2 days ago
UPI Partnership Lets Indian Travellers Pay Across Uzbekistan
India’s UPI payment system is being connected to Uzbekistan’s QR-code network.
Indian visitors can use their usual UPI apps to scan UZQR codes.
They can pay shops, hotels and service providers directly from Indian bank accounts.
The agreement was signed by NPCI International and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre.
The partnership is intended to reduce the need for cash and international cards.
It may also reduce difficulties caused by foreign-exchange mark-ups.
Regulators in India and Uzbekistan approved the arrangement.
The announcement was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan.
News reports disagree about how Uzbekistan should be counted in UPI’s list of overseas markets.
NPCI International and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre signed a commercial agreement on August 30, 2026.
Indian tourists, business travellers and students can use UPI apps to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR codes for merchant payments.
Payments can be made directly from Indian bank accounts at participating retail, hospitality and service merchants.
The arrangement followed approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.
Reports differ on whether Uzbekistan is UPI’s 11th accepting country, while another article describes the Maldives as the ninth.
- Who
- NPCI International Payments Ltd and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre JSC, the operator of HUMO, entered the agreement.
- What
- The partnership enables Indian UPI users to make merchant payments in Uzbekistan by scanning UZQR codes.
- Where
- At participating retail, hospitality and service merchants across Uzbekistan.
- When
- The commercial agreement was signed on August 30, 2026, and announced on August 31, 2026.
- Why
- To enable convenient cross-border payments for Indian visitors, reduce reliance on cash and international cards, and expand UPI’s international reach.
Eleventh-Country View
Existing-Count View
How Uzbekistan is counted
Eleventh-Country View
Two reports explicitly describe Uzbekistan as the 11th country to accept UPI.
Existing-Count View
Other reports say UPI is accepted in 10 countries and list Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece; one article separately describes the Maldives as the ninth country, creating an inconsistency in the reported count.
Key facts
- Agreement date
- August 30, 2026
- Announcement date
- August 31, 2026
- Eligible users
- Indian tourists, business travellers and students
- Payment method
- UPI applications scanning Uzbekistan’s UZQR codes
- Funding source
- Direct payments from Indian bank accounts
- Uzbek partner
- National Interbank Processing Centre JSC, operator of HUMO
- Regulatory approvals
- Reserve Bank of India and Central Bank of Uzbekistan
Quotes
India’s finance ministry
Indian government ministry that announced the UPI-Uzbekistan partnership
“The partnership enables Indian travellers to scan Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code UZQR using their familiar UPI-enabled applications to make instant merchant payments across the country.”
telegraphindia.com
thehansindia.com
“The initiative advances digital public infrastructure cooperation and aligns with both nations' broader strategic and economic goals.”
telegraphindia.com
thehansindia.com
Sources
UPI to used in Uzbekistan under new pact, becomes eleventh country to accept platform
UPI goes live in Uzbekistan, expands global footprint to 11 countries
UPI Payments In Uzbekistan: Indians Can Now Scan UZQR Codes To Pay Merchants
Travelling to Uzbekistan? Indians can now pay through UPI while abroad by scanning UZQR codes
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