UPI expands overseas reach to 11 markets, adding Cambodia merchant payments

UPI is now operational in 11 countries outside India. Indian travellers can make merchant QR payments in nine markets, while Greece and the Maldives currently support remittances. Cambodia’s June 2026 KHQR linkage opens acceptance across more than 4.5 million participating merchants.

— Source publishedWed, 2 Sept, 2026, 04:20 IST·First seen Wed, 2 Sept, 2026, 04:30 IST·Source Business Today · Latest

What happened

UPI supports Indian travellers in 11 overseas markets. Merchant QR payments are available in nine countries, while Greece and the Maldives currently support

Key facts

  • UPI operational in 11 countries outside India
  • Merchant payments available in 9 countries
  • Cambodia linkage covers more than 4.5 million participating merchants
  • Cambodia became the ninth merchant-payment country in June 2026
  • Maldives Favara-UPI linkage launched on July 30, 2026

Why this matters

Cambodia’s KHQR linkage highlights partnership opportunities with local QR networks, acquirers and travel-commerce platforms to accelerate UPI acceptance across new corridors.

What to watch

  • NPCI International announcements covering additional ASEAN, Gulf or European merchant-payment linkages.
  • Cambodian bank and KHQR participant rollout data, including live merchant acceptance and transaction-volume disclosures.
  • Indian traveller arrivals to Cambodia and changes in direct-flight capacity, visa policy or tourism promotion.
  • UPI cross-border FX pricing, transaction limits, failed-payment rates and refund turnaround times.
  • Competing QR interoperability agreements involving Alipay+, Visa, Mastercard, PromptPay, SGQR, DuitNow or EMVCo QR.
  • Evidence that Cambodian merchants use UPI acceptance beyond tourist districts and major chains.
  • Prioritize UPI QR signage, staff training and payment-flow testing at Cambodia locations serving Indian tourists, especially hospitality, duty-free, foodservice and attraction retail.
  • Measure Indian-origin transaction counts, ticket size, authorization rates and cash displacement separately from other wallet and card tenders.
  • Review settlement currency, FX conversion, refunds, chargeback handling and reconciliation requirements with acquiring partners.
  • Use UPI acceptance in India-targeted travel marketing and bundle it with localized offers rather than broad-based discounts.
  • Assess expansion readiness for other UPI-linked markets where Indian visitor volumes are material.