Indian travellers visiting the Seychelles may soon be able to make payments using UPI, following a new agreement signed between India and the island nation. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India, and the Central Bank of Seychelles. The agreement was among nine bilateral pacts signed during PM Modi’s visit, covering areas such as defence, maritime security, healthcare and climate cooperation.
What UPI in Seychelles Will Mean for Indian Travellers
Once the system is implemented, Indian visitors will be able to pay at participating merchants in Seychelles by simply scanning QR codes through any UPI-enabled app linked to their Indian bank accounts.
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The experience will be similar to what Indian travellers currently enjoy in countries such as Singapore, the UAE, Mauritius, Bhutan and France, where UPI acceptance is already available at selected locations.
Transactions will be processed in real time, with funds debited directly from users’ bank accounts in India. This could reduce the need for carrying large amounts of cash or exchanging currency for eligible purchases.
A Boost for Seychelles’ Tourism Economy
Tourism remains one of the most important contributors to Seychelles’ economy, and India has emerged as a growing source market for visitors. The introduction of QR-based UPI payments could make spending easier for Indian tourists while giving local businesses access to a familiar and widely used payment method. Merchants that adopt UPI-compatible QR terminals would be able to accept cashless payments directly from Indian customers.
How UPI Is Expanding Globally
Since 2021, NPCI International has steadily expanded UPI’s footprint beyond India. The payments platform is currently operational in several international markets, including Singapore, the UAE, Mauritius, Bhutan, Nepal, Oman and France. Limited merchant acceptance is also available in Qatar.
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Seychelles is expected to join this list after technical integration and deployment are completed. Based on previous international rollouts, implementation could take anywhere from several months to over a year.
Part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Push
The Seychelles agreement is also part of India’s broader effort to export its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework, commonly known as India Stack. As of February 2026, India had signed agreements with 23 countries to collaborate on digital platforms covering payments, digital identity, data exchange, and public service delivery.
Several countries are already moving ahead with implementation. Sri Lanka is deploying both UPI and DigiLocker with technical support from India. Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean nation to adopt UPI, while Guyana has announced plans to introduce a similar system. In Africa, Kenya became the first country to adopt a DigiLocker-based framework.
Rollout Details Yet to Be Announced
While the MoU marks the formal beginning of the project, key operational details are still being worked out. The agreement does not specify which banks, payment service providers, or merchant networks in the Seychelles will participate in the rollout. It also does not provide a timeline for deployment or QR code availability.
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These aspects will be finalised during the technical integration process between NPCI International Payments Limited and the Central Bank of Seychelles before the service is launched commercially.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future. She has also conducted high-profile interviews and podcasts with industry leaders, bringing sharp analysis and accessible storytelling to a wide audience.
