MUMBAI: In a move that’s set to make life easier for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), digital payments in India just became a lot more accessible. NRIs can now make UPI payments using their international mobile numbers — no need for an Indian SIM anymore
Thanks to updated guidelines from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), supported by private banks like IDFC First, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) can now be linked to NRE or NRO accounts using mobile numbers from 12 approved countries.
This means whether you’re in Dubai, London, or New York, you can send money to your family, pay bills, or even pay rent in India using popular apps like PhonePe, Google Pay (India version), BHIM, and Paytm — all without needing an Indian phone number.
The new system is available to NRIs with NRE or NRO accounts whose mobile numbers are registered from countries such as the UAE, USA, UK, Australia, and Singapore. IDFC First Bank is among the first to roll out the feature fully, announcing it in late June 2025. It allows NRIs to link their accounts with UPI apps and complete the KYC process via OTP or biometric verification.
Setting it up is simple. You just need to open an NRE or NRO account with a bank that supports UPI on international numbers, like IDFC First. Then, download any UPI app that supports this feature, register using your foreign number, complete verification, and you’re good to go. From scanning QR codes to sending money within India, everything works as if you were in the country.
Currently, the supported countries include the UAE, USA, UK, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Qatar, Oman, France, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. More countries are expected to join the list soon.
A few important tax points to note: NRE accounts remain tax-free, but income in NRO accounts is taxable in India. PAN linking is crucial to avoid higher TDS deductions. All UPI transactions are traceable by Indian tax authorities, so compliance is key.
According to NPCI data, the following apps currently support UPI onboarding using international mobile numbers: PhonePe, Google Pay (Only in the Indian version), BHIM, Paytm (for select partner banks), and Amazon Pay (currently in a limited rollout).
With this update, NRIs now have an efficient, secure, and official way to stay financially connected to India. It’s not just convenient — it’s a leap forward for digital inclusion and financial accessibility for Indians abroad.
The following apps currently support UPI for NRIs using international mobile numbers:
- Federal Bank – FedMobile
- ICICI Bank – iMobile Pay
- IndusInd Bank – BHIM Indus Pay
- South Indian Bank – SIB Mirror+
- AU Small Finance Bank – BHIM AU
- BHIM (supports multiple banks)
- PhonePe (bank-specific support)
How to get started with UPI as an NRI
- Open an NRE or NRO account with a UPI-supported Indian bank (like IDFC First).
- Make sure your international mobile number is linked to your bank account.
- Download a UPI app such as PhonePe, Google Pay (India), BHIM, or Paytm.
- Sign up on the app using your international number — you’ll need to verify it using OTP or biometrics.
- Once set up, you can start making payments, scanning QR codes, or sending money within India.