What it is
Since 2022, NPCI has allowed RuPay credit cards to be added to UPI apps. You scan a merchant's QR code, pick your credit card instead of your bank account, and enter your UPI PIN. The amount goes on your card statement like any other card spend, with the same interest-free period.
As of late 2026, only RuPay credit cards work this way. Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards can't be linked to UPI.
What you can and can't pay
- Allowed: payments to merchants, whether a shop QR code, an online checkout or a bill.
- Not allowed: sending money to a person (P2P), paying another card, or "merchant" QR codes that are really personal accounts. NPCI's rules block these.
- Limits: the UPI ceiling is ₹1 lakh per transaction, and banks can set lower limits for credit-card UPI.
Rewards: read your card's terms
Issuers decide what UPI spends earn. Some pay full rewards, some pay a lower rate, and some exclude certain merchant categories. The card's MITC or reward terms will say. Our reviews flag UPI rules where the issuer publishes them, for example on the IRCTC HDFC and Shoppers Stop HDFC cards, which come in RuPay versions.
Set it up
- Open your UPI app and choose the option to add a RuPay credit card.
- Select your card's bank. The app finds the card linked to your registered mobile number.
- Set a UPI PIN using the card's last six digits and expiry date, and confirm with the OTP from your bank.
Questions people ask
Is a UPI payment from a credit card charged extra?
Not to you as the payer under NPCI's rules. Merchants pay the acceptance cost, and NPCI exempted small payments of up to ₹2,000 at small merchants from that charge when the service launched.
Can I withdraw cash or send money to a friend with it?
No. Person-to-person transfers and card-to-card payments are blocked for credit cards on UPI.