Indian travellers have one less thing to worry about when flying abroad: carrying cash or fussing over currency exchange. Malaysia has now joined the growing
list of countries where Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is accepted, making it easier than ever for Indians to pay using the same UPI apps they use back home. As per reports, Indian tourists can now make secure, real-time payments to local businesses in Malaysia, whether it’s for a plate of nasi lemak, a souvenir in Kuala Lumpur, or an entry ticket to the Petronas Towers. Other forms of payments, including cash and international cards will continue to exist. In 2024, more than a million Indians visited Malaysia and spent over ₹110 billion, a sharp 71% jump from the previous year. The new UPI link is also expected to improve the travel experience for tourists and reduce foreign exchange costs, along with helping local merchants attract more Indian customers. But Malaysia is just the latest stop in UPI’s growing global journey. Over the past few years, India’s homegrown payment system has quietly gone international, finding acceptance across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Countries that accept UPI payments now include: Bhutan: Bhutan was the first to embrace UPI in 2021, integrating it with the Royal Monetary Authority’s QR system, a move that let Indian visitors pay directly through the BHIM app. Nepal: Nepal followed, allowing QR-based person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions in partnership with Fonepay, Nepal’s largest payment network, making cross-border payments quick and seamless. France: France became the first European nation to adopt UPI in 2024, starting with ticketing at the Eiffel Tower. The service later expanded to stores like Galeries Lafayette ahead of the Paris Olympics, helping Indian tourists shop and explore without foreign cards. UAE: The UAE rolled out UPI acceptance across 200,000+ POS terminals in 60,000 merchants, covering retail, transport, and attractions like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, a huge benefit for the millions of Indians who visit the Emirates each year. Sri Lanka and Mauritius Sri Lanka and Mauritius jointly launched UPI and RuPay services in early 2024, allowing tourists, students, and people of Indian origin to make payments directly from their Indian accounts. The initiative also lets Mauritian banks issue RuPay cards for local and cross-border use.
