India’s digital payment revolution is in full swing, led by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This homegrown instant payment system has reshaped how Indians transact daily and is now expanding its influence to cross-border money transfers. Whether you’re paying for chai at a street stall or sending money to family overseas, UPI is making the process faster, cheaper, and simpler. In this article, we’ll explore what UPI is, how it works domestically, its impact on remittances to India, its international expansion, and the role of services like Sendvalu in leveraging UPI for seamless global transfers.

What is UPI, and How Does It Work in India?

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s real-time, mobile-based payment system that enables instant money transfers between bank accounts. Launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI allows users to send or receive money 24/7 through a simple interface, typically a smartphone app, using a virtual payment address or QR code, without needing to enter bank details each time. Practically, paying someone is as easy as opening a UPI app (like Google Pay, PhonePe, or BHIM), entering the amount, and selecting the recipient’s UPI ID or scanning their QR code. The money moves instantly from one bank to another, even across different banks, thanks to UPI’s interoperability.

UPI has become immensely popular for both person-to-person (P2P) transfers and person-to-merchant (P2M) payments. It effectively turns your smartphone into a digital wallet linked directly to your bank. This convenience, combined with zero fees for basic transfers, has led to mass adoption. According to the European Payments Council, as of 2024, UPI handles over 75% of all retail digital payments in India and has processed more than 14 billion transactions in a single month (May 2024)​, a testament to how ubiquitous it has become. There are around 350 million active UPI users in India and 340 million QR codes displayed at merchant locations, from street vendors to supermarkets​. Virtually every bank (over 550 of them) and dozens of payment apps are part of the UPI ecosystem​, making it a truly interoperable network. In 2023 alone, UPI facilitated 117 billion transactions worth $2.19 trillion​, showcasing the scale on which it operates.

Such wide adoption means that digital payments have penetrated every corner of the country. Paying rent, splitting a dinner bill, or buying groceries can all be done in seconds via UPI. It has dramatically reduced the reliance on cash for everyday transactions. For consumers, it’s hassle-free and instant; for businesses, it guarantees payment directly to their bank with minimal setup (often just a printed QR code). UPI’s popularity is largely due to its ease of use and real-time settlement; money moves immediately, even on weekends or holidays, and all this at no cost to the consumer in most cases. This has democratized payments in India by providing financial services access to every person with a mobile phone. In short, UPI has woven digital payments into the fabric of daily life in India.

UPI’s Impact on Indian Households and Remittances

Three Indian professionals discussing online financial services on a laptop, reflecting the adoption of UPI in everyday life.

The convenience of UPI isn’t just limited to paying for shopping or services; it’s also transforming how Indian families manage their finances, including receiving money from relatives abroad. India is the world’s largest recipient of remittances, money sent home by Indians working overseas, becoming the first country to reach $100 billion in annual remittances in 2022​, as specified by PYMNTS. These remittances are a lifeline for millions of households, often used for daily expenses, education, healthcare, and investments. Traditionally, sending money to India from abroad could be costly (due to high fees or unfavorable exchange rates) and slow (taking days for transfers or requiring physical agent visits). This is where UPI is making a difference.

On the domestic front, UPI has familiarized hundreds of millions of Indians with instant digital payments. So, when an overseas family member sends money, the expectation now is that the transfer should be quick and hassle-free, just like a UPI transfer at home. UPI’s infrastructure is increasingly being leveraged to speed up remittances, for example, by enabling instant credit to a recipient’s bank account via their UPI ID. Instead of waiting 2-3 days for an international wire transfer to clear, an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) can initiate a remittance through a service that connects to UPI, resulting in the recipient getting the money in minutes. The immediate benefit for Indian families is obvious: funds for emergencies or urgent needs arrive almost instantly, and there’s no need to visit a bank branch or money exchange office to collect the money.

Another major impact is cost. By cutting out intermediary steps, UPI has the potential to significantly reduce remittance fees. When India linked UPI with Singapore’s fast payments system, officials noted that direct, interoperable transfers would reduce remittance costs by about 10%​. Lower fees mean more of the sender’s money reaches their family. Over time, as UPI-based cross-border links expand, the fees for sending money to India are expected to come down towards domestic levels (which are near zero), saving the Indian diaspora and their beneficiaries a significant amount of money. Even the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Shaktikanta Das, highlighted that UPI could evolve into a more affordable and faster alternative for cross-border remittances​, underlining the technology’s promise in this area.

From the perspective of those receiving money in India, UPI also adds a layer of safety and convenience. The funds can come directly into a bank account (linked to UPI) without the need for physical cash handling. A parent in India can receive maintenance funds from their child abroad and immediately use that money to pay utility bills through UPI or withdraw cash at an ATM if needed. The whole chain, from sending to spending, can happen digitally. This synergy between remittances and domestic digital payments means that money circulates more efficiently in the economy.

Global Expansion of UPI: Taking Indian Payments Abroad

What started as a domestic payment solution is now spreading its wings globally. UPI’s success has attracted attention from other countries and prompted international partnerships. India has signed agreements with numerous countries to expand UPI’s reach, and as of 2024, UPI is accepted in one form or another in countries across Asia, the Middle East, and even Europe​. The Economic Times shows that this international expansion serves two main purposes: It allows Indian travelers and NRIs to use UPI abroad (making payments in foreign countries as easily as they do at home), and it facilitates cross-border fund transfers by linking UPI with other countries’ payment systems.

Some of the notable milestones in UPI’s global journey include:

Bhutan: In 2021, Bhutan became the first country outside India to adopt UPI for payments. Indian visitors to Bhutan can pay merchants via UPI, and Bhutanese banks accept UPI-based transactions​. This was an early proof-of-concept that UPI could work beyond India’s borders.

Singapore: A breakthrough came in February 2023 when India’s UPI was linked with Singapore’s PayNow system in a cross-border interoperability initiative. This linkage allows money to be transferred instantly between bank accounts in India and Singapore using UPI apps. For example, an Indian in Singapore can send money to their family in India in real time, and vice versa. This was the first country-to-country person-to-person UPI linkage, and it’s immensely beneficial for the Indian diaspora in Singapore​. Early reports projected that such direct UPI-PayNow transfers would cut transaction costs and time significantly. Today, certain merchants in Singapore even accept UPI QR payments from Indian tourists​, making shopping easier for travelers who can pay in Indian Rupees from their Indian bank account and have it instantly converted to Singapore dollars for the merchant.

United Arab Emirates (UAE): The UAE, home to a large Indian expatriate community, was among the first outside South Asia to embrace UPI. Since 2022, many merchants in the UAE have started accepting UPI payments from Indian visitors and residents​. This means an Indian tourist in Dubai can pay for a meal or taxi by scanning a QR code and debiting their Indian bank account via UPI, with no need to carry wads of local currency or incur card forex fees. For UPI, the UAE is a strategic location, and efforts are underway to widen its acceptance further (e.g., through partnerships like NIPL and Mashreq/Magnati for merchant payments).

Europe (France and UK): In 2024, UPI made a splash in France when the Eiffel Tower’s ticketing booths started accepting UPI. Indian tourists can scan a QR code at the Eiffel Tower and pay in rupees using their UPI app, avoiding foreign exchange charges​. This was part of a rollout that saw UPI acceptance in France for merchant payments. The UK has also been in focus; while full UPI merchant acceptance in the UK is still in progress, Indian travelers and students in the UK can use their Indian UPI apps to send money home or to pay Indian vendors from abroad. Notably, NRIs in countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia have been enabled to use UPI directly by linking their non-resident bank accounts to UPI​. This means an NRI in London can use their local mobile number with a UPI app to pay or remit as if they were in India – a big convenience for diaspora users.

Other Countries: UPI’s global march includes Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, among others​. Nepal has adopted a UPI-like system with Indian collaboration, allowing interoperability. Sri Lanka and Mauritius saw UPI launches in early 2024​. Even Russia, in a move to facilitate tourism and perhaps alternative payment networks, has seen the adoption of UPI for payments at some merchants​. More countries are on the horizon; India’s Prime Minister and officials have indicated ongoing talks to link UPI with systems in Malaysia (PayNet)​, and others have expressed interest in adopting the technology. The NPCI’s international arm (NIPL) has a goal to bring UPI to dozens of countries in the coming years.

This global expansion is transformative for Indians abroad. Travelers no longer need to worry about exchanging currency or being hit with credit card foreign transaction fees, they can pay using the familiar UPI apps from back home. It’s equally transformative for cross-border remittances: as more countries get connected, sending money to India might one day be as easy as a domestic UPI transfer. By linking real-time payment systems across nations, UPI is helping pave the way for an interoperable global network of instant payments. It’s a vision where an Indian software engineer in Dubai or a nurse in London can support their family in India with just a few taps on their phone, with minimal fees and immediate delivery.

Remittances to India in the Digital Age

Person initiating an online wire transfer on a smartphone and laptop, showing the speed and convenience of modern digital remittances.

India’s dominance in digital payments comes at a fortuitous time, as the world is increasingly digital and interconnected. The country’s record-high remittances (over $100 billion in 2022)​ underline the importance of efficient money transfer channels for the economy. Globally, there’s been a push to reduce remittance costs and improve speed – the G20 and the UN have targets to bring average fees down to 3% (currently, global average fees hover around 6% for sending money). Digital platforms are crucial to achieving this, and India’s UPI is a stellar example of how digital infrastructure can make a difference.

The trends are clear: more people are adopting digital wallets and instant payment apps, and cash use is gradually declining for transactions. In India, the explosion of smartphone usage (over 600 million smartphone users and affordable data plans) has provided a launchpad for UPI’s adoption. By 2024, a vast majority of middle-class Indians will prefer paying via digital methods when possible, and even small vendors have embraced QR codes. This environment makes it easier for international money to seamlessly merge into the digital flow. When money comes into India digitally, it can be spent digitally, creating a smoother economic cycle.

Not long ago, a remittance to India might involve a chain of intermediary banks and a physical cash pickup by the recipient. Today, a growing share of remittances is sent via online remittance services and fintech apps, arriving directly into bank accounts. The infrastructure behind UPI (and related systems like IMPS) allows those deposits to be credited instantly. That’s why many international money transfer operators are integrating with UPI or the Indian banking network to deliver funds faster. According to industry analysis by FXC Intelligence, UPI’s rise is now set to have an impact on the cross-border space as it expands through interoperability projects​. For users, this simply means a better experience: lower waiting times and fewer worries about whether the money arrived.

Digital payment adoption in India also brings better transparency and security to remittances. Both senders and receivers can track transactions on their apps, get immediate confirmation, and have a digital record – providing peace of mind. Moreover, as UPI transactions require authentication (like UPI PIN and device binding) and are processed through regulated banking channels, the risk of fraud or theft can be lower compared to handing cash over to an informal courier. Overall, the confluence of India’s digital payment revolution and the steady growth in remittances has created a scenario where sending money to India is easier and more efficient than ever before.

The Role of sendvalu in Seamless Money Transfers to India

Group of young Indians using smartphones and tablets outdoors, illustrating accessibility to remittances through digital tools like sendvalu.

In this evolving landscape, online remittance platforms like sendvalu play a crucial role in connecting the dots for people who want to send money to India. While UPI provides the domestic rails and instant transfer capability within India, our services make it simple for someone abroad to initiate a transfer that utilizes those rails. Think of sendvalu as a friendly guide that takes your money from country A and delivers it in country B in the most efficient way possible.

The sendvalu’s platform is designed to let you send money to India competitively and fast, exactly what one needs in the age of UPI. Using sendvalu, an expat or NRI can initiate a remittance online (via website or app) without visiting a bank or agent. Then routes the payment through secure banking partners and payout methods in India. Thanks to UPI and India’s immediate payment infrastructure, the money can often be deposited directly into the recipient’s Indian bank account within minutes or a few hours, even if it’s midnight in India. In practical terms, this means if you’re in Europe or the US and you transfer money via sendvalu to your parent’s bank account in India, your parent might get an alert on their phone and see the balance update almost instantly. They could then use UPI to pay bills or withdraw cash as needed. It’s a far cry from the old days of having to wait and wonder if the money has arrived.

We offer competitive exchange rates and low fees, aligning with UPI’s ethos of reducing the cost of remittances. Every percentage point saved in fees is more money in the pocket of your family in India. By leveraging digital channels end-to-end, Sendvalu ensures fewer middlemen are taking a cut. And with UPI’s growing acceptance, even if your family prefers to collect cash or use a mobile wallet, the service can facilitate that quickly through partner payout options (such as instant bank transfers that tap into UPI/IMPS networks, mobile money wallets, or cash pickup at local agents). The goal is to make sending money to India as easy as a domestic funds transfer, and UPI’s capabilities help make that possible.

Security and trust are also paramount for us. Just as UPI transactions are secured by PINs and encryption, sendvalu uses robust security measures for online transfers. Users can track their transfer status, and provides customer support to ensure peace of mind. It means speed, savings, and simplicity. You could be sitting in London or Dubai, open the app, make a few taps, and your family in India receives the money almost instantly in their bank, ready to be spent via UPI or withdrawn in cash. This is the promise of modern remittances: leveraging technology to break down financial borders.

Simplifying Global Support for Indian Families

Crowded Indian marketplace with people and colorful shops, representing how remittance money circulates in local communities.

India’s Unified Payments Interface has proven to be a game-changer, not only within the country but increasingly on the global stage. UPI has turned India into a predominantly digital-payments economy in just a few years, handling billions of transactions and empowering users from big cities to rural villages. Now, as UPI extends its reach internationally through strategic partnerships, it is set to transform how money moves across borders into India. Lower remittance costs, real-time transfers, and greater convenience are no longer distant dreams; they are becoming a reality for many Indian families, whether it’s a son supporting his parents or an entrepreneur receiving payments from abroad.

Crucially, this transformation isn’t happening in isolation. It’s supported by innovative remittance services like sendvalu that make it easy to tap into UPI’s benefits from anywhere in the world. The synergy of global digital platforms with India’s domestic payment infrastructure means that sending money to India can be as seamless as sending a WhatsApp message. As we move into 2025 and beyond, one can expect UPI’s network to grow and more countries to come on board, further smoothing the experience of international money transfers.

For anyone with loved ones in India or financial ties to the country, these developments are welcome news. Families can worry a little less about high fees or delays and focus more on the connection that each remittance represents. The world of remittances to India is being revolutionized for the better, one transaction at a time.

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