Cross-border QR and UPI payments let people make and receive digital payments between Nepal and neighbouring markets — most notably the Nepal–India QR/UPI interoperability arrangement — by scanning a merchant QR code with a supported wallet or bank app. These systems are enabled through official arrangements involving Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), licensed payment operators in Nepal, and their counterparts abroad. This guide explains how cross-border QR/UPI works for Nepali users, the transaction limits and fees you should expect, and the safety rules that keep your money and data secure. Because limits and fees are set by regulators and providers and change often, always confirm the current figures with your own bank/wallet and NRB.
Quick answer
The short version, and it is not what most articles say. Cross-border QR works in one direction with India, and the direction most Nepalis want is still closed.
- Indian visitors CAN pay at Nepali shops by scanning a Fonepay merchant QR — live since 1 March 2024.
- Nepalis still CANNOT scan and pay at Indian shops. As of the latest available reporting (May 2026), this has slipped repeatedly and is not live.
- Sending money person-to-person is live since 9 June 2026 — but with an important asymmetry explained below.
- Sri Lanka is the exception. Since May 2026 Nepali travellers can scan and pay at Sri Lankan merchants through the connectIPS app.
Limits, fees and eligibility differ by direction and by which of the two separate systems you are using. The sections below separate them.
What actually works today — and what does not
Updated 12 August 2026. There are two separate systems connecting Nepal and India, run by different operators for different purposes. Almost every confusing article about this topic mixes them up.
| What you want to do | Status | Runs on |
|---|---|---|
| Indian visitor pays a Nepali shop by QR | Live since 1 Mar 2024 | Fonepay ↔ NPCI International |
| Nepali pays an Indian shop by QR | Not live | — |
| Send money to Nepal (person to person) | Live since 9 Jun 2026 | NCHL ↔ NPCI International |
| Send money from Nepal to India | Live, but only for Indian nationals in Nepal | NCHL ↔ NPCI International |
| Nepali pays a Sri Lankan shop by QR | Live since May 2026 | NCHL ↔ LankaQR, via connectIPS |
Why Nepalis still cannot scan and pay in India
This has been promised, and missed, repeatedly — targets slipped from December 2024 to early 2025 to a pilot in May 2025, and Nepali media were still reporting it as unavailable in May 2026, two years after the inbound direction went live.
The hold-up is commercial, not regulatory. Nepal Rastra Bank granted permission for outbound merchant payments on 28 June 2024. The sticking point is who pays the merchant fee: Nepali merchants pay a fee on inbound Indian QR payments, while UPI has been free for merchants and users in India since 2020. Nobody has settled who absorbs that cost in the other direction.
Neelesh Man Singh Pradhan, CEO of Nepal Clearing House Ltd (NCHL), said in a recent podcast interview that he expects it “within six months”. Treat that as his forecast, not an announcement — the same expectation has been expressed before and not met. Until it launches, plan your India trip around cash or a card.
Sending money: live, but check who is allowed
On 9 June 2026, NCHL and NPCI International launched real-time person-to-person remittance between the two countries, connecting India’s UPI with Nepal’s National Payments Interface. In NCHL’s own words, Indian and Nepalese users can send money to Nepal using the receiver’s mobile number or virtual payment address, while Indian users can transfer funds to India from Nepal using UPI IDs.
Read that carefully, because it is the opposite of what most people assume: the outbound leg is for Indian nationals in Nepal, not for Nepali citizens sending money out. Nepal’s foreign-exchange rules govern that, not the payment rail.
It went live through selected banks rather than all of them. At launch, media reported send-and-receive capability at Everest, Global IME, Machhapuchchhre, Nabil and Nepal SBI, with Himalayan, NMB and Siddhartha receive-only. Check your own bank before relying on it.
Reported limits (from media coverage rather than a circular we could read first-hand, so confirm in your app): India to Nepal INR 200,000 with no monthly cap; Nepal to India INR 15,000 and INR 100,000 per month, with a service charge of about INR 150 per transaction. Sources disagree on whether the larger figures are per transaction or per day, so we are not stating which.
NRB’s separate merchant-payment permission of 28 June 2024 covers India and Bhutan at Rs 15,000 per day and Rs 100,000 per month, opened for goods and services only.
Two rails, two operators — do not mix them up
The inbound merchant QR runs on Fonepay. The person-to-person remittance runs on NCHL. They are different companies on different rails, launched two years apart. And NEPALPAY QR is Nepal’s domestic scheme — it is not the rail Indian visitors use here. Headlines announcing that “Nepal–India UPI is live” in June 2026 were about remittance, not about scanning at shops.
One more limit on the inbound side, straight from Fonepay: it works with merchant QR codes only. An Indian visitor cannot pay into a Nepali individual’s personal bank QR.
Table of contents
- What is cross-border QR/UPI payment?
- How it works for Nepali users
- Who regulates it
- Transaction limits
- Fees and currency conversion
- Step-by-step: making a cross-border QR payment
- Troubleshooting failed cross-border payments
- Safety rules
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Security warning
- Frequently asked questions
What is cross-border QR/UPI payment?
Cross-border QR/UPI payment is an interoperable system that lets a payment initiated in one country be settled to a merchant in another. For Nepali users travelling to or trading with India, it means you can scan a merchant’s QR code and pay directly from your Nepali bank account or wallet, with the amount converted and settled through the official inter-country payment linkage. It removes the need to carry cash or use a card abroad for eligible merchant payments.
How it works for Nepali users
- You use a supported Nepali bank app or licensed wallet that is enabled for cross-border QR/UPI.
- You scan the interoperable merchant QR code.
- The amount is shown (with any conversion applied) and you authorise it with your PIN/authentication.
- The transaction is routed through the official cross-border linkage and settled to the merchant.
- You receive a confirmation and the debit reflects in your account.
Watch: UPI Payments Between Nepal and India
What actually works today when you try to pay by QR across the border — and what still does not.
From the Digital Solution YouTube channel — subscribe for more step-by-step guides.
Who regulates it
In Nepal, digital payments and payment service providers are regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Cross-border arrangements involve NRB, licensed Nepali payment operators, and the corresponding authority and operator in the partner country. Only use apps and wallets that are officially licensed and enabled for cross-border payments — verify eligibility in your app or on your provider’s official channels.
Transaction limits
Cross-border QR/UPI transactions are subject to per-transaction and daily limits set by the regulator and your provider, and these limits can differ by wallet, bank and the direction of payment. Because the exact figures are revised from time to time, we are not quoting a specific rupee limit here — check the current limit inside your app or with your bank/wallet before you pay.
Fees and currency conversion
Depending on your provider and the transaction, cross-border payments may involve service fees and a currency-conversion rate applied at the time of the transaction. Always review the amount and any fee shown on screen before confirming. Since fee structures and conversion rates change, confirm the current charges with your provider rather than relying on older figures.
| Item | What to check before paying |
|---|---|
| Per-transaction limit | Current maximum per payment (verify in app) |
| Daily limit | Total allowed per day (verify in app) |
| Service fee | Any fee shown before you confirm |
| Conversion rate | The rate applied to the amount shown |
| Eligibility | Whether your app/wallet supports cross-border QR |
Step-by-step: making a cross-border QR payment
- Confirm your bank/wallet app supports cross-border QR/UPI and is updated.
- Open the scan-and-pay feature in the app.
- Scan the merchant’s interoperable QR code.
- Check the amount, any fee and the conversion shown.
- Authorise with your PIN/biometric only if the details are correct.
- Save or screenshot the confirmation and transaction reference.
Troubleshooting failed cross-border payments
If a cross-border payment is debited but does not complete, it is usually reversed automatically after reconciliation. If it is not, follow the same complaint route as any failed digital payment: keep the transaction reference and evidence, contact your bank/wallet’s official support, and escalate to Nepal Rastra Bank’s grievance portal if needed.
Safety rules
- Only scan QR codes at legitimate merchants; be wary of tampered or stuck-on QR stickers.
- Always verify the payee name and amount on screen before authorising.
- Never approve a “collect”/request-money prompt to receive money — receiving money never requires your PIN.
- Use only official, updated bank/wallet apps downloaded from official app stores.
- Keep your transaction confirmation until you are sure the payment succeeded.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming any QR works abroad — only interoperable, supported QRs do.
- Entering your PIN to “receive” money (a classic scam).
- Ignoring the conversion rate/fee shown before confirming.
- Retrying a payment multiple times before checking if it reversed.
- Using unofficial or modified apps.
Security warning
⚠️ To receive money you never need to enter your PIN or approve a payment request — anyone telling you otherwise is trying to make you pay them. Never share OTPs, PINs or card details, and never scan a QR or approve a request sent by a stranger. If a QR sticker looks tampered with or the on-screen payee does not match the shop, stop and do not pay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Nepali wallet to pay by QR in India?
If your bank or wallet is officially enabled for cross-border QR/UPI, you can scan supported interoperable merchant QRs. Check eligibility inside your app or with your provider.
Who regulates cross-border QR payments in Nepal?
Nepal Rastra Bank regulates payments and payment service providers in Nepal. Cross-border arrangements involve NRB, licensed Nepali operators and the partner-country authority.
What are the transaction limits?
Per-transaction and daily limits are set by the regulator and your provider and can change. Verify the current limits in your app or with your bank/wallet.
Are there fees for cross-border QR/UPI payments?
There may be service fees and a currency-conversion rate. Always review the amount and any fee shown on screen before confirming, and check current charges with your provider.
Which apps support cross-border QR/UPI?
Only officially licensed and enabled Nepali bank apps and wallets support it. Confirm support in your app or on your provider’s official channels.
What if the payment fails but I was charged?
It is usually reversed automatically after reconciliation. If not, keep your evidence, contact your provider’s support, and escalate to NRB’s grievance portal if unresolved.
Do I need my PIN to receive money?
No. Receiving money never requires your PIN or approval of a payment request. Anyone asking for this is attempting a scam.
Is it safe to scan any QR code?
No. Only scan QR codes at legitimate merchants, watch for tampered stickers, and always verify the payee and amount before paying.
What currency is the amount shown in?
The app typically shows the amount with the applicable conversion at the time of the transaction. Review it carefully before confirming.
Where can I complain about a cross-border payment issue?
Start with your bank/wallet’s official support, then escalate to Nepal Rastra Bank’s Financial Consumer Protection grievance portal if it is not resolved.
Conclusion
Cross-border QR and UPI payments make paying abroad simpler and safer than carrying cash — but only when you use an officially enabled app, check the amount, fee and conversion before confirming, and follow basic scan-and-pay safety. Remember that limits and fees are set by the regulator and your provider and change over time, so verify the current figures each time. And never enter your PIN to “receive” money.
Need help understanding digital payments?
At Digital Solution Pvt. Ltd. (Pokhara-17, Birauta, Kaski), we help people understand digital payment tools and use them safely. We can explain how these systems work and point you to official resources — but we are not a bank, wallet or regulator, and we cannot enable services, set limits, or resolve transactions on your behalf. Message us on WhatsApp at +977 9705433699.
Disclaimer: Digital Solution Pvt. Ltd. is an independent private company. We are not Nepal Rastra Bank, any bank, wallet or payment operator. Transaction limits, fees, conversion rates and eligibility are set by regulators and providers and change over time. Always verify the current terms directly in your app, with your provider, and on the official Nepal Rastra Bank website before transacting.
Official references
- Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) — www.nrb.org.np (payments regulation)
- Your licensed bank or wallet’s official app and support channels
Last updated: July 2026.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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