Many Indian apps work abroad without any tricks — UPI included. Others check where your IP is from, and an Indian IP fixes them. And some problems, like SMS OTPs, no VPN can solve.
A practical guide for NRIs and Indians travelling, app by app.
Updated
Since 2023, NPCI lets NRIs use UPI with NRE/NRO accounts linked to an international mobile number in 10 countries: Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK. If your bank supports it, UPI works without a VPN. The usual blocker is the SIM: UPI needs your registered number to receive SMS.
Some banks add extra checks, block logins or restrict features when they see a foreign IP. An Indian IP avoids the location check, but OTPs still go to your registered mobile number — keep that SIM active (roaming or a cheap plan) or switch to app-based authentication if your bank offers it.
Some Indian government websites have been unreachable or unreliable from outside India at times. If a portal times out abroad, an Indian IP is the first thing to try. OTP-based logins still need your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
Indian streaming apps license shows and cricket per country, so the catalogue abroad is different or the app is unavailable. Some offer an international version — check that first. Streaming services may block VPN connections, so access through an Indian server isn’t guaranteed; follow each service’s terms.
IRCTC accepts international cards and registration with a foreign number, but some Indian sites show different prices, block foreign IPs or fail payment checks from abroad. An Indian IP can help with access; payment still depends on your card.
Which apps you can install depends on your Google Play or App Store country, not your IP. To get India-only apps you would need to change the store country, which has its own rules.
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