In a significant leap for cross-border digital payments, Indian users can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make international purchases via PayPal, thanks to the launch of a new global platform—PayPal World.
PayPal announced that PayPal World will serve as a bridge between major global payment systems and digital wallets. As part of its initial rollout, the platform will enable interoperability between PayPal, Venmo, and India’s UPI, allowing Indian consumers to shop with international merchants and pay using the familiar UPI interface.
For instance, an Indian shopper buying sneakers from a U.S.-based online store will now see a UPI payment option after selecting PayPal at checkout. This new feature will let them complete the transaction using their existing UPI account, mirroring the simplicity of domestic payments.
Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International Payments Limited, welcomed the move:
“Integrating UPI into the PayPal World platform marks a major milestone in taking UPI global. It supports our mission to make cross-border payments more seamless, inclusive, and secure. This collaboration opens up opportunities for global merchants to tap into India’s massive UPI user base.”
The global integration effort also involves partners representing nearly 2 billion users worldwide, including Mercado Pago, NPCI International (UPI), PayPal, Tenpay Global, and Venmo.
The platform’s reach is not limited to India. For example:
A PayPal user visiting China can now pay at a local café accepting Weixin Pay by scanning a code via their PayPal app.
A Venmo user in the U.S. can send money to a friend in Germany by simply entering the recipient’s phone number and choosing the PayPal wallet.
This development marks a transformative step for digital finance, especially for Indian users who have come to rely on UPI for their daily transactions. With PayPal World, shopping and sending money across borders will now be faster, simpler, and more accessible than ever before.