In a significant development aimed at strengthening India’s digital payments ecosystem, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has enabled Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service in India with international mobile numbers. This move marks a new era of financial inclusion and convenience for millions of Indians living abroad.
The NPCI announced that NRIs from ten countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—can now link their international mobile numbers to UPI and seamlessly carry out transactions in India. The decision is expected to benefit a large number of Indians working, studying, or residing abroad, by providing them with direct access to India’s most widely used digital payments system.
Previously, NRIs could only access UPI through Indian mobile numbers linked to their domestic bank accounts. This limitation posed challenges, especially for those who had retained Indian bank accounts but were using only foreign mobile numbers. With this policy change, UPI becomes more accessible and flexible for the global Indian diaspora.
According to NPCI guidelines, to avail of the service, NRIs must hold a Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account with a participating Indian bank. The mobile number must be registered with the country code of the supported nations, and it should be linked to the NRE/NRO bank account. Banks and UPI apps are required to comply with the latest KYC and anti-money laundering norms to ensure secure transactions.
The move also aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s ongoing efforts to promote UPI’s global adoption and interoperability. It is being seen as a precursor to UPI’s integration with other countries’ payment systems, an initiative that has already started with partnerships in countries like Singapore and UAE.
Industry experts have welcomed the step, highlighting its potential to boost inward remittances and ease of doing business. “Allowing NRIs to use UPI with their foreign numbers enhances their ability to participate in the Indian economy in real time, from any corner of the world,” said Rajesh Pant, a fintech analyst.
For NRIs, this change opens new avenues—from sending money to family and paying utility bills in India to investing in mutual funds and shopping online. It also allows Indian startups, retailers, and service providers to cater directly to the global Indian customer without cross-border payment delays or high transaction fees.
