UPI Payment: Good news for UPI users. To make UPI payments using your international mobile number in India, you need to download a UPI app that supports foreign numbers, such as Paytm, PhonePe, BHIM, Google Pay (Indian version) or your bank’s mobile app. After installing the app, sign up with your international mobile number, verify via SMS, then link your NRE or NRO bank account and set a UPI PIN. Now you can easily make UPI payments in India.
Know these important things before trying UPI
Must have an NRE or NRO bank account: You must have an NRE (Non-Resident External) or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account with a bank in India. Your international mobile number must be the same as the one in your bank’s KYC records. This number will be used for verification.
Your country must be one of the countries supported by NPCI: Currently this feature is available only for mobile numbers from a few countries like USA, UK, UAE, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and France.
Both the app and the bank must support this feature: Make sure that both your bank and the UPI app you are using support international numbers (like Paytm, PhonePe, BHIM, Google Pay, etc.).
Know the step-by-step process
1. Download a UPI app from your phone’s app store that supports international mobile numbers, such as Paytm, PhonePe, or ICICI iMobile Pay.
2. Open the app, select your country code, and enter your international mobile number.
3. The app will send an SMS to your international number to verify your identity and device. Keep in mind that you must have international SMS or roaming balance, otherwise this step will fail.
4. After verification, select your bank name in the app. The app will automatically pull up your bank account information (linked to the number).
5. Enter the last 6 digits of your Indian debit card and its expiration date, and create a secure UPI PIN. This PIN will be used for every payment or transaction.
Start making payments: You can now make payments in Indian Rupees (INR) in India:
Pay at stores by scanning QR codes
Send money to any UPI ID or Indian mobile number
Pay electricity, mobile recharge or other bills
