To set up UPI as an NRI, first link your international mobile number to your Indian NRE/NRO bank account with your bank, then download a UPI app (like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) that supports international numbers, register with your international number, verify it via SMS, link your Indian bank account, and finally set your UPI PIN to start transacting in India.
Yes, NRIs who maintain an Indian bank account (such as NRE/NRO accounts) and have an Indian mobile number linked to that account can easily create a UPI ID. They can use apps like Paytm. The registered Indian SIM must be active to receive the OTP during UPI setup.
Yes, NRIs can use UPI from their registered overseas mobile number from the approved geographies, i.e. Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, UK and USA for INR transactions in India.
Open the UPI app and select the option to register a new account. Enter your international mobile number (including the full country code, e.g., +1 for USA, +971 for UAE). The app will send a verification SMS from your phone to confirm the number is active and linked to a bank account in India.
Unfortunately, you generally cannot use your international Google Wallet to make UPI payments through GPay in India. GPay requires an Indian bank account and phone number, which most travelers and NRIs don't have.
UPI set up process for NRIs
The most popular ones are BHIM UPI, Google Pay, and PhonePe. Select one app, and download and install it on your phone.
UPI One World is a digital wallet powered by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) that allows NRIs and foreign visitors to make payments in India using INR. It is linked to your international mobile number and can be used at stores that accept UPI payments—across cities, towns, and even rural areas.
Yes, you can use Google Pay from the USA to send money to India by integrating with services like Wise or Western Union within the US Google Pay app, but you need an Indian recipient with a UPI ID or bank account and an Indian phone number to receive it. The US Google Pay app was discontinued in June 2024, so you'll use the Google Wallet app (which is the new name for GPay in the US) to initiate international transfers powered by partners like Wise to send money to India.
Yes, NRIs can use their international mobile numbers for BHIM UPI app registration. This service is available for INR transactions in India for NRIs from approved geographies, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, UK, and USA.
You can use an NRE bank account to store foreign currency converted to Indian rupees, while an NRO account is used to keep both foreign income and money earned in India. NRO accounts have a limit for repatriation up to USD 1 million per financial year, but NRE accounts have no such limit.
Paytm, India's pioneer in mobile payments, now enables Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to use their international mobile numbers to log in and make seamless UPI payments through NRE or NRO bank accounts, expanding access to India's digital payments ecosystem.
New rules for NRIs in India focus on stricter tax residency criteria from April 2026, increasing the stay threshold to 120 days for high-income NRIs (over ₹15 lakh Indian income) to become Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR) and introducing "deemed residency" for high-income Indians in tax havens; also, higher TCS thresholds for LRS remittances (to ₹10L) and removal of TCS for education loans are recent changes from Budget 2025-26, alongside increased reporting of foreign assets.
For NRIs:
Google Pay in India operates on the UPI infrastructure, enabling instant money transfers between linked bank accounts. Users can pay using UPI IDs, QR codes, or mobile numbers.
Non-Resident Indians can simplify managing finances in India using UPI. This guide covers eligibility, required accounts (NRE/NRO), and a list of major Indian banks supporting UPI, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank.
Mony is a specialized UPI app available for tourists and NRIs, allowing instant scan-and-pay transactions at millions of merchant locations across India. It offers a secure payment experience without needing multiple cards.
3: BHIM UPI has the added advantage of being backed by the government, so it is regarded as safer and secure compared to Google Pay. Though Google Pay has enhanced security features like biometric authentication as well as PIN or pattern, extensive data syncing makes it less secure.
Yes, UPI can be used in the US to send money to India. While UPI is primarily an Indian payment system, Western Union allows US users to transfer funds directly to a recipient's UPI-linked bank account. To learn more, check out how to send money to India.
Paytm: Wide range of services including wallet, UPI, payments, and investments. Slightly higher app clutter and notifications. Key Takeaway: Google Pay is ideal for simplicity, PhonePe for comprehensive features, and Paytm for those who prefer wallet integration along with payments.
The Google Pay limit for 24 hours is Rs. 1,00,000. Additionally, you can make a maximum of 20 transactions through GPay or other UPI apps within a time frame of 24 hours.
As a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), you can use your international mobile number to make UPI payments instantly in India, thereby significantly enhancing your convenience of making everyday payments.
To be classified as an NRI, you must be an Indian citizen with an Indian passport and residing outside India.