Paying in India as a Tourist
UPI – the world's largest real-time payment system
⚠️ UPI has limited tourist access
Standard UPI requires an Indian bank account. However, since 2023, visitors from G20 countries can use UPI with international SIM cards. Here's exactly what works.
In This Guide
How to Use UPI
Step-by-step: scan, pay and send with UPI
UPI Tourist Guide
Can foreigners use UPI? The 2023 G20 update
India QR Payment
How the UPI QR format technically works
UPI for Foreigners
Expats and NRIs: how to get full UPI access
Cashless Travel India
Going cash-free across Mumbai, Delhi and Goa
Scan UPI QR Code
Scan a UPI code with PhonePe, GPay or Paytm
UPI Apps Comparison
PhonePe vs Google Pay vs Paytm vs BHIM
UPI – India's Payment Revolution
NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) launched UPI in 2016. Today the system processes over 10 billion transactions per month — India accounts for 46% of all real-time payments globally.
Over 500 banks are connected to the UPI network. UPI is completely free for consumers and works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — including bank holidays.
Can Tourists Use UPI?
Standard UPI requires an Indian bank account and Indian SIM card. Since the 2023 G20 Initiative, however, tourists from the following countries can now use UPI:
- USA, UK, Canada, Australia, EU, Singapore, UAE, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey
Requirements: Passport + international phone number. Works with PhonePe and Paytm for international registration.
Non-G20 visitors are best served by a Wise card or international credit/debit cards.
Where UPI QR is Accepted
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