UPI payments to be enabled across Uzbekistan under NPCI International partnership

Indian tourists, business travellers and students will soon be able to make UPI payments across Uzbekistan after NPCI International partnered with the country’s National Interbank Processing Centre. The arrangement will enable instant merchant payments through Uzbekistan’s UZQR system

New Delhi: NPCI International and Uzbekistan’s NIPC have entered into a partnership to enable UPI payments across Uzbekistan, a finance ministry statement said.

The partnership will enable Indian tourists, business travellers and students to make instant merchant payments by scanning Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code, UZQR.

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NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India, entered into a commercial agreement with National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC), operator of Uzbekistan’s national payment system, HUMO, on August 30, 2026, the ministry said.

“The partnership enables Indian travellers to scan Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code UZQR using their familiar UPI-enabled applications to make instant merchant payments across the country,” it said.

The announcement was made during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uzbekistan.

The execution of the agreement follows formal approvals from financial regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU), which designated HUMO as NIPL’s authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance.

By integrating with CBU’s mandated Unified National QR infrastructure (UZQR), UPI users gain near-universal acceptance across retail, hospitality, and service merchants in Uzbekistan.

Indian tourists, business travellers, and students can make direct person-to-merchant (P2M) payments from their Indian bank accounts, eliminating foreign exchange markup friction and reducing reliance on international cards or cash.

“The initiative advances digital public infrastructure cooperation and aligns with both nations’ broader strategic and economic goals,” the ministry added.

UPI is currently accepted in 10 countries — Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece.

“Partnership between NIPL and Uzbekistan’s National payment system marks a significant step in expanding UPI’s international footprint,” the ministry added.