UPI Payments in Uzbekistan Get Major Boost For Indians

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NIPL has signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s HUMO payment system operator for UPI merchant payments.
Indian travellers can use UPI apps to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR and make payments from Indian bank accounts.
The agreement expands UPI’s international presence and follows regulatory approvals from India and Uzbekistan.

New Delhi: India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is set to expand its merchant payment network in Uzbekistan after NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) signed a commercial agreement with the operator of the country’s HUMO payment system on August 30.

The agreement with National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC) will allow Indian travellers to use their UPI-enabled apps to scan Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code, UZQR, and make instant payments at participating merchants.

The agreement was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral visit to Uzbekistan. Its implementation follows approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU).

UPI Payments in Uzbekistan to Support Indian Travellers

Under the partnership, HUMO has been designated as NIPL’s authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance in Uzbekistan.

The integration with the Unified National QR infrastructure mandated by the Central Bank of Uzbekistan is expected to provide broad access to UPI-based payments across retail, hospitality and service businesses.

For Indian tourists and business travellers, this means payments can be made directly from their Indian bank accounts through their existing UPI applications.

The arrangement can also reduce dependence on international payment cards and physical cash while travelling in Uzbekistan. It is designed to make merchant payments more convenient for Indian visitors without requiring them to use a separate payment system.

How UPI Payments Will Work in Uzbekistan

Indian UPI users will be able to scan eligible UZQR codes at participating merchants using their regular UPI applications.

The payment is made from the user’s Indian bank account through UPI, allowing the transaction to take place digitally at the merchant’s point of sale.

The initiative also extends beyond tourism. Indian business travellers and students in Uzbekistan can use the cross-border payment facility for eligible merchant transactions.

The partnership is part of wider cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in digital public infrastructure and payments.

UPI Expands Its International Footprint

The Uzbekistan agreement comes as India continues to expand UPI-linked payment connectivity in other countries.

The Maldives recently announced the successful launch of integration between its Maldives Instant Payment System, Favara, and UPI. The service allows people in the Maldives to transfer money to beneficiaries in India in real time.

Under that arrangement, transactions are initiated in Maldivian Rufiyaa and credited to recipients in Indian Rupees through UPI.