[Updated] List of Countries Accepting UPI Payment 2025

In a great development for India’s global digital payments ecosystem, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is set to be introduced in Cyprus in 2025, following a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the island nation.

This move shows Cyprus as the second European country after France to adopt UPI services, significantly expanding India’s digital financial footprint in Europe and the Mediterranean region.

PM Modi's Historic Visit in Cyprus and Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Cyprus in June 2025 was the first by an Indian premier in over two decades and culminated in several key agreements aimed at deepening bilateral trade, investment, and technological cooperation.

The visit was hailed by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides as a “historic” moment, opening a “new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits” between the two nations. Cyprus, strategically located as the southeasternmost member of the European Union, is being positioned as a gateway for Indian businesses to access Europe and the Mediterranean market.

UPI Integration: A Major Business Outcome

One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Eurobank Cyprus to introduce UPI services in Cyprus.

This agreement allows cross-border payments through UPI, facilitating seamless, real-time digital transactions for Indian tourists, expatriates, and businesses operating in Cyprus. It also simplifies remittances from Cyprus to India, offering the Indian diaspora a faster, more secure, and cost-effective way to transfer funds back home

Moreover, the Indian government has persistently championed the utilisation of its digital payment infrastructure, notably the UPI, to facilitate streamlined cross-border transactions. Such initiatives seek to mitigate the expenses associated with fund transfers and remittance payments.

The first country to enable UPI payments after India is Bhutan.

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List of Countries Accepting UPI Payment

Bhutan was the first nation beyond India to facilitate transactions via the BHIM app using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Here is the complete list:

• The major seven countries where UPI is currently live and mostly accepted are: France, UAE, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

• Expansion to 4-6 more countries is targeted in 2025, focusing on Qatar, Thailand, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries, along with UK, Oman, and Maldives showing interest or in early stages of integration.

• UPI acceptance is primarily enabled through partnerships between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and local banks or payment networks, often involving QR-code based payments and POS acceptance.

Subsequently, on March 8, 2022, NIPL further solidified its international collaborations by signing an MoU with the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). This agreement is designed to interlink UPI with the Buna Payment Platform, which boasts connectivity with central banks and financial institutions throughout the Arab region. Such integration is poised to facilitate seamless cross-border multi-currency transactions.

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August 2023 witnessed a flurry of news reports and articles focused on the BFSI sector. According to data provided by NPCI, the platform recorded a staggering 10.5 billion transactions in August, marking a notable increase from the 9.9 billion transactions recorded in July 2023. By August 2023, UPI had surpassed the remarkable milestone of 10 billion transactions. Furthermore, UPI transactions in August amounted to ₹15.7 lakh crore, a slight uptick from the ₹15.3 lakh crore recorded in July. In the fiscal year 2023, the cumulative value of annual transactions soared to $1.7 trillion, with a substantial portion amounting to $380 billion dedicated to merchant payments.

UPI in Nepal: How to make payment through the App

In a groundbreaking collaboration, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the global extension of the esteemed National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and Fonepay Payment Service Ltd, Nepal's premier payment network, have declared the activation of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for cross-border transactions linking India and Nepal.\

UPI’s Global Expansion in 2025

The inclusion of Cyprus in the UPI network is part of a broader global expansion strategy. As of 2025, UPI is accepted in several countries, including:

• France (first European country to accept UPI widely)

• United Arab Emirates (over 60,000 retail outlets)

• Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore (widespread acceptance in retail, airports, and tourist spots)

• Emerging markets such as Malaysia, Qatar, Thailand, and the United Kingdom are in various stages of integration or plannin

How do you make payments through the Apps?

To utilise UPI overseas, users must opt for UPI International and enable international transactions through their respective banks. While availing this service, banks may levy forex charges for facilitating international payments. To enable this functionality, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) collaborates with a prominent company from the target country.

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