A Step-by-Step Guide for Expats and Foreign Tourists to Pay Instantly in India Without a Bank Account- How to use UPI?
Touching down in India and finding that your card won’t swipe while every shop waves a UPI QR is a foreign traveller’s nightmare. That pain point is now solved for foreign nationals. UPI One World is a wallet designed for foreign visitors, allowing them to make digital payments in India right from the moment they arrive. It enables foreign nationals to pay instantly in Indian Rupees without an Indian bank account simply by setting up a regulated prepaid wallet on their phone that connects directly to UPI. You can enroll using your passport, a valid Indian visa, and your international mobile number, then scan any UPI QR to complete the payment in seconds.
How to Set Up UPI One World: Step by Step
Regulatory Framework
The service operates under Reserve Bank of India regulations for Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI). UPI One World is a simple digital payment system that helps foreign visitors pay for anything in India without needing an Indian bank account or local card.
All you need to do is scan the UPI QR code that you’ll see almost everywhere — in shops, restaurants, taxis, and even small roadside stalls. Once your wallet is set up, payments happen instantly from your phone, just like locals do.
This means no more searching for cash or worrying if your card will work. You can pay digitally and safely right from the moment you arrive in India.
UPI One World can be set up at major gateways with banks and payment issuers. Once activated, the wallet works universally at all UPI QR codes across India.
For Foreign Tourists
Foreign tourists face a unique challenge: many small merchants accept UPI. UPI One World offers immediate access to India’s vast QR code network, removing the hassle of finding cash or dealing with unreliable card acceptance. Tourists can register on arrival, start paying digitally everywhere from taxis and cafes to malls and markets, and easily manage expenses from day one.
For Business Travellers and Expatriates on Long Term Assignment
Foreign nationals moving to India on business travel or longer term assignments often face more complexity. The initial period can be tough, as opening an Indian bank account typically requires full in-person KYC and can take several weeks, especially without local documents like PAN. The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is India’s tax identification number, essential for payroll and tax compliance, but it takes time to obtain. Many service providers also require a local mobile number for OTP authentication, and banks commonly insist on PAN and FRRO Registration
In this scenario, UPI One World bridges the gap by enabling seamless daily merchant payments while newcomers complete formalities and open a local bank account. The onboarding experience is designed to be quick and compliant. On arrival, an authorised issuer verifies the traveller’s passport and visa, sets up a rupee wallet on their international mobile number, and helps them load funds through permitted methods such as international cards or authorised forex channels. The user then creates a UPI PIN in the app and can start scanning and paying at any point of sale. Each transaction is recorded automatically, making it easy to track expenses for business travellers and expatriates.
At present, UPI One World is primarily intended for merchant payments, while person-to-person transfers remain restricted unless formally enabled. Before departure, any unused wallet balance can be settled as per issuer rules. For longer assignments, users can later open an Indian bank account and migrate to standard UPI usage. Until then, UPI One World offers a compliant, convenient, and hassle-free way to pay wherever a UPI QR code is displayed.
Watch this quick video to understand how UPI One World works for foreign visitors.
Have questions about visas, FRRO registration, banking, housing, or UPI? Our mobility team will help you get ready before you land. Reach us at [email protected].