Nepal’s digital payments landscape continues to evolve, and eSewa is now enabling an even more seamless experience for international travelers visiting the country.
Through a new collaboration with Fonepay & UnionPay International (UPI), eSewa Business QR merchants across Nepal can now accept cross-border QR payments from UnionPay-enabled wallets and the UnionPay App.
With this integration, international visitors can simply scan eSewa Business QR and pay at over 5 lakh+ merchants nationwide, making everyday transactions in Nepal more convenient, secure, and cashless.
This milestone further strengthens Nepal’s digital payments ecosystem and enhances the experience for both merchants and global travelers.
Expanding Cross-Border Digital Payments in Nepal
eSewa Business QR has already been at the forefront of simplifying digital payments for millions of users and merchants across Nepal. With the addition of UnionPay International support, its reach now extends further to international visitors from China and other regions where UnionPay is widely used.
Previously, Tourists from Indian, China, Singapore and many others Asian & European travelers visiting Nepal could already make seamless payments at eSewa Business QR merchants using UPI & Alipay+ enabled wallets through the partnership between Fonepay and NPCI & Alipay.
Whether shopping at local stores, dining at restaurants, booking hotels, or accessing travel services, international visitors can now pay directly using their familiar home-country wallets simply by scanning an eSewa Business QR.
Key highlights of this expansion:
- Payments enabled across 5 lakh+ eSewa Business QR merchants nationwide.
- Seamless, secure, and cashless payment experience for international travelers.
- Reduced need for cash handling or currency exchange while traveling.
- Ability to use trusted home-country payment apps and wallets.
- Instant payments accepted at hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and travel service providers.
- Stronger global interoperability through UnionPay-enabled QR payments.
Empowering Merchants Across Nepal
For Nepali merchants, eSewa Business QR continues to deliver even greater value with this global expansion. With a single eSewa Business QR, merchants can now:
- Accept payments from UnionPay-enabled international wallets alongside domestic wallets.
- Serve international customers seamlessly across hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and travel services.
- Continue receiving settlements directly into their existing linked eSewa wallet or bank account.
- Use one QR code for all transactions, simplifying day-to-day operations.
- Expand customer reach to international travelers visiting Nepal.
- Increase sales opportunities through greater tourist spending enabled by digital convenience.
- Enhance business credibility through association with a globally recognized payment network like UnionPay.
Supporting Nepal’s Digital Economy and Tourism Growth
This strategic collaboration is designed to support Nepal’s rapidly growing tourism and digital economy by:
- Offering international visitors a convenient and secure digital payment solution across Nepal.
- Helping Nepali businesses connect with global customers without additional hardware or systems.
- Promoting interoperability between domestic and international payment networks.
- Strengthening Nepal’s position as a digitally connected economy.
- Encouraging financial inclusion through seamless cross-border payment experiences.
- Supporting tourism, trade, and economic growth through modern payment infrastructure.
This initiative reflects Fonepay’s ongoing commitment to innovation, interoperability, and building a more connected digital future for Nepal.
About UnionPay International (UPI)
Founded on 26 March 2002, UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on expanding and supporting UnionPay’s global business operations.
As of 2024, UnionPay has issued more than 9.6 billion cards globally across over 75 countries and regions, making it one of the world’s largest payment card organizations.
UnionPay payment services are accepted in more than 180 countries and regions. A minimal fee of 2% per transaction applies to merchants on payments received and supports multiple payment methods, including:
- Card payments
- QR payments
- NFC/contactless payments
- In-app payments
With a strong presence in China and expanding operations across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, UnionPay continues to play a significant role in enabling global digital payments and cross-border financial connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do existing eSewa Business QR codes need to be replaced?
No. Existing eSewa Business QR codes under the Fonepay network are already enabled to accept UnionPay QR payments. Merchants can continue using their current QR standees without any additional setup.
2. Are all merchants automatically enabled under this program?
Yes. By default, all eSewa Business QR merchants under the Fonepay QR Scheme are enabled to accept UnionPay cross-border QR payments.
3. Are there any transaction charges for accepting UnionPay payments?
A minimal fee of 2% per transaction applies to merchants on payments received through UnionPay enabled wallets and UnionPay App. Charges may be revised in the future. Domestic payments through eSewa QR remain completely free of charge.
4. Do merchants need additional devices or infrastructure?
No. Merchants can accept UnionPay payments using their existing eSewa Business QR standees and current merchant setup.
5. How can merchants opt out of accepting cross-border QR payments?
Merchants can opt out by notifying eSewa via email. The opt-out option will also gradually become available through the Merchant Panel and Fonepay Business App.
6. Where can UnionPay users make payments in Nepal?
UnionPay users can make QR payments at more than 5 lakh+ eSewa Business QR merchants across Nepal, including:
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Retail stores
- Travel services
- And many other businesses nationwide
A Step Towards a More Connected Nepal
The collaboration between Fonepay and UnionPay International is more than just a payment integration - it represents another important milestone in Nepal’s journey toward a smarter, more connected, and cashless economy.
By enabling international QR payments through eSewa Business QR, Nepal is making digital transactions easier for travelers while empowering local merchants to participate in the global digital economy.
For more information, contact us at:
📞 Toll-Free: 1810-50-00131
📧 merchant.operation@esewa.com.np
