NPCI makes changes in international UPI transactions via QR share & Pay: When UPI users can pay and when not

In a significant regulatory update that impacts global digital payments, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has issued a directive halting all international UPI transactions made through the “QR Share & Pay” method. The announcement, detailed in a circular dated April 8, 2025, is effective retroactively from April 4, 2025. Under the new regulation, international merchant payments initiated by scanning QR codes saved in device galleries—rather than physically present codes—will no longer be allowed. This policy change affects all Payment Service Provider (PSP) apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm that facilitate India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) services abroad.