UPI Spreads To 11 Nations
4.5 million merchants in Cambodia alone now accept India's payment system for cross-border transactions
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has expanded its reach beyond India, with 11 countries now accepting the payment system. Of these, 9 countries - including the UAE, France, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Mauritius, Qatar, and Cambodia - allow Indian travellers to make merchant payments using UPI.
In these countries, travellers can use UPI to make payments at participating merchants, with over 4.5 million merchants covered in Cambodia alone. Cambodia became the 9th country to allow UPI merchant payments in June 2026, under the first phase of the India-Cambodia payment linkage.
In addition to merchant payments, two countries - Greece and the Maldives - support cross-border remittances through UPI. In Greece, UPI went live for remittances through Eurobank in 2026, while the Maldives' instant payment system Favara was linked with UPI on July 30, 2026, for cross-border transfers.
To use UPI abroad, travellers need to activate UPI Global or UPI International for an eligible bank account through a supported UPI application. However, it's worth noting that merchant acceptance of UPI depends on local payment networks and participating businesses, so travellers should not assume that UPI can be used everywhere.
## What it means The expansion of UPI to 11 countries outside India marks a significant milestone in the growth of the payment system. With millions of Indians travelling abroad every year, the ability to use UPI for payments can make a big difference in terms of convenience and ease of use. As more countries come on board, UPI is likely to become an increasingly popular payment option for Indian travellers.
## Why it matters The growth of UPI globally has significant implications for the Indian economy and for Indian travellers. With UPI, Indian travellers can avoid the hassle of carrying cash or using foreign currency, and can instead use their familiar payment system to make payments abroad. This can also help to boost tourism and trade between India and the countries that accept UPI.
The expansion of UPI to new countries is also a testament to the growing popularity of digital payments in India. With over 4.5 million merchants covered in Cambodia alone, UPI has the potential to become a major player in the global payments landscape.
