Indian Travellers Can Now Make UPI Payments Across Uzbekistan

Indian tourists, business travellers and students can now make instant UPI payments in Uzbekistan. They can scan the country’s national interoperable QR code, UZQR, to pay merchants directly.

NPCI International (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), signed a commercial agreement with the National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC) on August 30. NIPC operates Uzbekistan’s national payment system, HUMO.

The partnership marks another expansion of UPI’s international reach. It allows Indian visitors to use their existing UPI-enabled applications for merchant payments across Uzbekistan.

The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral visit to Uzbekistan.

Financial regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU), granted the required approvals.

The CBU designated HUMO as NIPL’s authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance.

By connecting with the CBU-mandated Unified National QR infrastructure, UPI users can access near-universal acceptance across retail, hospitality and service outlets.

Travellers can make person-to-merchant (P2M) payments directly from Indian bank accounts. This removes foreign-exchange markup friction and lowers dependence on international cards and cash.

The initiative strengthens digital public infrastructure cooperation and supports the wider strategic and economic objectives of both nations.

Last month, the Maldives became the ninth country to announce the successful integration of its Maldives Instant Payment System, Favara, with UPI.

Users can now transfer money to India in real time.

Transactions begin in Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) and reach Indian beneficiaries in Indian Rupees (INR).

UPI is now accepted in 10 countries, including Singapore, the UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece.

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