AI Summit 2026: Foreign visitors can use UPI in India via ‘UPI One World’ wallet—Rules, limits, refunds explained

Foreign visitors at the India AI Impact Summit can now use UPI in India with NPCI’s new ‘UPI One World’ wallet. In a move that highlights India’s growing influence in global digital payments, visitors from more than 40 countries can now make instant UPI-based purchases across the country without needing an Indian mobile number or a local bank account.

The pilot rollout, launched at Bharat Mandapam during the summit being held from February 16 to 20, is aimed at making everyday payments easier for inbound travellers while showcasing India’s digital public infrastructure to global policymakers, technology leaders and innovators.

What is ‘UPI One World’ and why does it matter?

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‘UPI One World’ is a prepaid wallet that lets foreign travellers use UPI for daily payments while in India. It allows foreign guests to access India’s Unified Payments Interface ecosystem - one of the world’s most widely used real-time payment networks without the usual barriers faced by overseas visitors.

NPCI said the initiative is meant to remove the dependence on cash, reduce the hassle of currency exchange, and offer tourists and delegates a smoother way to transact during their stay.

By extending the service during a high-profile global summit, NPCI is also positioning UPI as a scalable model for future cross-border payment systems.

How foreign visitors can use UPI in India without an Indian number?

Under the pilot programme, international delegates can activate the wallet through authorised prepaid payment instrument issuers at key access points, including New Delhi International Airport and the NPCI Pavilion at the summit venue.

Visitors can top up the wallet using international debit or credit cards and pay across India by scanning regular UPI QR codes. The service enables real-time Person-to-Merchant transactions, offering the same seamless payment experience that millions of Indians use daily.

Limits, regulations and wallet balance refunds

NPCI has placed transaction safeguards in line with foreign exchange regulations. The wallet can be loaded with up to Rs 25,000 per transaction, while the monthly cap is Rs 50,000.

Any unused balance at the end of the traveller’s visit can be transferred back to the original payment source, ensuring visitors are not left with stranded funds.

NPCI also noted that certain countries have been excluded from the pilot based on regulatory guidance.

NPCI calls it a step towards smoother cross-border payments

Sohini Rajola, Executive Director for Growth at NPCI, described the rollout as an opportunity for global guests to experience India’s digital innovation first-hand.

“UPI is the world’s largest real-time payment system. By extending the ‘UPI One World’ service to foreign guests at the India AI Impact Summit, we are providing a convenient way to experience India’s real-time payments ecosystem and Made in India technology,” she said.

Rajola added that the initiative offers a preview of how cross-border payment systems could evolve to support a more connected digital economy.

UPI’s massive scale adds weight to the pilot

The launch comes at a time when UPI continues to break records. UPI’s reach is already massive in January 2026 alone, it handled 21.70 billion transactions. By integrating the service into an international summit focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, NPCI is reinforcing India’s ambition to lead not only in AI discussions but also in digital finance innovation.

A cashless travel experience could soon become the norm

The service could make day-to-day spending much simpler for international travellers, allowing them to use UPI across India just like locals do. For NPCI, it is also a key move in pushing UPI as a model for future cross-border payment networks.