The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA) and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) launched the second phase of the Bhutan-India cross-border QR payment interoperability project on 17th September, enabling Bhutanese users to make QR payments at merchant establishments in India directly through their domestic mobile banking applications. The initiative builds on the existing cross-border QR payment linkage between Bhutan and India and connects the RMA’s National QR Code payment system with NIPL’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). With the launch of the second phase, the Bhutan-India cross-border QR payment linkage now provides full reciprocity, marking another milestone in payment cooperation between the two countries.
Bhutanese travelling to India can now make digital payments at UPI-enabled merchants by scanning QR codes directly through their local mobile banking applications, following the launch of the second phase of the Bhutan-India cross-border QR payment linkage.
Bhutanese users making digital payments in India through the cross-border QR payment system will be subject to transaction limits. The maximum amount allowed per transaction is INR 10,000, while the daily limit is capped at INR 25,000. The annual limit for such payments is set at INR 50,000. These limits will apply to payments made through local mobile banking applications at UPI-enabled merchant QR codes in India.
All banks and financial institutions in Bhutan supporting UPI-enabled mobile payments will allow customers to make cross-border digital payments through their local mobile banking applications. The service is designed to make payments in India simpler, faster and more convenient for Bhutanese travellers. Users can scan UPI-enabled QR codes at participating merchants and make payments directly from their Bhutanese bank accounts without carrying cash or using a card. The service also provides a secure payment option, powered by the trusted UPI network, making cross-border payments quick and easy for users.
All participating financial institutions have urged Bhutanese users to follow the step-by-step instructions shared through their social media pages to enable international UPI payments. Once the service is enabled, users can simply scan UPI-enabled QR codes at participating merchants in India and make payments directly through their mobile banking applications.
The initiative is expected to strengthen economic cooperation between Bhutan and India, support tourism growth and further integrate the payment infrastructures of the two countries. The cross-border payment facility will also benefit small businesses, taxi operators and local vendors in India by enabling them to accept digital payments more easily. For Bhutanese travellers, the service allows quick and convenient payments for frequent, small-value purchases without the need for cash or cards.
