Athens, Greece – The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has officially launched in Greece, marking the latest milestone in India's ambitious drive to expand its indigenous digital payment system globally. This move brings the total number of countries where UPI is available to 10, significantly easing digital transactions for Indian travelers abroad.
The rollout was announced by India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who witnessed a live demonstration of the partnership between Eurobank and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) at Eurobank's headquarters in Athens. Minister Goyal shared the news on social media, highlighting the growing international confidence in India's technology-driven payment ecosystem.
Simplifying International Payments for Indians
The expansion of UPI is designed to provide Indian travelers with a convenient and secure method for making payments at participating merchants overseas. By utilizing their existing UPI-enabled apps, users can conduct QR code-based transactions, reducing their reliance on cash or international credit and debit cards. Depending on the country, UPI functionality can extend to merchant payments, cross-border remittances, or both.
UPI's Expanding Global Footprint
Greece joins a growing list of nations that have integrated UPI into their payment infrastructure. Prior to Greece, Cambodia was added earlier this month through a partnership between NIPL and ACLEDA Bank, enabling payments via Cambodia's national QR code system, KHQR.
Countries Where UPI is Currently Available:
- Singapore
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- France
- Mauritius
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Qatar
- Sri Lanka
- Cambodia
- Greece
France notably became one of the first European countries to adopt UPI, with services initially launched at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris in 2024. This was subsequently expanded to other key merchant locations, including Galeries Lafayette in Nice, catering to Indian tourists.
What is UPI?
Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI is an instant real-time payment system that allows users to link multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application. It facilitates seamless fund transfers and merchant payments directly from a smartphone. Its international expansion is a strategic effort to enhance convenience for Indian travelers, reduce transaction costs, and minimize friction in cross-border financial activities.