UPI Goes Global: Indian Travellers to Pay Seamlessly Across Central Asia Soon

Indian travellers heading to Central Asia may soon experience smoother payments, as India’s widely used digital payment systems expand beyond borders. A new partnership between PayU and 8B aims to enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other domestic payment methods across key markets in the region.

UPI Integration Across Central Asia

The collaboration will integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), along with net banking and card payments, into 8B’s merchant network spanning Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

This means Indian users can pay for goods and services abroad using familiar apps and platforms, without requiring additional onboarding or changes in behaviour. Transactions will be processed through existing merchant infrastructure, with UPI added as an additional payment option.

For merchants, the integration offers direct access to Indian tourists, potentially improving transaction success rates and reducing friction at checkout.

Boost to Tourism and Spending

The move comes at a time when outbound travel from India is witnessing strong growth. According to industry estimates, over 30 million Indians are expected to travel abroad by 2026, contributing $20–25 billion to global tourism revenue.

Central Asian countries are increasingly benefiting from this trend. Kazakhstan has seen a rise in Indian visitors due to improved connectivity and visa-free access, while Uzbekistan recorded double-digit growth in arrivals from India in 2025.

Experts believe that enabling familiar payment systems like UPI can further boost spending confidence among Indian travellers, strengthening tourism-driven economic activity in the region.

Regulatory and Expansion Challenges

While the integration marks a significant step forward, cross-border UPI adoption comes with regulatory complexities. Transactions must comply with frameworks such as India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and local regulations in destination countries.

Industry experts note that interoperability between payment systems will evolve gradually through bilateral arrangements. Issues such as KYC norms, liability, and consumer protection will need to be addressed for large-scale adoption.

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Conclusion

The PayU–8B partnership highlights how digital payments are becoming a key enabler of global travel and trade. By extending UPI into Central Asia, India is taking another step toward positioning its digital payment infrastructure on the global stage, making international transactions more seamless for both travellers and businesses.

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