Indian travelers visiting Cambodia can now make seamless digital payments using their existing UPI-enabled mobile applications. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was officially linked with Cambodia's national QR code standard, KHQR, on June 2, 2026, enabling Indian tourists and business travelers to pay at over 4.5 million merchants across the Southeast Asian nation.
Simplifying Cross-Border Transactions
This significant development is part of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) ongoing strategy to interlink UPI with fast payment systems worldwide, promoting efficient and transparent cross-border transactions. The initiative aligns with the G20 roadmap, which aims to make international payments cheaper, faster, and more accessible for everyone.
The interoperability was established through a collaborative effort between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Acleda Bank Plc., operating under the guidance of both the RBI and the National Bank of Cambodia.
Benefits for Travelers and Economic Ties
The new linkage is expected to significantly enhance the payment experience for Indian visitors. Instead of relying on cash or international debit and credit cards, travelers can now make real-time merchant payments by simply scanning QR codes with their preferred UPI applications. This reduces transaction friction, lessens dependence on foreign currency exchanges, and offers a secure, transparent, and familiar payment alternative.
This initial phase focuses on Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions for Indian travelers in Cambodia. Policymakers anticipate that enabling direct digital payments will strengthen economic and tourism ties between the two countries, fostering wider adoption of digital payment systems across borders.
UPI's Expanding Global Footprint
The launch in Cambodia further solidifies UPI's growing international presence. India is actively building payment linkages with numerous countries in Asia and beyond, positioning UPI as a leading global digital payments platform. These partnerships are considered a vital component of India's digital public infrastructure strategy, designed to simplify payment experiences for overseas travelers.
Looking ahead, the initiative's second phase will allow Cambodian travelers to make merchant payments in India using UPI QR codes, establishing a comprehensive two-way payment corridor between the nations.