How does the DBS PayNow to UPI service work for sending money from Singapore to India?
DBS PayNow to UPI links Singapore's PayNow network directly with India's UPI, letting you send money using only the recipient's UPI ID, with no IFSC or SWIFT codes needed. Transfers settle in seconds, run 24/7 with zero fees, and are capped at SGD 1,000 per day.
You can send money to India in seconds using just the recipient's UPI ID once you link PayNow to UPI inside the DBS digibank app. It skips IFSC codes, account numbers, and SWIFT details entirely, but it only works for smaller, personal transfers rather than large one-off sums.
Service Limits And Cost Structure
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Daily cap | Up to SGD 1,000 per day |
| Transfer fees | Zero, DBS waives standard fees |
| Exchange rate | Standard locked-in DBS retail FX rate |
| Availability | 24/7, including weekends and holidays |
| Above SGD 1,000 | Use DBS Remit to India instead |
How To Send A Transfer Step By Step
- Log in to your DBS digibank SG mobile app.
- Select Pay and Transfer, then choose the PayNow option for overseas UPI transfers.
- Choose India as the destination and select the PayNow-UPI method.
- Enter the recipient's UPI ID, such as name@sbi or mobile@icici.
- Confirm the auto-fetched recipient name, enter your amount, and review the live exchange rate before confirming.
My Advice
Before you try this for the first time, confirm your recipient's UPI ID is issued natively by one of the 19 participating Indian banks, such as SBI, ICICI, HDFC, or Axis, and not through a third-party handle. If you regularly send more than SGD 1,000, set up DBS Remit alongside PayNow so you are not stuck splitting a single transfer across several days.
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