NRIs Can Use Paytm UPI in India Across 12 Countries

Paytm has rolled out a new cross-border capability for its app, allowing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to make UPI payments in India with international mobile numbers. The company began the program in October 2025 and is now expanding it in beta. The feature supports 12 countries and lets NRIs link their NRE or NRO bank accounts directly to Paytm without an Indian SIM card.

This matters for Indian families and businesses that rely on day-to-day digital payments, because it brings familiar UPI convenience to people who live abroad but transact in India frequently.

What the feature does

• NRIs can use the same UPI tools domestic users rely on to:
  • Pay at stores by scanning standard UPI QR codes
  • Send money to friends and family
  • Shop online and pay bills
• Crucially, Paytm says there is no currency conversion, so transactions do not route through international payment gateways.
  • This avoids typical remittance delays and high foreign exchange charges that can frustrate overseas payments to India.

Countries currently supported (beta)

Paytm said the rollout currently covers users in:
– Singapore
– Australia
– Canada 🇨🇦
– Hong Kong
– Oman
– Qatar
– United States 🇺🇸
– Saudi Arabia
– United Arab Emirates (UAE)
– United Kingdom (UK)
– France
– Malaysia

People in those countries can:
1. Log into the Paytm app with their international phone number.
2. Verify it by SMS.
3. Connect their NRE or NRO account to start making UPI payments in India.

In practice, an NRI in Dubai can scan a UPI QR code during a visit to Mumbai, or pay an Indian utility bill from abroad, without switching SIMs or juggling temporary workarounds.

Why this matters — convenience and inclusion

• Paytm positions the feature as an inclusion step for the global Indian diaspora.
• It reduces friction for:
  • Frequent travelers
  • Overseas students
  • Long-term residents who still handle Indian bills or help family members
• Emphasis on NRE and NRO accounts keeps transactions inside Indian banking rails and regulatory frameworks.
• For official definitions of these accounts, see the Reserve Bank of India’s FAQ: https://rbi.org.in/scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=52

“The change reduces friction for people who still transact in India often, bringing the one-scan UPI convenience to international-number users.”

Onboarding flow (step-by-step)

1. Sign into the Paytm app using an international mobile number.
2. Complete SMS verification on that number.
3. Link an NRE or NRO bank account.
4. Start sending and receiving funds over UPI exactly like a domestic user.

Because the setup avoids currency conversion, money moves within the rupee-denominated account framework — important for families splitting expenses across borders or parents supporting children in Indian colleges while living abroad.

Added features around UPI

Paytm has bundled extra tools to make cross-border use familiar and useful:
– Downloadable UPI statements in PDF or Excel
– Spend analysis to track patterns
– Ability to hide individual payments for private purchases
– Consolidated view of total balances across linked bank accounts
– A lighter, quirky feature: Paytm Playback can generate AI rap songs based on recent transactions to boost engagement

Compliance and security

• Supporting NRE and NRO accounts acts as a compliance anchor — these are overseen by Indian regulators and designed for NRIs.
• Linking directly to such accounts keeps UPI payments inside the regulated banking framework.
• SMS verification for international numbers is intended to keep onboarding straightforward while meeting standard two-factor checks.

Potential benefits for merchants and users

• Faster checkout at Indian merchants where UPI is routine — reduces need to carry local cash during short trips.
• Easier acceptance of UPI from visiting NRIs, removing the need to switch wallets or accept card surcharges.
• If the experience remains as fast and low-cost as domestic UPI, NRIs may adopt QR-code scanning as their routine payment method when in India.

Market context and expectations

• The rollout addresses a long-standing NRI request: a simple way to keep using UPI with an international number.
• VisaVerge.com analysis notes the move gives Paytm a way to reach NRIs who felt cut off from everyday Indian transactions unless they kept an Indian SIM active.
• The company has not listed extra fees for this capability in its summary, and it continues to stress no currency conversion for these UPI payments.
  • Users and analysts will watch costs closely, comparing this to bank transfers, card payments, and remittance services.

Status and rollout

• The feature is currently in beta and Paytm says it will reach all eligible users in the coming days.
• Current footprint: 12 countries (listed above).
• Paytm presents the expansion as part of its commitment to financial inclusion for Indians worldwide — aiming to keep money movement simple, fast, and familiar no matter where users live.