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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that inbound travellers visiting India can now make local payments using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This facility, initially announced in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies dated February 08, 2023, is operational from February 21, 2023.
Currently, the service is available to travellers from G-20 countries at select international airports, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi. Eligible travellers will be issued Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) wallets linked to UPI, allowing them to make payments at merchant outlets seamlessly. Delegates from G-20 countries attending various official meetings can also access this facility at designated venues.
ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank, and two non-bank PPI issuers—Pine Labs Private Limited and Transcorp International Limited—have been authorised to issue UPI-linked wallets for this purpose.
With this extension, visitors to India can now enjoy the convenience of UPI payments at over five crore merchant outlets across the country that accept QR code-based UPI transactions, further enhancing India’s digital payment ecosystem for international travellers.
[RBI]