UPI to enter Uzbekistan through UZQR merchant payment integration
NPCI International Payments Ltd will partner with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre to let Indian UPI users scan UZQR codes for merchant payments, widening UPI acceptance for travellers, students and businesses.
What happened
Uzbekistan will enable Indian UPI apps to scan UZQR codes for merchant payments under an NIPL partnership, extending UPI’s international acceptance for Indian
Key facts
- $5 billion annual India-Uzbekistan trade target by 2030
- 11 agreements signed
- two-day official visit
Why this matters
Payments, travel and merchant-acquiring players should assess partnerships around UZQR integration, Indian customer acquisition and cross-border settlement services.
What to watch
- Confirmed go-live date and whether all UZQR merchants or only selected acquirers are enabled.
- Named participating Indian UPI applications and issuing-bank coverage.
- Transaction limits, FX rate disclosure, fees and settlement currency for users and merchants.
- Reported first-month transaction count, GMV, active users and top merchant categories.
- Airport, metro, railway, hotel and tourism-site acceptance visibility.
- Reciprocal capability allowing Uzbek users to pay at Indian QR merchants.
- Additional NPCI International agreements with Central Asian national payment or QR networks.
- NPCI International and the National Interbank Processing Centre will announce launch timing, participating UPI apps, settlement currency and transaction limits.
- Indian PSPs and banks will enable Uzbekistan as a destination within their international UPI settings and promote it to travelers.
- Uzbek acquiring banks, tourism bodies and merchant aggregators will target onboarding and signage at airports, hotels, restaurants, universities and transport operators.
- FX conversion, refund handling, dispute processes and merchant settlement rules will become the practical determinants of repeat usage.
- Indian travel platforms, forex providers and card issuers may respond with Uzbekistan-specific payment messaging, bundled offers or lower-fee alternatives.