Paytm has unveiled a major upgrade for the global Indian diaspora: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from 12 countries can now use their international mobile numbers to make UPI payments in India. This feature, developed in alliance with NPCI, lets NRIs link NRE/NRO bank accounts to the Paytm app, bypassing the old hassle of requiring an Indian SIM card or dealing with currency conversion. From paying at kirana stores to gifting rupees instantly to family, NRIs can now be part of India’s booming UPI universe—no matter where they live.
Reinventing UPI for the Global Indian
Previously, seamless India-based payments were tricky for Non Resident Indians who lacked active Indian mobile numbers or got hit by heavy remittance costs. With this update, fintech giant closes that gap. NRIs can log in, verify via SMS, and use their international number for all app features—shopping online, paying at merchants, or transferring funds within India.
Supporting users in the US, UK, UAE, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, and Saudi Arabia (among others), the service offers not only frictionless transactions but also financial tools like spend analysis, balance checks, downloadable statements, and even AI-powered summaries for clearer tracking of spending and transfers. This move is being hailed as a leap in financial inclusion for India’s 35+ million-strong global diaspora.
The Product and Market Context
This NRI-focused feature arrives hot on the heels of several global expansion moves by the fintech giant:
- In 2024, the company launched ‘UPI International,’ allowing Indian users to pay via UPI in countries like UAE, Singapore, France, Mauritius, Bhutan, and Nepal—eliminating the need for physical cards and forex conversion.
- Earlier, Paytm established regulated subsidiaries in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, setting the stage for deploying merchant payment solutions and financial services tailored for those markets. Strategic acquisitions—like a stake in Brazil’s Dinie—further reflect its intent to build a cross-border fintech empire spanning emerging economies.
- In October 2025, It also rolled out India’s first AI-powered Soundbox for payments, delivering real-time voice confirmation and analytics to merchants—yet another sign of it’s ambition to blend AI and payments innovation for businesses and consumers alike.
Inside India, with over 85% of digital payment volume riding on UPI rails and monthly transaction volumes continuing to surge, the push for NRIs is part of a larger vision to capture every demographic contributing to India’s digital economy transformation.
Read this: Paytm Launches India’s First AI-Enabled Soundbox That Lets Merchants Talk in 12 Languages
Strategic Rationale and Competitive Edge
Why is this update significant?
- Keeps NRIs financially connected to India, enabling direct payments for family support, online spending, and visits home—without intermediaries or delays.
- Gives Paytm a differentiation lever in the race with PhonePe, Google Pay, and Pine Labs, all of whom are also sharpening their focus on UPI globalization and international user acquisition.
- Plays to Paytm’s strengths: technology-led merchant payments, deep in-app analytics, and a full spectrum of financial tools for a wide user base.
This NRI expansion is a sharp turn back to core payments after a period of portfolio rationalization, global restructuring, and a renewed focus post regulatory scrutiny on it’s banking and lending operations.
NRE and NRO account can be now linked to Paytm app ! https://t.co/9f27zvsuNb
— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) October 27, 2025
The Road Ahead: Global Indians, Universal Payments
While currently in beta,this international UPI has the potential to unlock vast new segments—students, expats, and business travelers—all looking for simple, safe, and cost-efficient ways to remain Indian in their financial lives. More regions and expanded banking tie-ups are expected as UPI itself moves global.
With digital payments now a defining vector of India’s economic soft power, Paytm is reimagining what it means to be a global Indian—with UPI and digital trust as the core bridge. The future of cross-border payments is not just ‘global,’ but deeply personal, seamless, and as easy as opening an app—no matter where you call home.
