India’s digital payment system has made big progress, and it’s great news for NRIs. Now, because of new rules from the RBI, NPCI, and some banks like IDFC First, NRIs can use their foreign mobile numbers to make UPI payments in India. They don’t need an Indian SIM card anymore.

In January 2023, the RBI said NRIs with NRE or NRO accounts could use UPI with their international mobile numbers. After that, banks and payment apps started to allow this.

On June 25, 2025, IDFC First Bank said in a press release that it had fully launched this feature. Now, NRIs from 12 countries — including the USA, UK, UAE, Australia, and Singapore — can link their bank accounts to UPI apps using their foreign phone numbers.

How To Get The Benefit?

To activate the scheme, you must have an NRE or NRO account with an Indian Bank. Use a mobile with a country code from the approved list, and your UPI app and the bank should support international number onboarding.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

us USA, 🇬🇧 UK, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇦🇪 UAE. More countries will be added to the list soon.

How To Attain This Facility

• Open an NRE or NRO account in an Indian bank that supports UPI (like IDFC First).
• Give the bank your international mobile number.
• Download a UPI app such as PhonePe, Google Pay (India version), BHIM, or Paytm.
• Register on the app using your international number- you’ll need to verify with OTP or fingerprint.
• Once registered, you can start using UPI to pay bills, scan QR codes, or send money within India.

Which Apps Support NRIs?

• PhonePe
• Google Pay (India version)
• BHIM
• Paytm (for select banks)
• Amazon Pay (in limited rollout)

Tax And Compliance

• NRE accounts are not taxed in India, but NRO accounts are.
• Tax is taken directly from the earnings in NRO accounts (this is called TDS).
• You must link your PAN card to avoid paying higher tax under a rule called Section 206AA.
• Every UPI transaction can be tracked by Indian authorities.