By Kavita Mistry 
Now even the Non-Resident Indians(NRI) can link their international mobile numbers with the Paytm app for UPI payments in India.
Paytm Empowers NRIs: UPI Payments via International Mobile Numbers
The parent company of the fintech giant Paytm, One97 Communications Ltd., has rolled out this new feature for the NRIs, which would enable the UPI payments via international mobile numbers.
This new feature is currently in beta stage, but once it is publicly released, it would enable the NRIs to use international numbers to link their NRE (Non-Resident External) or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) bank accounts and carry out transactions over the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) network in India without requiring an Indian SIM card.
This service would be available for the NRIs are 12 countries which includes the likes of Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States.
This new feature would enable the NRIs to use Paytm UPI to send money to Indian accounts, shop online on India-based apps and websites, transfer money between their own Indian bank accounts and make in-store payments by scanning UPI QR codes. These transactions can be carried out in Indian currency. The service comes free of foreign exchange conversion fees and international payment gateway charges.
Sharing the latest feature on X, Paytm posted on Monday “Hello NRIs! You can now use your international mobile number on the Paytm app for UPI payments with your NRE or NRO account”.
This feature and initiative are in alignment with the fintech giant’s long-term goal to improve financial connectivity for NRIs and expand its presence in the global sector.
How NRIs Can Activate Paytm to Get Started?
- Download the Paytm app and log in using your international mobile number.
- Confirm the phone number by SMS and connect the NRE/NRO bank account.
- Use QR code scans, online, or merchant locations to begin making UPI payments across India.
In addition to this new feature, foreign users and NRIs can use UPI One World, a wallet solution designed to enable safe digital payments in India without requiring a local bank account. Furthermore, Indian users, including NRIs, can use any payments app to scan a QR code and pay at a few foreign merchants through UPI Global Acceptance. This feature makes international transactions easier.
Users can also track total balances across linked bank accounts, hide payments, access expenditure analysis and classification, and download UPI statements in PDF or Excel.
Summary
A new beta feature has been launched by Paytm which would enable the NRIs from 12 countries to link their international mobile numbers with NRE/NRO bank accounts for UPI payments in India—without needing an Indian SIM. This feature would enable the NRIs to make transactions in Indian currency, free from forex or gateway fees, expanding Paytm’s global reach and boosting financial connectivity for NRIs.