PhonePe Visa Payments are set to become easier for Indian users as PhonePe and Visa have introduced a new set of cardless payment features.
The platform has become the first app in India to offer Visa’s three core capabilities covering online card tokenisation, Tap to Pay and Cross Border Scan to Pay.
The new services were announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2026.
The partnership is designed to let users make payments at stores, online and during international travel without having to carry a physical Visa card.
PhonePe Visa Payments Get Three Key Features
The first feature is Tap to Pay, which allows Android users to save and tokenise an eligible Visa card on PhonePe and then use their phone for contactless payments at compatible point-of-sale machines.
The feature is being rolled out in phases from September 9, 2026.
PhonePe said Tap to Pay can also work in low-connectivity environments, subject to the applicable requirements.
The second feature is Cross Border Scan to Pay. Indian travellers can use PhonePe to scan Visa-supported QR codes at participating merchants in 14 international markets.
These markets include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, China and South Korea.
The feature is expected to be rolled out to users soon.
Pay Abroad Without Carrying a Physical Card
With Cross Border Scan to Pay, travellers can use a saved Visa card through PhonePe when paying at supported QR-code merchants overseas.
This can make international payments more convenient by reducing the need to carry a physical card for every transaction.
PhonePe already supports online Visa card tokenisation, allowing users to securely save their card details and use the tokenised card across participating online merchants.
Together, these services cover online purchases, contactless in-store payments and supported international QR transactions.
However, availability depends on the participating merchants, supported markets and applicable card and service conditions.
Smart Accept Helps Small Merchants
The partnership also introduces Smart Accept for small merchants.
The feature allows merchants to accept card payments directly through compatible smartphones without purchasing a separate card payment machine.
Customers can pay by tapping a physical card or a tokenised mobile wallet against the merchant’s smartphone.
The service is integrated with PhonePe’s existing merchant ecosystem.
For small businesses, this could reduce the need for separate payment hardware while allowing them to accept card-based transactions through a smartphone.
What PhonePe Users Should Know
The new Visa features are aimed at creating a more cardless payment experience for consumers and merchants.
Users who want to use these services will need an eligible Visa card and should follow the applicable setup and authentication requirements in the PhonePe app.
International payments will also depend on supported countries, Visa-enabled QR codes and participating merchants.
Therefore, travellers should check feature availability before relying on PhonePe as their only payment method overseas.
The development gives PhonePe users more ways to use a Visa card through their smartphone, covering online shopping, contactless payments at supported terminals and QR-based payments during international travel.
