PhonePe Adds Visa Payments For International Transactions

PhonePe has expanded its payment capabilities for international users through a new partnership with Visa. The company has introduced support for cross border Scan to Pay, giving Indian travellers another way to make payments overseas without depending on a physical Visa card.

The new service was announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, where PhonePe and Visa outlined their plans to expand card based digital payments for Indian users travelling abroad. The partnership brings several Visa payment capabilities together within the PhonePe ecosystem.

With the new setup, users can add an eligible Visa card to PhonePe and use supported payment methods through their smartphone. This could make everyday payments more convenient for travellers who would otherwise need to carry and use a physical card.

Cross Border Scan To Pay

The biggest addition is Cross Border Scan to Pay, which allows eligible users to scan supported Visa QR codes while travelling internationally. Once the payment option is available for the merchant, users can complete the transaction through PhonePe.

The service is expected to support payments across 14 countries. The reported list includes Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, China and South Korea, among other destinations.

For Indian travellers, the feature could reduce the need to handle cash or repeatedly use a physical card for smaller purchases. However, availability can depend on the merchant, payment network and supported country.

Visa Card Can Be Added To PhonePe

The basic process is designed to be straightforward. Users first need to save an eligible Visa card in the PhonePe app. After that, supported payment options can be accessed through the phone rather than requiring the physical card for every transaction.

This means the same smartphone could be used for payments at participating stores, selected online checkouts and supported QR based transactions during international travel.

The feature does not mean that every international merchant will automatically accept PhonePe. Payment availability depends on the merchant and the supported Visa payment infrastructure in that location.

Tap To Pay For Android Users

PhonePe is also bringing Tap to Pay functionality for Android users. With a supported device and eligible Visa card, users can make contactless payments at compatible point of sale terminals by tapping their phone.

This gives users another way to pay at physical stores without taking out their card. The experience is similar to other contactless payment methods, with the smartphone acting as the payment device.

The feature is particularly useful for people who regularly make small contactless payments and prefer keeping their cards stored digitally.

Smart Accept For Merchants

Another feature highlighted in the partnership is Smart Accept. It is aimed at smaller merchants and can allow a smartphone to function as a payment acceptance device without requiring a traditional point of sale machine.

This could be useful for small businesses that want to accept digital card payments but may not want to invest in separate payment hardware.

By bringing card acceptance and card payment options closer to the smartphone, the service could make digital transactions more accessible for both customers and smaller merchants.

A Wider Digital Payment Push

PhonePe already has a large presence in India’s digital payments market, and its partnership with Visa takes its services further into card based transactions. The addition of international QR payments is particularly relevant as more Indian travellers look for convenient ways to pay abroad.

The company says the partnership is focused on making card payments more convenient through digital technology. Instead of relying entirely on a physical card, users can access supported Visa payment services from their smartphones.

For travellers, the main attraction will likely be the ability to scan compatible QR codes in supported countries. Tap to Pay provides another option at contactless terminals, while Smart Accept focuses on helping merchants receive payments.

PhonePe’s new Visa features therefore bring several payment methods under one digital platform. The actual experience will still depend on card eligibility, merchant support, country availability and the specific payment method being used.