India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now making an impact internationally.
NIPL, the international division of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has partnered with NTT Data Japan.
This agreement allows Indian tourists in Japan to pay using the UPI app on their mobile phones.
Japanese shopkeepers can accept payments by scanning a QR code.
This eliminates the need for Indian tourists to carry cash or forex cards, making shopping in Japan much easier and more convenient.
Growing Indian Tourist Traffic and UPI’s Role
Between January and August 2025, over 280,000 Indian tourists visited Japan.
According to Masanori Kurihara, Head of Payments at NTT Data, UPI payments will help Japanese vendors serve Indian tourists more efficiently. This partnership is also expected to boost Japan’s tourism sector.
UPI Already Popular in Other Countries
UPI is already available in countries like France, UAE, Nepal, Mauritius, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Bhutan
. Beyond Japan, NPCI plans to introduce UPI in 4–6 more countries in 2025, including Thailand, Qatar, and several Southeast Asian nations.
Widespread Adoption in India
As of July 2025, about 491 million people in India use UPI, with over 6.5 million merchants connected.
UPI handles around 85% of digital transactions in India, making up half of the world’s total real-time digital payments.
Its popularity comes from being simple, secure, and widely accessible.
India’s Digital Payments Gaining Global Recognition
This expansion shows that India’s digital payments technology is gaining international recognition.
UPI is no longer just an Indian payment system; it provides Indian travelers with a quick, reliable, and seamless payment option abroad.
This strengthens India’s digital economic presence worldwide and opens new opportunities for international transactions.
