Google Pay Can’t Send Money Abroad — Karbon Can.
Use Karbon for outward remittance that’s fast, fully documented, and always at the real exchange rate.
Google Pay has transformed how millions of Indians pay, earn, and share money every day.
With just a smartphone and a linked bank account, you can split dinner bills, pay utility bills, or send money to family anywhere in India in seconds.
- But is it as easy for international transactions as it is for domestic ones?
- Can you send your child studying abroad their tuition fee or rent through Google Pay?
- What if your parents live in India — can they receive your support money through GPay if you’re working abroad?
- If you’re a freelancer or exporter with overseas clients, can Google Pay handle your international payments without risk?
Let’s clear the confusion.
Can You Use Google Pay to Send Money Abroad from India?
The short answer is no. If you live in India and have an Indian Google Pay account linked to your Indian bank account, you cannot use the app to send money abroad directly.
India’s banking rules do not allow UPI apps to handle outward remittances directly. The only way Indians can legally send money abroad is through RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), which lets you remit up to USD 250,000 per year for personal or education expenses, gifts, or investments.
You can use licensed outward remittance services like your bank’s wire transfer facility, or modern providers like Karbon, but not directly through your Indian Google Pay app.
Can Indians Receive Money from Abroad Through Google Pay?
This is where Google Pay does help.
Indians can receive money from abroad using Google Pay only if the sender is in the United States and uses the US version of Google Pay.
This means:
- The money does not move through Google Pay’s own payment rails internationally.
- Instead, the US sender uses Google Pay to trigger a Western Union remittance or another remittance platform, which is then deposited directly to your Indian bank account linked to your Google Pay.
- Google Pay is just the front-end. The licensed remittance partner does the actual transfer.
Paying Abroad Using Google Pay
If you are travelling or shopping online in another country, you can use your Google Pay app to pay for things just like you do in India.
You must add a debit or credit card that is enabled for international transactions.
This is what you can do:
- Tap or scan Google Pay at stores overseas that accept contactless payments.
- Use Google Pay at foreign websites or apps that accept Google Pay checkout.
So, this feature has nothing to do with receiving or sending money. It’s just your card being used through the Google Pay app instead of swiping it directly.
Countries where you can pay using GPay:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Japan
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Vietnam
- Several European countries
How Does Google Pay International Transfer Work? (For Receiving Payment)
If your family member or friend in the US wants to send you money to India through Google Pay, they can do it in a few steps.
Here’s what the sender needs to do:
- Open Google Pay on their phone.
- Choose your contact from their list.
- Tap Pay.
- Select Western Union or Wise as the transfer partner.
- Enter the amount and payment details.
- Confirm and send.
What Are the Transfer Limits for Google Pay International Transfers?
Google Pay has transfer limits, which depend on whether the sender has verified their identity and account. These are the typical weekly limits for US users sending money abroad.
7-Day Rolling Limits (in USD)
When someone in the United States wants to send money to India using Google Pay, there are clear limits on how much they can send. These limits are controlled by Google Pay on the sender’s side, not yours.
Here’s what they mean:
- Verified US users can send up to $5,000 total every 7 days to family or friends abroad, including to India.
- Non-verified US users can only send up to $500 total every 7 days until they complete full identity checks.
- Each single transfer can’t be more than $2,000, even for verified senders.
A US user can hold up to $25,000 in their Google Pay wallet at any time, but that’s just their stored balance for payments (not directly related to remittances).
Are There Any Fees for Receiving Money Through Google Pay?
Google Pay itself does not charge you anything to receive money from abroad.
The main costs happen on the sender’s side, depending on which partner they choose.
- Wise charges the sender a clear upfront fee and uses the real mid-market exchange rate. There is no hidden currency markup.
- Western Union may advertise “zero transfer fee” but often makes money by giving a weaker exchange rate, so the sender loses out on conversion.
For the receiver:
Most Indian banks do not charge a fee for inward remittance if the money comes through a regulated platform like Western Union. The full converted amount usually lands in your bank account as rupees.
However, there are a few practical points to watch:
- Some banks deduct a small inward SWIFT charge for processing if it comes as a wire (rare for Western Union but possible if routed via partner banks).
Refunds and Failed Transfers
If a payment fails or is cancelled, the remittance partner will automatically return the money to the sender’s original payment method.
Western Union refunds take up to 7 business days depending on the sender’s bank and payment method.
Western Union has published refund policies:
“If your transfer is not collected or completed, the money will be refunded to your original payment method. Depending on the method, this may take 5–7 business days.”
How can I check the status of a refund?
Google shows the status of the payment in the app, but the actual resolution is handled by the licensed payment platform. This is why Google’s help articles tell users to contact the transfer partner for updates or failed payments.
Challenges of Using Google Pay to Receive Money from Abroad
Only Works from the US
Right now, only senders in the United States can send money to India through Google Pay’s Wise or Western Union integration.
If your clients, family, or friends live in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada or elsewhere, they cannot use their local Google Pay app to send you money directly.
Always Settled in INR, No Dollar Hold
Google Pay India does not offer a way to hold or manage balances in foreign currencies.
For example, if you receive USD or EUR, the money is automatically converted and settled to your Indian bank account in INR.
You can’t choose to hold dollars for later conversion when rates are better — unlike a dedicated multi-currency account with Wise or PayPal.
Lacks Business Payment Features
Google Pay does not generate invoices, payment links, or export-compliant receipts.
If you’re a freelancer or exporter, you still need a proper system for raising invoices, tracking GST if applicable, and maintaining foreign inward remittance certificates (FIRCs) for tax purposes.
Google Pay does not help you with these documents, which banks or regulators may ask for during audits.
Limited Support for Large or Regular Transfers
Google Pay’s inward flow depends entirely on Wise or Western Union’s limits and compliance checks.
For larger amounts or regular payments, your bank may ask for additional proof.
If the google pay international transfer volume grows, relying only on personal inward remittance channels may not satisfy RBI requirements for business payments.
No Seller Protection or Dispute Resolution
If you are a freelancer and the client claims a chargeback or error, Google Pay does not handle disputes.
With Karbon or PayPal, you at least get a formal dispute process, logs, and account statements you can use to prove delivery of work.
Can’t Split or Park Your Earnings
Some platforms allow you to route your foreign earnings to different accounts, split into multiple currencies, or park them for later use.
With Google Pay’s flow, the money is deposited directly to your one linked Indian account only — no flexibility.
FAQs On Google Pay and International Transfers
Can I send money from India to the US using Google Pay?
No, you cannot send money from India abroad directly using Google Pay.
Can I receive money from any country through Google Pay?
No, currently only from supported countries like the US. The sender’s Google Pay must support international transfers.
Do I need to pay tax if I receive money through Google Pay?
Gifts from family members are tax-free. Gifts from non-relatives above INR 50,000 in a year are taxable. Always check with your tax advisor.
How long does it take to receive money?
Western Union can take a few hours up to four business days, depending on payment method and bank processing times.
Can I recharge an international number from Google Pay?
No, you cannot recharge or top up an international mobile number using Google Pay India. Google Pay only supports mobile recharges for Indian telecom operators.
Can we receive international payments on Google Wallet?
No, Google Wallet (which replaced the old Google Pay app in some countries) does not directly handle international money transfers to India.
Can I receive international payments through Paytm?
No, Paytm does not offer a direct service for receiving international payments into your Indian Paytm account. If you need to receive money from abroad, you’ll have to use a proper inward remittance method like a wire transfer to your bank, or a service like Karbon, Paypal etc.
Written by
Swati Saraf
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