Indian travellers visiting Cambodia have received a major convenience boost.
They can now make payments directly through their UPI apps by scanning Cambodia’s national QR code system, KHQR.
This means tourists no longer need to carry large amounts of cash or depend heavily on international cards while traveling in the country.
The facility has been launched through a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and ACLEDA Bank, one of Cambodia’s largest banks.
How Will UPI Payments Work in Cambodia?
Under the first phase of the project, Indian users can pay at more than 4.5 million merchant locations across Cambodia.
All they need to do is scan a KHQR code using their UPI-enabled mobile app and complete the transaction in real time.
The service can be used at:
Restaurants
Hotels
Tourist attractions
Retail stores
Local businesses
This will make spending money abroad much easier for Indian visitors, especially those already familiar with using UPI in India.
Next Step: Cambodian Visitors Will Be Able to Use It in India
The project is being rolled out in phases.
Currently, Indian travellers can make payments in Cambodia using UPI. In the next phase, Cambodian citizens will also be able to make payments at UPI-enabled merchants across India using their domestic banking and payment apps.
Once completed, the initiative will create a two-way digital payment system between the two countries.
How Will This Benefit Travellers and Businesses?
The new payment arrangement is expected to make cross-border transactions faster, easier, and more secure.
For Indian tourists, it means:
No need to carry excessive cash
Quick and secure payments
Familiar payment experience abroad
For Cambodian businesses, it opens access to millions of Indian consumers who regularly use digital payments.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen tourism and business ties between India and Cambodia.
NPCI Calls It an Important Milestone
NPCI International Managing Director and CEO Ritesh Shukla described the launch as an important step in taking India’s digital payment system to global markets.
According to him, the partnership will provide Indian travellers with a seamless payment experience while helping Cambodian merchants connect with a large digital-first customer base.
He also said the initiative will strengthen real-time payment connectivity and encourage greater tourism and commercial engagement between the two countries.
In Which Countries Is UPI Already Available?
With Cambodia joining the list, UPI is now operational in several countries around the world.
These include:
UAE
Singapore
Bhutan
Nepal
Sri Lanka
France
Mauritius
Qatar
Cambodia
The expansion highlights the growing international acceptance of India’s digital payment system.
UPI Continues to Break Records in India
UPI usage is also growing rapidly within India.
According to data released by NPCI, UPI recorded its highest-ever transaction volume in May.
The platform processed around 23.2 billion transactions during the month, marking a significant increase compared to the same period last year.
In value terms, transactions reached nearly ₹29.90 lakh crore, reflecting the increasing popularity of digital payments among consumers and businesses.
What This Means for Indian Travellers
The launch of UPI services in Cambodia is another major step in making international travel more convenient for Indians.
Instead of worrying about currency exchange or card acceptance, travellers can now pay using the same UPI apps they use every day in India.
As UPI continues to expand globally, international payments may soon become as simple as scanning a QR code, no matter where you travel.
