Indian users can now use UPI (Unified Payments Interface) to make international purchases through PayPal, one of the world’s leading online payment companies.

This has been made possible with the launch of PayPal World, a new platform that aims to connect the world’s biggest payment systems and digital wallets, making it easier for people across countries to send and receive money.

As part of its initial rollout, PayPal World will support UPI, along with other popular services like Venmo (used widely in the US). For Indian users, this means they can shop from international websites and complete their payments using UPI, the same way they do at home.

Here’s how it works: if an Indian shopper is browsing a US-based website and wants to buy a product like sneakers, they can choose the PayPal checkout option, where a UPI button will now appear. Clicking on it lets them pay using their UPI-linked app or account, quick, secure, and familiar.

The integration of UPI with PayPal World was welcomed by Ritesh Shukla, MD and CEO of NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL). He said:

“The integration of UPI on PayPal World's platform will mark a significant step in expanding UPI's global footprint. It aligns with our vision to make cross-border payments more seamless, secure, and inclusive. This collaboration will enhance convenience for Indian users making payments abroad and enable global businesses and merchants to tap into a growing base of UPI users."

PayPal said the new platform is being built in collaboration with partners around the world. This includes companies that together represent nearly two billion users, such as:

  • Mercado Pago (Latin America – MOU signed, details underway)

  • Tenpay Global (which operates Weixin Pay in China)

  • Venmo (US)

  • NPCI International Payments Limited (India’s UPI)

The benefits of PayPal World are not limited to India. For example, a PayPal user visiting China can now pay at a local café that accepts Weixin Pay by simply scanning the code using the PayPal app.

Similarly, a Venmo user in the US can now send money to a friend in Germany by entering their phone number and selecting the PayPal wallet.

For Indian users, who are already comfortable with using UPI for everything from groceries to cab fares, this is a big step forward. With PayPal World, cross-border shopping and international money transfers are about to get a lot easier, faster, and more convenient.

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