Archive · 2 Sep 2026
UPI Accepted in 11 Countries, But Payments Vary
UPI is a way to pay digitally from an Indian bank account.
It now works in 11 countries in some form.
In nine of those countries, Indian travellers can use UPI to pay participating shops.
They scan a supported QR code and approve the payment.
Cambodia is the newest country offering this shopping-payment option, according to the article.
Greece and the Maldives are different because their current links mainly help people send money across borders.
UPI will not necessarily work at every shop in a country.
Travellers should check the amount, exchange rate and fees before confirming a payment.
UPI is operational in the UAE, France, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Mauritius, Qatar, Cambodia, Greece and the Maldives.
Merchant payments are currently available in nine countries, including Cambodia, where Indian visitors can scan participating KHQR codes.
Cambodia joined the merchant-payment network in June 2026, covering more than 4.5 million merchants, according to government data.
Greece and the Maldives currently support UPI-linked cross-border remittances rather than routine QR-based shopping payments.
Travellers must activate UPI Global or UPI International and check exchange rates, fees and amounts before entering their UPI PIN.
- Who
- Indian travellers and eligible UPI users.
- What
- UPI has been linked with 11 countries, with merchant payments available in nine and cross-border remittances supported in Greece and the Maldives.
- When
- Cambodia joined the merchant-payment network in June 2026; Greece’s remittance service began in 2026, and the Maldives link was established on July 30, 2026.
- Where
- The UAE, France, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Mauritius, Qatar, Cambodia, Greece and the Maldives.
- Why
- To enable international merchant payments or cross-border money transfers for eligible users.
- Countries with UPI connectivity
- 11
- Countries supporting merchant payments
- 9
- Merchant-payment countries
- Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Cambodia
- Remittance-focused countries
- Greece and the Maldives
- Cambodia coverage
- More than 4.5 million participating merchants, according to government data
- Maldives linkage date
- July 30, 2026
- Required setup
- Activate UPI Global or UPI International through a supported UPI application