Foreign visitors can now use UPI during India AI Summit:They can scan any QR code and pay instantly; here’s how it works

Imagine landing in India and paying for coffee, cabs, or souvenirs with UPI, without an Indian bank account or mobile number. That’s exactly what the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has made possible. At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, NPCI has rolled out a pilot of its ‘UPI One World’ wallet for international visitors from over 40 countries. The service runs during the summit from February 16 to 20 and gives foreign delegates a chance to experience India’s real-time digital payments system firsthand.
What is ‘UPI One World’? ‘UPI One World’ is a special prepaid wallet designed for inbound foreign travellers. Unlike regular UPI, which requires an Indian bank account and mobile number, this version allows visitors to make person-to-merchant (P2M) payments without either. In simple terms, travellers can scan any UPI QR code in India and pay instantly, just like Indians do. NPCI said in a statement: Through this pilot initiative, inbound foreign travellers will be able to make seamless, secure, and real-time Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI payments during their visit to India. Visitors can experience India’s culture and cuisine while using ‘Made in India’ UPI technology without an Indian mobile number or bank account. Also read: PM Modi welcomes world leaders at India AI Impact Summit 2026, here’s the detailed plan for five-day event

How is it different from regular UPI? Domestic UPI is linked directly to an Indian bank account and mobile number. Payments move straight from the user’s bank account to the merchant. ‘UPI One World,’ however, works like a prepaid wallet: Any unused balance can be transferred back to the original payment source, following foreign exchange rules. How can visitors use it? The wallet is available at authorised prepaid payment counters at New Delhi International Airport and at the NPCI Pavilion in Bharat Mandapam. Here’s how it works: Visitors can load up to ₹25,000 per transaction, with a maximum of two loads per month, capped at ₹50,000. Once activated, the wallet can be used immediately for payments across India wherever UPI is accepted. Also read: How SIM cards activated at home, smuggled abroad and used to run fraud calls back into India

‘UPI One World’ app converts foreign currency into Indian rupees
According to Paytm, foreign visitors usually convert USD, EUR, or other currencies into Indian rupees and carry cash. But with UPI One World:
– Tourists can load the wallet using credit/debit/forex cards or foreign currency
– No need to carry or exchange large amounts of cash
– Easy tracking of all expenses inside the app
According to Wise, through the UPI One World app, foreigners can convert US Dollars (and other foreign currencies) to Indian Rupees (INR) primarily through currency exchange at designated, verified issuer counters (airports, hotels, or forex outlets) using current exchange rates. Tourists can also load the wallet via credit/debit/forex cards, where conversion occurs at the prevailing market rate.
Why is this important The move is more than just a convenience for summit delegates. It’s also a showcase of India’s digital payment strength. Sohini Rajola, Executive Director – Growth at NPCI, said: UPI is the world’s largest real-time payment system. By extending the ‘UPI One World’ service to foreign guests at the India AI Impact Summit, we are providing a convenient way to experience India’s real-time payments ecosystem and Made in India technology. This initiative also offers a glimpse into how smoother cross-border payment systems can support a more connected global digital economy. The numbers underline that growth. In January 2026 alone, UPI processed a record 21.7 billion transactions worth ₹28.33 lakh crore. A glimpse into cross-border payments While this is currently a pilot for summit delegates, it signals India’s larger ambition, making its Digital Public Infrastructure more accessible globally.
By allowing foreign visitors to use UPI easily, NPCI is not just reducing cash dependency or forex hassles. It is also testing how India’s homegrown payment system can work beyond borders. For now, the rollout is limited and excludes certain countries as per regulatory guidance. But if successful, ‘UPI One World’ could become a template for smoother global digital payments in the future.

India Impact AI Summit 2026 T
The India Impact AI Summit 2026 is seeing a surge in online interest, quickly climbing Google Trends as global attention turns to New Delhi. And it’s not hard to see why. This is the first large-scale AI summit of its kind to be hosted in the Global South, marking a significant shift in where global technology conversations are taking place.
In simple terms, if AI is defining the future, many of the people building and regulating that future are gathering under one roof in India. Source: Google Trends