Which Countries Already Use Digital Wallets for Travelers?
Which Countries Already Use Digital Wallets for Travelers?
Which Countries Already Use Digital Wallets for Travelers?
Digital wallets are broadly accepted in many popular destinations. Here are key countries where travelers can pay with mobile or QR‑based wallets during their trip:
Asia & Asia‑Pacific
- China: Widespread acceptance of Alipay and WeChat Pay for transit, retail and tourist sites in major cities.
- India: Foreign visitors can now use UPI One World wallet at many merchants, airports, kiosks and hotels after KYC setup.
- Singapore: Accepts UPI (via integration with PayNow), Google Pay, Apple Pay, and SGQR-enabled QR payments.
- Japan: Travelers using iPhone (iOS 8+ or Watch Series 3+) can add Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA to Apple Wallet and ride transit or pay in stores, even offline via Express Mode.
- South Korea: Local apps like KakaoPay, Naver Pay, Toss, and Samsung Wallet integrate contactless NFC and QR payments; transit uses T‑Money or the Korea Tour Card, some digital integrations support Samsung Wallet devices
- Malaysia: Tourist-ready with DuitNow QR, Touch ’n Go eWallet and Apple Pay support at 280,000+ merchants.
- Vietnam: Part of ASEAN cross‑border QR payments system; increasing support for foreign wallets.
- Sri Lanka: LankaQR supports UPI and PhonePe for Indian tourists across ~350K+ merchants; quick expansion expected.
- Indonesia: QR‑code standard enabling international debit or credit cards.
Middle East & South Asia
- UAE & Bahrain: Accept RuPay and UPI from Indian visitors at major retailers like LuLu and Neopay terminals.
- Nepal & Bhutan: Accept UPI QR payments linked to Indian bank accounts.
- Mauritius & France: UPI QR accepted by Indian tourists at key locations, including Eiffel Tower and select retail outlets.
Europe & North America
- UK, Sweden, Austria, Monaco, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain: Strong adoption of Apple Pay and Google Pay, especially in urban/tourist areas.
- France: Indian tourists can use UPI QR codes at locations like Eiffel Tower and Galleries Lafayette.
- Other European destinations: Countries such as Finland, Romania, Portugal widely support digital payment options.
Americas & Africa
- Brazil & Mexico: High mobile wallet and QR adoption; Pix (Brazil) and OXXO/Boleto (Mexico) widely used by locals and tourists.
- South Africa: Growing adoption of digital wallets for everyday and tourism purchases.
- Kenya: Mobile‑money apps like M‑Pesa support payments for tour services and local merchants.
Why these countries stand out
- Tourist‑specific wallet services: India offers UPI One World for G20 visitors; Sri Lanka and UAE enable foreign UPI wallets.
- National QR standards: ASEAN QR interoperability links Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and more.
- Mainstream mobile wallets: Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported in dozens of countries, easing cross‑border NFC and QR payments.
Tips for using wallets abroad
- Check if your card issuer supports overseas transactions and enable travel mode on your device.
- Keep a backup payment option in case digital wallets aren’t accepted in rural or smaller merchants.
- Use region‑correct settings for Apple Pay/Google Pay to avoid compatibility issues.
Aside From Digital Wallets: Digital SIM Cards Improve Your Travel Experience
Digital SIM cards, also known as eSIMs, add a powerful layer of convenience for modern travellers. Having a reliable eSIM makes global digital payments smoother by keeping your phone online in every country. No SIM swaps needed and no hotel or airport Wi-Fi dependency.
Eskimo eSIM delivers standout features that support travel ease:
- Global coverage across 130+ countries, including hard-to-reach regions and emerging destinations.
- Longest data validity in the industry. Data plans remain valid for 2 years; leftover data rolls over when you buy a new plan.
- Instant activation, no physical SIM required. You install the eSIM via app or QR code in under two minutes.
- Unlimited speeds and hotspot sharing with no daily caps or throttling.
- Transferable data: you can share paid data with friends or family using just their mobile number.
- Risk-free trial: new users get 500 MB free data after signing up to test the service.
FAQs
Can digital wallets replace transit cards abroad?
Often yes. Many cities allow transit passes to be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet (e.g. Suica in Japan, Clipper or OMNY in US cities) and used with Express Mode even offline.
How to top up a digital wallet?
You can top up using linked credit or debit cards directly within the app or via auto top‑up features (e.g. Suica via Apple Wallet, FlashPay via NETS app).
What if my phone is lost what happen to digital wallet?
You can remotely disable or erase your wallet via services like Find My iPhone or Find My Device, which also removes access to stored cards.
Can someone else use my digital wallets?
No. Wallet access is protected by biometrics or passcode. Sharing your device or credentials, however, can expose your wallet.
Is digital wallet safe?
Yes. They use encryption, tokenization, and security features like 2FA. But user vigilance matters. Enable notifications, avoid phishing, and choose strong passwords.
