Before Israel Gets On Board, 8 Countries Where Indians Already Use UPI Payments

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day state visit to Israel, digital payments emerged as a key area of cooperation between the two countries, alongside several others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised India's fintech transformation, highlighting the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a world-class model for affordable, real-time cross-border transactions.

Both nations agreed to explore linking UPI with Israel's fast payment system - a move that could make Israel the latest destination where Indian travellers can pay using UPI.

Why UPI Abroad Matters for Indian Travellers

For tourists, the ability to use a familiar, secure digital payment method abroad adds comfort and convenience.

"When you are in a country, you feel much more secure if you are using your own payment method. And the great thing with UPI is that you see exactly the amount of the expense in rupees, and the same amount is deducted from your account," Christophe Mariette, Chairman of Lyra Network, previously told ANI.

Here Are 8 Countries Where Indian Travellers Can Pay Via UPI:

1. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Indian travellers can use the Paytm app for seamless UPI payments in the UAE. PhonePe users can also transact using UPI at Mashreq's NEOPAY terminals, which are available across retail stores, dining outlets and tourist attractions. Payments are deducted in Indian rupees, and the app displays the exchange rate.

2. Bhutan

Bhutan was the first country to adopt UPI standards for QR deployments. The country already accepted RuPay cards, and since 2021, BHIM-enabled UPI QR payments have been available. Indian travellers can also use Paytm for cashless transactions in Bhutan.

3. France

UPI adoption in France has significantly improved payment convenience for Indian visitors - particularly at major tourist sites. Christophe Mariette of Lyra Network told ANI that UPI usage has contributed to a 40 per cent increase in Indian tourist footfall, especially at the Eiffel Tower, where UPI was launched in February 2024.

4. Nepal

UPI went live in Nepal in March 2024, enabling QR-based payments to Nepali merchants. Indian visitors can use UPI-enabled apps for secure, instant transactions across various business outlets. Paytm users can activate UPI International with a one-time setup, which automatically prompts when scanning a UPI-enabled QR code abroad.

5. Singapore

Users of BHIM, Paytm and PhonePe can make instant UPI payments in Singapore. Since January 2024, members of the Indians living in Singapore can also send remittances directly to bank accounts in India - at Axis Bank, DBS Bank India, ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and State Bank of India. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) notes that transfers are instant, safe, available 24x7, and competitively priced, making even small remittances feasible.

6. Sri Lanka

In May 2024, PhonePe partnered with LankaPay to allow UPI payments across Sri Lanka. Travellers can scan LankaQR codes for instant, secure transactions, with amounts debited in INR along with visible exchange rates. Paytm users also have access to seamless cashless payments in the country.

7. Mauritius

UPI services launched in Mauritius in February 2024. Indian tourists can make UPI payments, and Mauritian travellers visiting India can use UPI as well. RuPay services have also expanded, enabling Mauritian banks to issue RuPay cards usable in both nations.

8. Qatar

UPI is accepted at major tourist attractions and at Qatar Duty Free outlets, which became the first merchant to go live on the platform, NPCI said in its September 2025 announcement. Indians are the second-largest group of international visitors to Qatar, and UPI aims to enhance their travel experience by reducing currency exchange hassles.

Bonus: Malaysia

In October 2025, Razorpay announced that UPI payments would soon be enabled in Malaysia. This will allow Indian travellers to make instant payments to local businesses using their preferred UPI apps - without needing international cards or dealing with currency conversions. More than one million Indians visited Malaysia in 2024, spending over Rs 110 billion - a 71.7 per cent rise from the previous year - underscoring the need for simple, cashless cross-border payment options.

UPI's growing global reach not only enhances financial inclusion but also strengthens India's expanding digital payments ecosystem.