Japan UPI: India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now set to make its presence felt in Japan, a significant sign of India’s global reach in the digital payments space. This initiative not only showcases India’s technological capabilities but is also being seen as an act of financial diplomacy.
The service will begin as a trial in Japan
As part of a partnership between India and Japan, a pilot rollout of UPI will begin in Japan in 2026. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Japan’s NTT Data and India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Initially, the service will be available only to Indian tourists, allowing them to make payments using their UPI apps while traveling in Japan. The service will be directly debited from users’ Indian bank accounts, eliminating the need for cards or separate digital wallets.
Expansion of digital payments beyond borders
NPCI and NTT Data are working on a plan to deeply integrate the payment networks of India and Japan in the future. The aim is to enable seamless cross-border digital payments between the two countries. This effort is an important step towards making payment systems interoperable globally and simplifying international financial transactions.
UPI’s growing international reach
UPI’s global presence continues to grow with the proposed launch in Japan. The system is already operational in eight countries, including Bhutan, Singapore, Nepal, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Mauritius, and France. This global expansion is primarily aimed at facilitating Indian travelers and establishing UPI as a globally viable digital payment solution.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in India in the year 2016.
It is operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described UPI as the world’s largest real-time payment system.
Globally, almost 50% of instant payment transactions happen through UPI alone.
UPI has become a major medium for everyday transactions in India. Its low cost, convenience of payments via QR codes, and interoperability have led to its widespread adoption. Its launch in a technologically advanced country like Japan demonstrates how a domestic public digital platform can play a significant role in the global fintech landscape.