with UPI One World, you'll need to download one of the issuing partner apps and sign up with your international phone number. Some popular options include:
Once you've downloaded an app, you'll need to sign up with your international phone number and complete a KYC (Know Your Customer) process. This usually involves verifying your identity with your passport and valid visa at designated locations like airports, hotels, or money exchange counters. After completing KYC, your UPI One World account will be created and linked to your international mobile number.
Loading money into your UPI One World wallet |
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You can load your UPI One World wallet app by exchanging foreign currency at the issuer counter or using your credit or debit card. While using your home country's card, be mindful of foreign transaction fees and markups on the mid-market exchange rate — the one you usually see on Google. To help avoid the hidden cost of these markups on foreign currency spending, check out the Wise travel card available to residents in supported countries. |
With your loaded wallet, you can make payments at any merchant that accepts UPI by scanning their QR code with your app and entering your UPI PIN. Before leaving India, you can transfer any remaining balance back to your source account or encash it at the issuer counter, subject to foreign exchange regulations.
While UPI One World offers a convenient way to make payments in India, here are some other options:
We would like to introduce you to Wise Card that offers you foreign currency transactions without any marksups on the mid-market rates.
Planning a trip to India? Wise offers a convenient travel card and money transfer services that make managing your finances abroad a breeze. Wise card is not available for residents in India, but for those based in supported countries, the Wise card lets you spend like a local on your travels to 150+ countries — including India.
Guide to using Wise Card in India 👉
Here's why Wise is a great choice for your Indian adventure:
While Wise isn't a UPI wallet and doesn't support scanning UPI codes for real-time payments, it's a fantastic alternative for managing your travel money and sending money to India.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
UPI payments in India are now accessible to foreigners. Learn how NRIs & tourists can use UPI to send/receive money & make purchases seamlessly.
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Learn how to use your Wise card for easy, secure, and affordable spending in India. Get the mid-market exchange rate and avoid hidden fees with Wise.