QR code payment methods

For financial management in India, travellers balance two methods: 1) Carrying physical USD (often preferred for extreme reliability and emergency situations). 2) Using UPI-based services like Cheq for day-to-day spending. Cheq allows direct conversion of RUB to INR. Users must pay via Business QR codes (personal merchant accounts often reject foreign-linked payments). Always verify the QR code is registered to the business entity, not the individual staff member.

India's UPI system is widely accessible to tourists for business payments (p2b). Users scan the merchant's QR code and manually input the transaction amount. Note that peer-to-peer (p2p) transfers are generally restricted for tourists. International non-Russian cards are typically required to link with UPI payment apps.

Distinguishing between business and personal QR codes in India for payment purposes, especially when using the Cheq app, can be tricky. Visually, there's no guaranteed way to tell them apart. The most reliable method is to attempt a payment via Cheq; if it's a personal QR code, Cheq will block the transaction with an error message. Merchants might offer personal QR codes unaware of the restriction imposed by specific apps like Cheq. Indian payment apps such as PayTm or PhonePe do not differentiate between business and personal QR codes for transactions. Merchants may present personal QR codes to evade taxes. It is recommended to request a business QR code. If unsuccessful, one might consider alternatives or finding a vendor who clearly displays or uses a business QR code.

To pay with Russian bank cards (Sberbank, VTB) in India using QR codes, the Cheq app by Sberbank is recommended. The app needs to be activated with an agent in India and can be topped up via Sberbank. It generally works for most payments, but specifically requires 'business QR' codes. Personal QR codes are often rejected. Merchants may attempt to use personal QR codes to avoid taxes. It is advisable to politely request a 'business QR' code. If a merchant insists on a personal QR code and Cheq rejects it, one may need to find another vendor or try to negotiate. Other Indian payment apps like PayTm or PhonePe do not distinguish between business and personal QR codes for payments, unlike Cheq.

In India, the regulator has banned UPI ID request payments for fraud prevention. Consequently, many major vendors now support only 1-3 UPI apps (e.g., GPay, Amazon Pay). Flipkart, however, has updated its system to accept payments from any UPI application. This impacts payment options for users.

Digital payments via UPI QR codes are widely prevalent across India, accepted in most shops, hotels, and businesses, even small kiosks. However, cash is still essential for transactions with street vendors, in very small establishments, for informal services (e.g., parking with a private individual), or when negotiating cash discounts with businesses like hotels (due to tax implications for the vendor). Some hotels may even prefer or exclusively accept digital payments. It is advisable to carry both cash and have access to digital payment methods for comprehensive payment options.