This rollout comes after recent UPI introductions at notable locations in France, such as Galeries Lafayette in Nice and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, indicating that Indian payment systems are gaining traction at prominent global tourist hubs.
For travellers, this means that making payments abroad could soon be as simple as scanning a QR code at a local café in India.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced this development during his trip to Athens, where a live demonstration highlighted the collaboration between Eurobank and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).
Why this is significant for your financesUPI’s expansion is not just a technological advancement, but also a considerable development for personal finance:
- Reduced transaction fees: International card payments and currency exchanges often carry hidden charges. UPI aims to cut costs significantly compared to conventional transfer fees.
- No need to carry large sums of cash: Travellers can make payments directly through familiar Indian applications.
- Faster and hassle-free transactions: No waiting for OTPs from foreign networks or dealing with card acceptance issues abroad.
- Improved budgeting while travelling: With instant payments from linked bank accounts, travellers can monitor spending more effectively.
Countries where UPI is operationalUPI is now accepted in the following countries:
- Greece
- Singapore
- United Arab Emirates
- France
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Qatar
- Sri Lanka
- Cambodia
For frequent travellers, students overseas, and business visitors, this expanding network could slowly lessen reliance on international cards and costly currency exchange services.
First Published: Jun 30, 2026 1:42 PM IST
