PhonePe users can now make UPI payments outside India

PhonePe on Tuesday launched UPI International, a new feature that will allow users to make payments using the Unified Payments Interface in other countries. Users travelling to countries, such as Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mauritius, Bhutan, and Nepal can use PhonePe to scan the local QR codes of merchants to make payments from their bank accounts.

The UPI International feature has been developed by PhonePe in collaboration with NIPL (NPCI International Payments Limited), which last year widened the availability of UPI services in international markets. The company said it has plans to launch UPI International in more countries in the near future, but that will depend on the participating countries.

PhonePe UPI services go international

“UPI International is the first major step in letting the rest of the world experience UPI too,” said Rahul Chari, CTO and Co-Founder of PhonePe. “I am sure this launch will prove to be a gamechanger and will completely transform the way Indians traveling overseas pay at merchant outlets abroad. PhonePe has always prided itself in being the first TPAP to take new UPI features to the market, and this time is no different. We are glad that PhonePe is leading this change. The entire world needs to experience UPI!”

To make a transaction to a merchant outside of India in the aforementioned countries, PhonePe users will need to activate their UPI-linked bank account for the UPI International feature either beforehand or at the time of paying. The amount will be debited from Indian banks and the merchant will receive the amount in the local currency. While this feature eliminates the need to carry international credit, debit, and forex cards, the amount users pay will need to match the conversion value.

Meanwhile, PhonePe, as well as Paytm, are also reportedly working to integrate the UPI Lite services into their apps. The UPI Lite will allow users of Paytm and PhonePe to make payments of up to Rs 200 using UPI without entering the UPI PIN. According to NPCI, about 50 percent of total UPI payments are of value Rs 200 or less, so the ability to make low-value payments without requiring to enter the PIN would make transactions easier.