IDFC FIRST Bank launches Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for Indians in 12 countries: How service works
- IBEF
- June 26, 2025
IDFC FIRST Bank has launched Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services for Indians living in 12 countries, allowing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to use the digital payment platform in India without an Indian SIM card or incurring any transaction charges. Users can now link their international mobile numbers to Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts to access UPI services through the IDFC FIRST Bank app. The service enables instant money transfers, QR code payments, and utility bill payments in India, all without fees. This initiative follows the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)’s decision to enable UPI access via international mobile numbers.
The feature is currently live for users in Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). Other major banks such as State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, along with UPI apps like Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), PhonePe, and iMobile, also support UPI for NRIs. Transactions are settled in Indian rupees without foreign exchange fees, making it cost-effective and ideal for regular India-based payments. For international visitors without Indian bank accounts, NPCI’s UPI One World initiative offers a prepaid UPI wallet to facilitate seamless local transactions in India.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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