Indian travellers may soon be able to use UPI at foreign merchants as authorities study a possible tie-up with the Alipay+ network, according to a Reuters report.

The move is part of India’s efforts to expand the global reach of its real-time payments system, which dominates retail transactions at home.

The discussions involve the Indian government, the central bank and Singapore-based Ant International, which operates Alipay+ independently from Ant Group.

If approved, the arrangement would allow UPI users to make payments at overseas merchants already connected to the Alipay+ network.

Any decision will depend on security reviews and regulatory clearance, with officials expected to examine issues around data protection, digital infrastructure and geopolitical sensitivities linked to Alipay’s Chinese origins.

Alipay+ connects digital wallets and payment platforms across more than 100 markets, linking about 1.8 billion user accounts with over 150 million merchants worldwide.

The network has a strong presence in Asia and is expanding into Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

UPI has become the backbone of India’s retail payments system, processing close to 19 billion transactions a month as of early 2026, according to data from the National Payments Corporation of India.

Policymakers have been seeking to extend its use beyond domestic borders to support outbound travel and the Indian diaspora, while reducing friction in cross-border payments.

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