Stories
How to Use UPI Abroad Safely Without Hidden Fees and Scams
- •UPI merchant payments are currently live in 11 countries including the UAE, Singapore, France, Mauritius, and Greece.
- •You must activate UPI International in your payment app before flying, which typically remains active for 90 days.
- •International UPI transactions are not free and involve currency conversion forex markups ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 percent.
- •Compare UPI fees with international credit cards or forex cards to find the cheapest option for large expenses like hotels.
- •Standard transaction limits apply up to Rs 1 lakh per transaction, and refunds for failed payments may take longer due to international channels.
Key Questions Answered
UPI merchant payments are live in 11 countries, including the UAE, Singapore, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Greece, and Maldives, though actual scan-and-pay capability for travellers is available at select merchant locations across nine of these nations.
Unlike domestic use, international UPI payments involve a currency conversion markup ranging from roughly 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent added over the exchange rate by your bank. The application displays the final rupee amount on your screen before you confirm the transaction with your PIN.
Under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, TCS on general personal overseas spending applies only when spending exceeds Rs 10 lakh in a financial year. However, overseas tour packages attract a flat 2 percent TCS starting from the very first rupee.
