In which countries can you make UPI payments, and do you need to change any phone settings?

UPI Payment in Other Countries: Indians can now make UPI payments directly from their bank accounts even while traveling abroad. Find out which settings you need to change on your phone.

The payment system in India has completely changed. People now make payments directly through UPI for any purchase in the country. This has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. This feature is no longer limited to India; it has also been rolled out abroad.

UPI isn't available in every country, but it is now live in select locations. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and its international arm, NIPL, have launched QR-based payments in several countries.

Indian travelers can now make payments directly from their Indian bank accounts, just as they do in India. Countries currently supporting UPI include Bhutan, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, France, the UAE, and Qatar.

In many of these countries, you can make payments at local shops or restaurants using any UPI app. Qatar recently joined this list, bringing the total to eight. If you're traveling abroad and want to use UPI, you'll need to change some settings.

You need to enable the UPI International option in your UPI app. Some banks have this setting disabled by default. Once activated, you'll be able to make payments from your Indian account abroad.

If you're using a local SIM card abroad, the situation may be slightly different. Some banks and UPI platforms now offer UPI transactions with foreign mobile numbers. For example, IDFC First Bank has launched this feature for international numbers in 12 countries.

Using UPI abroad is very simple. Simply open your app, scan the QR code, and enter the amount. Also, make sure the merchant supports UPI International. Payments are made in Indian rupees. However, the amount is converted at the foreign exchange rate. Some banks also charge a small service charge, which you should check beforehand.