UPI goes global: Indian users can now pay internationally via PayPal

PayPal World platform launches with UPI integration for seamless cross-border payments

In a major development for digital finance, Indian consumers can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make international payments through PayPal. The global payments giant announced the launch of its new platform, PayPal World, which aims to unify the world’s leading payment systems and digital wallets under one ecosystem.

Indian users can now use UPI for global shopping

As part of the initial rollout, PayPal World enables interoperability between PayPal, Venmo, and UPI. This means Indian users browsing international e-commerce sites will be able to select UPI as a payment option through the familiar PayPal checkout process.

For instance, while shopping on a US-based online store, an Indian user selecting PayPal at checkout will now see the UPI button, allowing them to complete the payment using their existing UPI account.

NPCI welcomes UPI’s global expansion

Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director and CEO of NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), praised the collaboration, calling it a “significant step” in extending UPI’s reach beyond Indian borders.

“The integration of UPI on PayPal World’s platform aligns with our vision of making cross-border payments seamless, secure, and inclusive,” he said. “It not only simplifies international transactions for Indian users but also opens up new opportunities for global merchants.”

Global reach beyond India

The launch of PayPal World brings together global partners serving nearly two billion users worldwide. These include Mercado Pago, Tenpay Global (Weixin Pay), NPCI International (UPI), PayPal, and Venmo.

This expansion isn’t just for Indian users. For example:

• A PayPal user in the US can now scan a Weixin Pay QR code to pay in China.
• A Venmo user in the US can send money to a friend in Germany using their PayPal wallet.

A new era for global digital payments

India has been in talks with countries in Africa and South America to build digital payment systems modeled on UPI. According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), UPI drives 83% of all digital transactions in the country. UPI usage has surged 4.4 times from 2021 to 2024, reaching 172 billion transactions annually.

This innovation signals a significant shift in how digital payments are conducted across borders. For Indian users especially, who heavily depend on UPI for day-to-day transactions, this step provides newfound ease and access in global commerce.

PayPal World’s unified framework may redefine cross-border shopping and remittances, making global payments more accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly.

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