In a landmark development for India’s digital payments ecosystem, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can now make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions using international mobile numbers — a move expected to significantly ease cross-border financial interactions.
This major shift, enabled by collaborative efforts of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and leading private sector banks such as IDFC First, allows NRIs to use UPI platforms like PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM, and Paytm without requiring an Indian SIM card.
What’s New?
The foundation for this change was laid in January 2023 when the RBI issued a directive permitting UPI access for NRIs holding Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts linked to international mobile numbers. Following this, banks began rolling out the feature in phases.
On June 25, 2025, IDFC First Bank announced full implementation of this facility, confirming that NRI customers from 12 countries — including the US, UK, UAE, Australia, and Singapore — can now seamlessly link their international numbers to UPI apps.
Eligibility Criteria
To avail of this facility, NRIs must meet the following conditions:
Hold an NRE or NRO bank account in India
Have a registered international mobile number from an approved country (e.g., +1 for the US, +971 for the UAE)
Ensure both the bank and the selected UPI app support onboarding of international numbers
Supported Countries
As per NPCI guidelines, NRIs from the following 12 countries are currently eligible:
United States
United Kingdom
United Arab Emirates
Australia
Singapore
Canada
Hong Kong
Qatar
Malaysia
Saudi Arabia
Oman
France
More countries are expected to be added as adoption scales.
How to Set It Up
Open an NRE or NRO account with a UPI-enabled Indian bank (e.g., IDFC First)
Register your international mobile number with the bank
Download a UPI-compatible app (Google Pay India, PhonePe, BHIM, Paytm)
Complete KYC and UPI registration using OTP and biometric authentication
Start using UPI to send money, pay bills, or scan merchant QR codes in India
Supported UPI Apps
As of now, the following apps support international number onboarding for UPI:
PhonePe
Google Pay (India version)
BHIM
Paytm (for select banks)
Amazon Pay (in phased rollout)
This upgrade is not merely a convenience but a significant milestone in enhancing digital financial inclusion for India’s global diaspora.
Taxation & Compliance Notes
NRE account income remains tax-exempt in India
NRO account income is taxable, with TDS applicable
PAN-Aadhaar linkage is essential to avoid higher TDS under Section 206AA
All UPI transactions are trackable and fall under Indian financial regulations
As the Indian fintech landscape continues to evolve, this integration marks a pivotal moment in bridging the gap between NRIs and India’s fast-growing digital economy.NRIs Can Now Use UPI with International Numbers: RBI and NPCI Enable Major Fintech Leap.
