UPI launches in Greece, expands India’s global digital payments network to 10 countries

India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been launched in Greece, marking another milestone in the country's push to globalise its flagship digital payments platform. The latest expansion takes UPI's international footprint to 10 countries, enabling Indian travellers to make instant and seamless digital payments abroad using familiar UPI-enabled applications.

The rollout was announced by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is on an official visit to Athens. He witnessed a live demonstration of UPI payments at Eurobank headquarters, made possible through a partnership between Eurobank and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).

"Delighted to witness the live demonstration of the Eurobank-NIPL partnership enabling UPI services at Eurobank headquarters in Athens... marking another important milestone in the global expansion of India's digital payment ecosystem," Goyal said in a post on social media.

According to the minister, the partnership will allow eligible users to transfer money instantly, securely and seamlessly while significantly reducing transaction costs compared with conventional cross-border payment systems.

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UPI now available in 10 countries

With Greece joining the network, UPI is now accepted in the following countries:

Greece

Singapore

United Arab Emirates

France

Mauritius

Nepal

Bhutan

Qatar

Sri Lanka

Cambodia

The expansion is expected to benefit Indian tourists, business travellers and the Indian diaspora by enabling convenient merchant payments without relying extensively on cash or international cards.

Europe emerges as a key market

Greece is the latest European destination to adopt India's digital payments infrastructure. Earlier this month, UPI was launched at Galeries Lafayette in Nice, France. In 2024, India had introduced UPI acceptance at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, marking one of its most high-profile international deployments.

The continued expansion across Europe reflects India's broader strategy of exporting its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to global markets through partnerships with banks, payment providers and governments.

Boost for India's Digital Public Infrastructure

Goyal said the growing international adoption of UPI demonstrates increasing global confidence in India's technology-driven payment ecosystem.

"The increasing global acceptance and appreciation of UPI reflects the trust in India for building technology-led solutions that create value beyond borders and deepen partnerships for shared growth and prosperity," he said.

Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI has transformed digital payments domestically by enabling real-time bank-to-bank transfers through mobile applications. Its international expansion aims to simplify cross-border payments, lower remittance costs and improve payment convenience for Indian users travelling overseas.

The Greece launch adds another chapter to India's effort to position UPI as a globally recognised digital payments network, with NPCI International continuing to forge partnerships that integrate the platform into overseas financial ecosystems.