UPI One World is now available to all international visitors coming to India

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Monday announced the rollout of ‘UPI One World’ wallet for inbound travelers, across all nations of the world, visiting India. This initiative is designed to provide international visitors with a seamless, real-time digital payment experience.

UPI One World wallet, first introduced during the G20 summit hosted by India last year, will now be available to people visiting from many more countries. Foreign visitors can use the wallet to experience the convenience and security of the "made in India" technology. This eliminates the need to carry cash and the complexities of foreign exchange transactions.

The UPI One World wallet can be availed through authorized PPI issuers at airports, hotels, designated money exchange locations and other touchpoints, following a full KYC process based on a passport and valid visa.

“This move aims to enhance the experience for visitors by equipping them with UPI, the most preferred payment choice among Indians,” an NPCI spokesperson said. “International travellers can organize their financial needs using UPI One World. It allows for convenient loading and enables the transfer of any unused balance back to the original payment source. By enabling foreign travellers to experience the real-time payments system developed by India, we are taking a significant stride towards creating a more interconnected global digital payments ecosystem.”

Arrangements will also be made to make these wallets available at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the venue of World Heritage Committee meeting, for the benefit of delegates. Once issued, the wallet can be loaded, either in cash or through other payment modes.

International travellers can use the UPI One World app to make payments at merchant locations by simply scanning the QR codes. Any unused balance can be transferred back to the original payment source, in accordance with foreign exchange regulations. This enablement has been made possible by the joint efforts of NPCI, IDFC First Bank, and Transcorp International Limited, under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India.

This initiative by NPCI showcases India’s leadership in the global digital payments landscape and provides an opportunity for the international community to engage with and benefit from India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) success story.

In June 2024, UPI processed close to 14 billion transactions valued at Rs 20.07 trillion (~USD 240 billion).