International no. can be used for UPI for free

Non-resident Indians (NRI) customers of IDFC First Bank can now use the unified payment interface ( UPI) to make payments in India using their international mobile numbers. This service is free and available to all NRE and NRO bank account holders of the bank from 12 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, and United States of America (USA).

In a press release dated June 25, 2025, the bank announced that their NRE/ NRO customers can link their bank accounts with any UPI enabled apps ( PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, etc) using their international mobile numbers. For example, if you are living in say Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have say an Etisalat or Du mobile SIM, then you can use Google Pay to pay in India, provided you have an IDFC First Bank NRE or NRO bank account.

Read below to know the details.

Details of new NRI UPI payments feature launched by IDFC Bank
In the press release IDFC First Bank said:

• Non-Resident Indian (NRI) customers of the bank can now make UPI payments using their international mobile numbers.
• NRIs can now make instant UPI payments from their NRE or NRO accounts using IDFC FIRST Bank’s mobile app, without incurring any charges. Plus, customers have the option to link their bank accounts to other UPI-enabled apps.
• This facility is available to all NRI customers of the Bank from 12 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the USA - for INR-denominated transactions within India.

The bank said in the press release: “The NRI customers can now send and receive money instantly using QR codes, UPI IDs, or mobile numbers. This allows the Bank to empower its NRI customers to manage their finances with the same ease and security as domestic customers.”

The bank also outlined the key benefits of this new feature:

• No Indian SIM Required: Use your international mobile number linked with NRE/NRO account
• Instant Transactions: Send & receive money or pay bills using QR codes/ UPI IDs/ mobile number
• Zero Transaction Fees: Enjoy UPI payments without incurring any charges.
• Secure and Reliable: Enjoy the same level of security standards as domestic UPI

Ashish Singh, Head Retail Liabilities, IDFC First Bank says: " Our vision has always been to simplify and enhance banking, making it accessible no matter where our customers are located. The launch of UPI services on international mobile numbers is a testament to our commitment to innovation, and catering to the unique needs of the NRI diaspora"

How can IDFC First Bank customers use UPI with international mobile numbers?
IDFC First Bank said in the press release that NRIs can use the UPI facility even while being abroad, provided the payments are for transactions within India. Such transactions do not attract any foreign exchange charges.

Here are the Steps

• Step 1: Login to IDFC FIRST Bank app and click ‘PAY’
• Step 2: Link Bank Account
• Step 3: Create UPI ID to start making payment.