Foreign tourists visiting India can now make digital payments through UPI using the UPI One World service. With the service, international visitors can use India's widely accepted QR-based payment system without needing an Indian bank account.
The service is for everyday payments for international travellers who can scan eligible merchant QR codes on their mobile and pay digitally while travelling across India. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) says UPI One World is specifically designed for inbound international travellers.
And that is particularly convenient for tourists who may be able to use cash and/or international cards and currency exchange services during their trip.
What is UPI One World?
UPI One World is a prepaid digital wallet for foreign tourists and other international visitors in India. Instead of having the service associated with an Indian bank account, eligible travelers are able to load Indian rupees into the wallet and use the balance for UPI payments.
Once activated, the wallet can be used to make payments by scanning merchant QR codes. So visitors can use UPI at participating shops, restaurants, and other businesses without a traditional Indian banking relationship.
The service is part of how India will be able to make its digital payment infrastructure more accessible to international visitors.
Tourists’ main attraction is convenience. They don’t have to depend on cash only or have physical currency to make every little purchase.
How foreign tourists can set up UPI
Foreign visitors need to complete the onboarding and verification process before they can use UPI One World.
According to NPCI, the process is to download the UPI One World application from the relevant app store and complete the onboarding steps. Then, the user should put funds in their wallet and pay.
The KYC verification is based on the traveller’s passport and valid visa. The wallet is provided through authorised partners and designated points where international visitors can complete the required process.
After the wallet is activated and funded, tourists can use it to make UPI payments at participating merchants.
The setup is therefore different from Indian users, who connect UPI applications directly to their bank accounts.
How to make a UPI payment?
When the wallet is up and loaded, it is fairly easy to pay.
The tourist needs to open the UPI One World app and select the Scan & Pay option. The merchant’s QR code can then be scanned by the phone’s camera.
After scanning the QR code, the user enters the amount to be paid and completes the transaction using the required authentication, including the UPI PIN where applicable.
The payment process is similar to what Indian consumers already use for everyday UPI transactions. This familiarity can make the system easier for international visitors who have previously used QR-based payment systems in their home countries.
The wallet is for payments to merchants rather than a regular Indian bank account.
Why It Could Help International Travellers
India already has a large network of merchants accepting UPI payments, so tourists using the system between cities and destinations can benefit from it.
To scan a QR code and not have to chase for cash all the time makes it easier to buy small things for a visitor. It really helps, too, not to have to carry heavy quantities of physical money while traveling.
The system is especially relevant as UPI has become a major part of India’s everyday payment infrastructure. Visitors who arrive from countries where QR payments are already common might find the process familiar.
UPI One World also offers international travellers a way to get into India’s digital payment ecosystem without having to open a local bank account.
What Tourists Should Know
International visitors need to understand that UPI One World is a prepaid wallet and not a standard bank-linked UPI account. They need to do the necessary verification and add funds before using the service.
NPCI's current guidance advises that users can download the application, complete onboarding, and load the wallet before making payments.
Tourists must also use the official UPI One World service and authorised onboarding channels. Like any digital payment service, visitors need to keep their authentication information safe and verify the payment amount before completing the transaction.
For international tourists, the introduction and expansion of UPI One World can make it even easier to pay for daily expenses in India. Now instead of using cash or international cards, the eligible tourists can go through a QR-based payment system with India’s extensive payment network.
