India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is making international travel simpler than ever. This convenient digital payment system, already popular in several Asian and Middle Eastern countries, is now expanding its reach into Europe. As of 2025, two European nations have officially embraced UPI, offering Indian travellers a seamless way to pay.
France holds the distinction of being the first European country to officially integrate UPI. Since 2024, Indian tourists have been able to make UPI payments at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. This groundbreaking partnership between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and French payment company Lyra has opened doors for real-time digital transactions.
The future plan of NPCI is to progressively expand UPI acceptance to a wider network of retailers, restaurants, and tourism-related businesses across France, offering a convenient alternative to traditional payment methods.
In a significant development this June 2025, Cyprus became the second European country to announce its adoption of UPI services. This follows a historic visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India's NPCI and Eurobank Cyprus.
The introduction of UPI in Cyprus will greatly benefit Indian tourists, expatriates, and businesses by enabling seamless, real-time digital payments. It will also simplify remittances, offering a faster and more cost-effective way for the Indian diaspora to send money home.
The success of UPI's initial rollout in Europe has sparked interest across the continent. While not yet fully integrated, the United Kingdom is actively exploring UPI adoption, with MoUs already signed for a gradual rollout at select merchants and airports. This indicates a strong potential for UPI to further expand its presence in key European economies in the near future.
The entry of UPI into European markets like France and Cyprus signifies a major leap forward for India's digital payment revolution. These integrations simplify financial transactions for Indian citizens traveling or residing in these countries and strengthen bilateral economic ties.
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Published on: Jun 20, 2025, 1:01 PM IST
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