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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

1. Open an NRE or NRO account with a UPI-enabled Indian bank (e.g., IDFC First)

2. Register your international mobile number with the bank

3. Download a UPI-compatible app (Google Pay India, PhonePe, BHIM, Paytm)

4. Complete KYC and UPI registration using OTP and biometric authentication

5. 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:

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.

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