India UPI for Tourists — Can Foreigners Use Google Pay and PhonePe? (2025)
"UPI se karo" — "Do it with UPI."
You'll hear this everywhere in India. From auto-rickshaw drivers to chai wallahs to five-star hotel concierges. QR codes for UPI payments are taped to every counter, printed on every receipt, and scrawled on cardboard signs at every street stall.
UPI (Unified Payments Interface) processed over 12 billion transactions in a single month in 2024. It's the backbone of India's digital economy. And one of the first questions every tourist asks is: can I use it?
The honest answer is complicated.
What Is UPI?
UPI is India's real-time payment system built by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It allows instant bank-to-bank transfers using:
- A UPI ID (like yourname@bankname)
- A QR code
- A phone number
Popular UPI apps:
- Google Pay (India version)
- PhonePe
- Paytm
- BHIM
- Amazon Pay (India)
UPI is free for users — no transaction fees, no minimum amounts, no delays. It's why India has adopted it so aggressively. When something is free and instant, everyone uses it.
Can Tourists Use UPI?
The Short Answer: Mostly No (But It's Changing)
As of early 2025, standard UPI requires:
- An Indian bank account
- An Indian phone number linked to that bank account
- A UPI app registered with Indian credentials
Most foreign tourists don't have any of these.
The Pilot Programs
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been piloting tourist UPI access:
UPI for Visitors (Prepaid Wallet Model):
- Announced in early 2024
- Allows tourists to load a prepaid UPI wallet using their international card at select airports
- Available at: Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), and Bengaluru (BLR) — select counters
- Participating banks: limited (check on arrival)
- Maximum wallet: ₹10,000–₹50,000
Reality check: As of February 2025, this pilot is:
- Not available at all airports
- Not available at all counters within participating airports
- Inconsistent — some travelers report success, others are turned away
- Limited wallet size may not cover a full trip
Do NOT plan your entire India payment strategy around tourist UPI. Consider it a bonus if it works, not a foundation.
Singapore/Japan Cross-Border QR
NPCI has signed agreements for cross-border UPI with:
- Singapore (PayNow ↔ UPI)
- Limited pilots with other countries
If you have a Singapore bank account with PayNow, you may be able to scan some UPI QR codes in India. This is nascent and inconsistent.
Your Actual Payment Options in India
1. Cash (Essential — Don't Skip This)
Despite UPI's dominance, cash works everywhere and is necessary for:
- Auto-rickshaws (if you're not using apps)
- Street food and chai stalls
- Small shops and markets
- Tipping (hotels, restaurants, tour guides)
- Religious sites (temple offerings, shoe storage fees)
- Rural and semi-urban areas (UPI may exist but cash is preferred)
How much to carry: | Style | Daily (₹) | Daily ($) | |-------|-----------|-----------| | Budget | ₹2,000–3,000 | $24–36 | | Mid-range | ₹4,000–8,000 | $48–96 | | Comfortable | ₹8,000–15,000 | $96–180 |
Where to get cash:
- SBI (State Bank of India) ATMs — largest network, most reliable for foreign cards
- HDFC Bank ATMs — modern machines, good international card support
- ICBC ATMs — consistent foreign card acceptance
- Axis Bank ATMs — available in cities
- Max withdrawal: Usually ₹10,000–20,000 per transaction
- Fee: ₹200–350 per transaction + your bank's fee
Always choose INR when the ATM asks about currency. Choosing your home currency activates Dynamic Currency Conversion — a hidden 3–5% markup.
2. International Credit/Debit Cards
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at:
- Hotels (all categories)
- Restaurants (mid-range and above)
- Shopping malls and branded stores
- Supermarkets (Big Bazaar, DMart, Reliance Fresh)
- Online bookings (MakeMyTrip, Zomato, Swiggy)
Not accepted at:
- Street vendors
- Auto-rickshaws
- Most small shops and dhabas (roadside restaurants)
- Local train ticket counters
- Many government offices and monuments (cash only for tickets)
3. Ola & Uber (Ride-Hailing)
Both work with international cards:
- Ola — India's homegrown ride-hailing app, better coverage in tier-2 cities
- Uber — familiar interface, slightly more expensive
- Both offer auto-rickshaw booking (huge convenience — fixed price, no haggling)
- Download both — availability varies by area and time
4. Forex Cards (Pre-Loaded Travel Cards)
A prepaid card loaded with INR before departure:
Pros:
- Lock in exchange rate before travel
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Works like a debit card at POS terminals
- Some work at ATMs for cash withdrawal
Providers: Wise (TransferWise), Niyo, BookMyForex (India-based), Thomas Cook Forex
Recommended for: Longer stays (2+ weeks) where currency fluctuation and fees add up.
5. Amazon India / Flipkart
For online shopping during your trip:
- Amazon.in accepts international cards (not all items from all sellers)
- Delivery available at hotel addresses
- Useful for: adapters, SIM equipment, toiletries, gifts
Getting an Indian SIM Card
You'll need a local number for OTP verification on many Indian apps and websites.
At the Airport
- Airtel and Jio have counters at major airports
- Tourist SIM plans: ₹500–1,000 for 28 days (1–2 GB/day data + calls)
- Required documents: Passport + visa + passport-size photo
- Activation time: 1–24 hours (not instant!)
The Activation Wait
This is crucial: Indian SIM cards are NOT activated immediately. The telecom company must verify your identity against government databases. This takes:
- Best case: 1–4 hours
- Typical: 4–12 hours
- Worst case: 24 hours
Plan accordingly. Don't rely on getting a working SIM within minutes of landing. Use airport WiFi or your eSIM for immediate connectivity.
eSIM Option
- Airalo, Nomad: data-only eSIMs work well in India
- No Indian phone number (can't receive OTPs)
- Good for maps, messaging, general browsing
- Combine with physical SIM for full functionality
The Dynamic Currency Conversion Trap
This applies to every card transaction in India:
When you pay with a foreign card, the terminal may ask: "Would you like to pay in [your home currency]?"
Always select NO. Always pay in INR (Indian Rupees).
Choosing your home currency means the merchant's bank sets the exchange rate — typically 3–5% worse than your own bank's rate. This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). It benefits the merchant, never you.
Some terminals are pre-set to your home currency. If you see the amount in anything other than INR, ask the merchant to retry in rupees.
Emergency Hindi Phrases
| Situation | Hindi | Pronunciation | English | |-----------|-------|---------------|---------| | Cash please | नकद चाहिए | Nakad chahiye | I need cash | | Accept card? | कार्ड चलेगा? | Card chalega? | Will card work? | | Where is ATM? | ATM कहाँ है? | ATM kahan hai? | Where is ATM? | | How much? | कितना? | Kitna? | How much? | | Too expensive | बहुत महंगा | Bahut mehnga | Very expensive | | Thank you | धन्यवाद | Dhanyavaad | Thank you | | Help | मदद कीजिए | Madad kijiye | Please help |
Before Your Trip
- Get a forex card loaded with INR (Wise is recommended)
- Notify your bank about India travel
- Download Ola AND Uber, add international cards
- Carry $200–300 in USD for initial exchange at airport
- Get tourist SIM at airport — expect 4–24 hour activation
- Get eSIM (Airalo/Nomad) for immediate data on arrival
- Download offline Google Maps for your destination cities
Use the India Setup Kit for the complete preparation checklist, or check your digital readiness with the Risk Scanner.
Last updated: February 2025.