Indians can now pay using QR-code-based UPI in Nepal

In what can be called an an important milestone in expansion of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) service in foreign countries, the NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Fonepay Payment Service Ltd, Nepal’s payment network, have announced that UPI is now live for cross-border transactions between India and Nepal.

This means that Indians visiting Nepal will be able to make QR-code-based payments with the UPI apps on their smartphones. The collaboration was announced at Global Fintech Fest 2023 in India in September.

“We are elated to join hands with Fonepay to enable UPI payments in Nepal. This initiative not only signifies our commitment to innovating the digital payments space but also reflects our dedication to creating new avenues for trade, strengthening the bond between the two nations,” said Ritesh Shukla, chief executive officer of NIPL.

Other countries where UPI is availableThe facility of using UPI apps for transactions is available in multiple countries, including Singapore, Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), among others.

“NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and @fonepay Payment Service Ltd, have announced that UPI is now live for cross-border transactions between India and Nepal. This partnership will enable Indian consumers to make instant, secure and convenient QR code based UPI payments at select merchant locations in Nepal by using UPI-enabled Apps,” NPCI said in a post on X.

“This milestone not only signifies a successful partnership between two payment system operators but also symbolises a new era of digital connection and collaboration between the two friendly nations,” it added.


In January, Google Pay India and NIPL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand UPI payments in other countries, joining PhonePe and Paytm to offer UPI service to users travelling abroad.