It has been made easy for everyone to make a transaction in current times; multiple payment methods are available for all, like credit cards, debit cards, pay later accounts, consumer credit, etc. All these facilities banks provide are not that much unilateral as every bank has its own rules and regulations, fees and limitations. The government of India introduced a new system to tackle this problem to unify all the payments made via an online method. This multinational financial service was introduced in the year 2012, and it is known as the RuPay payment method.

The RuPay cards have since been added to all major banking financial services and are one of the fastest and easiest-to-use payment methods. This was a joint operation of the National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI) and JCB to make this facility viable worldwide.

All these features make you wonder if it is only used for domestic transactions or if the Rupay card can be used for international transactions. Before diving into that, let's first learn about all the features of a RuPay debit/credit card and how it makes life simpler for everyone.

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RuPay Card and its Uses

A RuPay card allows users to make online and offline payments without hassle. The RuPay card offers all the features of a debit card, credit card and a UPI barcode in one. A RuPay card is linked to your bank account directly and you can make any kind of payments through it and also withdraw cash from an ATM registered for the specific bank.

Some uses of RuPay Card

1. Offline transactions: A RuPay card can be used as a normal credit/debit card by an eligible person who can pay by card swipe or WiFi chip at all major outlets worldwide.

2. Online transactions: A RuPay card can be used to make payments online at any major payment gateway; you just need to ensure that the online transaction method is switched on for the card.

3. ATM Withdrawal: As a RuPay card is directly linked to your bank account, you can easily withdraw money from any partner ATM, and there are no extra charges for such transactions.

4. Credit Transaction: This card also has all the features of a credit card so that you can make credit transactions through it. Any transactions made through a RuPay credit card will have a credit limit decrease for that month, and the payment for that transaction will automatically be deducted from the bank account in the next billing cycle.

In addition to the above features, a RuPay card is offered at a lifetime free offer from all major banks and financial institutions, which means there will be no annual fees or initial fees while applying for the card. These cards use NFC technology, which enables them to make contactless transactions with any WiFi enabled payment machines.

RuPay cards also offer privilege benefits like international lounge access at airports, disability insurance, accidental insurance, cashback schemes and various merchant offers. All this makes it the best card available currently for multi-functional usage.

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Eligibility Criteria for RuPay Card

Certain eligibility criteria need to be fulfilled, and some documents required for availing a RuPay card-

1. The first and foremost important eligibility criteria is that a person must have a bank account with the same bank from which they are applying for a RuPay card. If a person already has a bank account, it will be easier to apply for a card. Still, in case they do not have a bank account with that specific bank, it is advisable to either open a new bank account with the same bank or apply for a RuPay card with your existing bank account.

2. You must be a resident of India to be eligible for a RuPay card, as this facility is only available to Indian citizens now, and any person from a different nationality must have a valid visa for education or business purposes to apply for a RuPay card.

3. You must have a valid address proof, including a Rent agreement, Electricity bill, telephone bill, gas bill or an updated Adhaar card with your current address.

4. You need to have valid identity proof like an Adhaar card, PAN card or voter ID.

5. The limit of the RuPay card depends on the account balance, monthly income, credit score and financial history of the person at the time of credit card application.

Depending on the KYC method a Bank follows for providing a RuPay card, the bank might also ask for some passport photos and income proofs. To apply for a RuPay credit card, you can either apply at the bank by filling out a form or you can apply online at the Bank's website.

But still, there is an important question to be answered here: after all these interesting advantages and the eligibility criteria details, can Rupay be used internationally?

The answer to this is yes and no. This might confuse you but the truth is that a Rupay card has its advantages and limitations as well. A RuPay card is a Made in India product which is mainly made by the Indian Government keeping in mind the RBI's rules for unifying the payment system of India. Its main focus has always remained to be the single payment system in India. Still, it becomes difficult for people travelling abroad to make transactions if the card does not allow them to pay at their desired locations. But to say whether can RuPay cards be used for international transactions?, is accepted at some of the selected outlets that have a tie-up with the payment systems of India; otherwise, the foreign exchange or Forex systems are only active for some RuPay cards.

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Can RuPay card be used internationally?

The RuPay card can prove to be a useful payment tool when you are travelling outside to avoid the hassle of carrying a debit card, credit card and an ATM withdrawal card, but the problem with the idea is is not yet accepted by all the vendors around the world as a payment method as it is still not recognizable by some of the payment gateways. To tackle this problem, RuPay launched an international-specific JCB Global card in collaboration with JCB International Co. Ltd. in the year 2019, and this has helped people to make payments at some of the leading brands around the world.

After some time, the JCB network became so strong that many merchants and brands worldwide have now started accepting the RuPay card as a payment method. So, if someone thinks about can RuPay be used internationally? so the exact quote would be that RuPay Global is accepted at over 42.4 million POS locations and over 1.90 million ATM locations in almost about more than 200 countries from all around the world, which makes it a reliable partner in your international travels.

The RuPay card has collaborated with multiple payment cards such as - Discover, Diners Club International, JCB, Pulse and Union Pay to make the transaction process seamless worldwide. These tie-ups have helped RuPay card capture international markets and provide the best one-stop solution for all transaction needs. This is one of the only cards in the world that offers the facility for online/offline transactions, merchant transactions, ATM withdrawals and contactless POS payment.

Now that we have answered whether RuPay can be used for international transactions?, we can dive into how these cards work and which type of card i best for a user. Since the beginning, RuPay cards have been divided into different variants provided by all major banks. These three variants have different usages, different fee structures and different types of services provided. This was made diverse to cater for all kinds of customers who can earn maximum rewards and perks from their preferred card. Here are the three types of RuPay Cards-

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1. RuPay Classic Card: This is the basic variant of the RuPay card, which allows the users to make payments on a large network of merchants, online and offline and also allows them to withdraw money at any network ATMs. The best part about this card is that a person can earn a certain amount of exclusive merchant offers on every transaction and have a seamless payment experience.

2. RuPay Platinum Card: This variant is mainly used by people with a stable monthly income, paying monthly bills, and needing discounts on regular transactions. This card offers a wide range of discounts from different merchants worldwide; it provides a certain amount of cashback on every transaction made through the card, an easy online/offline payment system and a cash withdrawal facility.

3. RuPay Select Card: Some customers not only ask for a simple payment method and some cashback but also want some of the best elite experiences a card can offer. To cater to their needs, RuPay came up with the RuPay Select Card, which has all the features of Platinum and Classic cards and additional benefits of lifestyle-centric perks such as Golfing, Spas, wellness, airport lounges, etc. A customer with a RuPay Select Card can avail of all the advantages mentioned earlier, with huge discounts worldwide and even some free services along the way.

Conclusion

A RuPay Card is one of the best payment methods recently introduced. If used correctly, it can be a useful tool to make seamless transactions and avail a large number of discounts and services which can help save money along the way. Some might question whether the Rupay debit card can be used internationally. The answer has been revealed as yes. The card is in collaboration with multiple international brands to get it accepted as a payment method worldwide, and its reach is ever-expanding daily. However, at the same time as this is an Indian product and not an international one, it is still finding its buyers in some of the international markets.

FAQs

1: What are the benefits of having a RuPay Debit/Credit card?

There are multiple benefits of having a RuPay card as it combines the features of a traditional debit card, which can be used for cash withdrawal and POS online and offline payments and also the features of a perks-based card providing cashback on every transaction, multiple vendor discounts and premium services such as SPA, Gym and golf lessons.

2: Does all RuPay debit card provides international transaction feature? No, not all RuPay debit cards are international transaction enabled. To check whether your RuPay card is internationally accepted, please check the left-side corner of the card, and if it says International Card, then only your card will be accepted internationally; otherwise, the card is only a domestic use card. It is advisable to discuss the card type while applying for the same.

3: How can we apply for a RuPay Debit Card?

You can visit your nearest issuing bank and apply for a RuPay card, which will take a few days to be processed. RuPay card facility is now available at all major Banks and some of the RBI-registered financial institutions as well. Please check the type of card and its features before finalizing the variant.

4: What type of RuPay Card is available, and which should I choose?

It depends on the personal preference and needs of a customer; if a person is a regular spender and would like to earn cashback on their transactions, then they should go for the RuPay Platinum Card; if a person would like to access elite services such as lounges, SPA's, golfing lessons etc., they should got for RuPay Select card, and if a person is just a normal customer who would like to avail the benefit of easy transactions and simple cash withdrawal in one place then they can go for the Classic RuPay Card.

5: Can a RuPay card be used for International transactions?

Yes, the RuPay cards are international transactions enabled by default, and it is specific to every region whether the card can be sued their or not, so you must check with the issuer ank before trying to make an international transaction. The RuPay card has a tie-up with Discover, Diners Club, JCB, Union Pay and Pulse.