India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) continues its remarkable global expansion. On 30 August 2026, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC), the operator of the country’s national payment system HUMO. This partnership enables Indian tourists, business travellers, and students to make instant merchant payments across Uzbekistan by scanning the nation’s interoperable QR code, UZQR, using their familiar UPI enabled apps.
The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral visit to Uzbekistan, underscoring the growing strategic and economic ties between the two countries. With this move, Uzbekistan becomes the 11th country where UPI is accepted for payments, following Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece.
How the Partnership Works
Under the agreement, Indian users can open any UPI-enabled application (such as BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or bank apps), scan a merchant’s UZQR code, and complete a person-to-merchant (P2M) payment directly from their Indian bank account. The system integrates with Uzbekistan’s Central Bank-mandated Unified National QR infrastructure, providing UPI users with near-universal acceptance across retail outlets, hospitality, restaurants, services, and other merchants.
Key enablers include formal regulatory approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU). The CBU designated HUMO as NIPL’s authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance. This setup removes the need for foreign-exchange markups in many cases, reduces reliance on international cards or cash, and delivers the same speed and simplicity that Indians enjoy at home.
Benefits for Indian Travellers and Students
- Convenience: No more hunting for ATMs, carrying large amounts of cash, or worrying about card acceptance and foreign transaction fees.
- Instant and familiar: Payments happen in real time through the same apps used daily in India.
- Broader coverage: Integration with the national UZQR network means acceptance is widespread, not limited to select tourist spots.
- Support for different travellers: Tourists exploring Samarkand, Bukhara, or Tashkent; business visitors; and students studying in Uzbekistan all stand to benefit.
The arrangement also advances digital public infrastructure cooperation between India and Uzbekistan, aligning with broader goals of trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. During the same visit, the two nations elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set an ambitious trade target.
UPI’s Growing International Footprint
UPI has transformed domestic payments in India and is steadily becoming a trusted option abroad. Earlier partnerships enabled QR-based merchant payments or linkages in the countries listed above. Each new market reduces friction for the large number of Indians travelling, working, or studying overseas and showcases India’s digital public infrastructure model.
While the commercial agreement is in place and the partnership is active, full operational rollout and merchant onboarding typically involve technical integration and testing. Travellers should check their preferred UPI app for the “UPI International” or equivalent feature and confirm acceptance with merchants once the service is live in Uzbekistan.