Foreigners & Tourists Can Now Use UPI in India: Here’s How UPI One World Works

By Shivangi Agarwal • Updated On Jul 26, 2024

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National Payments Corporation of India aka NPCI has launched a digital UPI Payments solution that will cater to foreigners and tourists in India. It has partnered with various banks to launch the UPI One World app. The platform offers an easy-to-use UPI payment experience to tourists and other international visitors in India without them needing an Indian mobile number. Dive in to know everything about the latest UPI solution.

What is UPI One World?

UPI One World is a payment solution app for tourists and foreigners in India. The digital wallet service has been built on the UPI framework and is a prepaid wallet that allows seamless digital payments in all the places where UPI is accepted. This means it can not only be used at small and large shops, vendors, and businesses but also be used for booking tickets, online shopping, paying at hotels, and more.

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Countries partnering with UPI One World

All the tourists and people from countries that have partnered with India’s UPI system can use this wallet to make digital payments in India. The list also includes visitors from G20 countries and regions. The list of partner countries is as follows-

Australia
Argentina
Brazil
China
Canada
Germany
France
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Russia
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
US
UK
European Union

After we have talked about what UPI One World is and which countries can use it, let us now talk about how foreigners and tourists can use the platform in India.

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Availing UPI One World Service in India

Download the UPI One World app recommended by partners IDFC First Bank or Transcorp International.
Verify your documents and complete KYC through the issuer counter at airports or other locations in India.
Once documents get verified, the UPI One World account will be created using the international mobile number of the user. It will be created on the UPI One World app that can be found in the App Store or Play Store. The app will be available soon.
It is a prepaid wallet so you need to load cash into it. The process requires exchanging foreign currency for Indian rupees or using credit/debit cards at the issuing counter.
Your wallet now has cash so you can make UPI payments across India, without any hassles.
At the time of leaving the country, the remaining wallet balance can be encashed and changed back into the user’s currency.

Using the UPI One World Wallet to Make Payments

When shopping, ask the shopkeeper for the UPI QR Code of the business or the mobile number on which they accept UPI payments.
Open the UPI One World app on your device and tap on the scanner to open it.
Scan the QR code of the business and enter the payment amount.
Send the payment by clicking on ‘Pay’. Once you do this, your payment will be completed and the amount will be deducted from UPI One World Wallet.

UPI One World App works everywhere UPI payments are acceptable.

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Advantages of UPI One World Wallet

Those who use the UPI One World App won’t need to carry cash. Often carrying cash is a hassle and the digital payments solution solves this issue seamlessly. Foreigners and tourists don’t need to keep exchanging their currency for Indian rupees. They can pay directly through the app.
The wallet ensures payments within seconds. It is a fast and efficient way of shopping.
The app stores every transaction you make so it becomes easier to keep track of spending.
International visitors don’t need to change their mobile number to use the app. UPI One World allows them to make a UPI account via their international number. They don’t need to buy a local number.
It is a free-of-cost service and there are no charges to make or operate your UPI One World account.
The remaining funds can be easily refunded to the original payment method in line with foreign exchange regulations.

Challenges for UPI One World Wallet

Some challenges that might have interrupted the path of UPI One World app are-

Regulatory hurdles- Navigating the regulatory landscapes of different countries must have been a huge challenge.
Integration of technology- Integrating with diverse international payment systems and ensuring seamless payments might have been an issue.
Security Concerns- Maintenance of high-security standards so that the users are protected against fraud and scams must have been a challenging task.
Cultural & Economic differences– the platform’s ability to cater to different cultural and economic sections is important. Users will need to have all the information about how to avail the service and how to use it.

How NPCI has tackled these problems will be known only when the app starts getting used publicly.

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Shivangi Agarwal

Shivangi is a tech writer at Smartprix, where she covers consumer technology news with a focus on smartphones, wearables, laptops, and the evolving world of OTT streaming. Since joining the team in August 2021, she has written over 120 in-depth reviews, comparisons, and buying guides aimed at helping readers navigate the ever-changing tech landscape.

With a strong foundation in English literature and education, Shivangi brings clarity, insight, and a reader-first approach to every story. Her expertise lies in breaking down complex features into accessible, practical insights—whether she’s reviewing the latest smartphone or exploring trends in infotainment.

Shivangi holds a B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in English, along with a B.Ed in English and Social Studies. She is based in Faridabad, India. You can follow her work on Smartprix or connect with her for tech-related queries.

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