VPA Full Form: UPI ID Meaning, Format, Create and Check Name

Written by India Customer Care editorial team Facts checked against official sources on 31 Oct 2026 Updated 31 Oct 2026

Independent guide. We are not part of RBI, NPCI or any bank, and we never ask for your account details, PIN or OTP.

VPA stands for Virtual Payment Address. It is your UPI ID, such as ramesh@sbi: a unique address linked to your bank account. People can pay you with it instead of your account number and IFSC. The part after @ is the handle of the bank or app that issued it. You need a UPI PIN only to pay, never to receive.

Full form: Virtual Payment Address
Also called: UPI ID
Format: name@handle (sample: ramesh@sbi)
Created in: Any UPI app, when you link your bank account
Safe to share?: Yes. It only lets people pay you
Never share: Your UPI PIN or OTP

What is a VPA or UPI ID?

A VPA is the address UPI uses to find your bank account. Think of it as an email address for money. You can pay or receive money with it instead of sharing your bank account details.

Format: a name or number you choose, then @, then a handle. SBI's examples are ramesh@sbi and 7051448888@oksbi.
The handle shows who issued it: each UPI app has its own handle. You can use the same name in different apps, but the handle is always different, such as name@sbi, name@upi or name@hdfc (SBI's examples).
Unique: no two people can have the same UPI ID. If the one you want is taken, you pick another.
Allowed characters (Axis Bank's rule): 4 to 20 letters or numbers. No special characters except a dot (.) and hyphen (-).

Simplified illustration. UPI IDs shown are samples.

UPI ID vs UPI number vs account number

A UPI number is an extra, digits-only address. You can create it only after you have a UPI ID. Axis Bank says it is mapped to your UPI ID inside NPCI's system. It can be your 10-digit mobile number, or an 8- or 9-digit number you choose.

	UPI ID (VPA)	UPI number	Account number + IFSC
Looks like	ramesh@sbi (sample)	Your mobile number, or 8–9 digits you choose	Account number plus an 11-character IFSC
Shows your account number?	No	No	Yes
Receiver must be on UPI?	Yes	Yes	No
How many?	Several, across apps (SBI's app allows up to 3)	Only one mobile number can be linked to a UPI ID at a time	One per account
Money goes to	The bank account linked to that ID or number		That account (credited by account number)

ICICI Bank says that if you remove a UPI number, you can reclaim it within 6 months.

How to create or change your UPI ID

There is no separate form. A UPI app creates your UPI ID when you register and link your bank account. Your mobile number must be registered with your bank, and you use that number's SIM.

Illustration based on SBI's published steps. Real apps look different; names and numbers are samples.

Find your UPI ID: it is on the profile screen of your UPI app, usually with your QR code.
Want a different one? Create an extra UPI ID in the app's profile section (SBI's app allows up to 3), then set the one you want as default or share it. You can also register in another UPI app and get an ID with that app's handle.
Stop using one: in SBI's BHIM SBI Pay app, use the De-Register option in the main menu. In other apps, look in the profile or settings section.

One UPI ID, several bank accounts

You can link more than one bank account, including accounts at other banks, to the same UPI ID. One account is the default: money paid to your UPI ID goes there. You can change the default at any time.

In BHIM SBI Pay: My Accounts → choose the account → Set as Default Account.
In ICICI Bank iMobile: UPI Payments → My UPI ID → choose the account → tick "Default send/receive".
You can also keep a separate UPI ID for each account.

Paying and receiving with a UPI ID

Share your UPI ID, UPI number or QR code (from your app's profile screen).
The payer enters it, checks your name and pays with their UPI PIN.
The money arrives in your default linked account. You enter nothing.

You never need your UPI PIN, OTP or to scan a QR code to receive money. If anyone asks for these "to send you money", it is a fraud.

You can also send a payment request (collect request) to someone's UPI ID. They must approve it with their UPI PIN before any money moves. At SBI and ICICI Bank, a person-to-person request is valid for 30 minutes by default.

Is it safe to share your UPI ID?

Yes. Your UPI ID lets people pay you without seeing your account number or IFSC. Keep in mind:

Anyone who enters your UPI ID and taps Verify sees your name as in your bank's records.
If you choose your mobile number as your UPI ID or UPI number, people who have it learn your number. Choose a name-based ID if you'd rather not.
A UPI ID alone cannot take money out of your account. Only your UPI PIN can approve a payment.

Sent money to the wrong UPI ID?

A UPI payment can't be cancelled once you enter your UPI PIN. Act quickly:

Contact your bank's customer care, or raise a complaint in your UPI app, with the 12-digit UPI transaction ID, date and amount.
If you know the receiver, ask them to send the money back. ICICI Bank suggests both steps.
If your bank doesn't resolve your complaint, escalate to the RBI Ombudsman.

Recovery depends on the receiver and is not guaranteed. For failed or pending payments, see UPI problems.

New phone, new SIM, lost phone or unused ID

Situation	What happens to your UPI ID (as stated by the bank)
New phone, same SIM	SBI: the app asks you to re-verify with your existing UPI PIN, and you keep your old UPI ID.
New mobile number	SBI: link the new number to your bank account first; you can keep the same app and UPI ID. If both phone and number change, update the number at your branch and register again with a new UPI ID.
Lost phone	SBI: block the SIM with your mobile operator, and disable UPI through SBI's contact centre or any branch. No payment can be made without your PIN.
Not used for 12 months	ICICI Bank: the UPI ID is deactivated and UPI credits to the linked account are blocked. Make one UPI payment with your PIN in its app to reactivate it.

Other banks and apps may have their own rules. Check your app's help section.

Collect-request and UPI ID scams

A collect request takes money out of your account. SBI says: never approve a collect request from an unknown person.
Entering your UPI PIN always means you are paying. No one needs your PIN to send you money.
Mark unknown requests as spam (SBI's and BHIM's apps offer Reject or Spam).
Before paying a new UPI ID, check the name shown. A business name or a different person's name is a warning sign.
Never share your UPI PIN or OTP, even with someone claiming to be from your bank.
Cheated? Call 1930 at once or report on cybercrime.gov.in, and tell your bank.

Where you use a UPI ID

Getting paid by people

Share your UPI ID or QR code to collect rent, fees or a share of a bill.

Shops and businesses

A shop's QR code holds its UPI ID. SBI customers can get an SBI UPI QR code through their branch.

Credit card bills

SBI Card's sample format: sbicard.<16-digit card number>@sbi, entered as the UPI ID to pay.

IPO applications

You give your UPI ID in the application; a mandate request arrives in your app to approve. Limit ₹5 lakh per application.

Money from Singapore

The UPI–PayNow link lets people send money to and from India using a UPI ID or mobile number.

History

11 Apr 2016
NPCI launches UPI. Payments can use a UPI ID (VPA) instead of an account number.
28 Mar 2023
The UPI–PayNow link with Singapore goes live. Money can be sent across borders using a UPI ID or mobile number.

FAQs

What is the full form of VPA?

Virtual Payment Address. It is another name for your UPI ID, such as name@bank.

Is VPA the same as UPI ID?

Yes. Banks and NPCI use both names for the same thing.

How do I find my UPI ID?

Open your UPI app and go to the profile screen. Your UPI ID and QR code are shown there.

Can I change my UPI ID?

You can create another UPI ID in your app (SBI's app allows up to 3) and use it instead, or register in another UPI app to get one with a different handle.

What is the difference between a UPI ID and a UPI number?

A UPI ID has the form name@handle. A UPI number has only digits: your mobile number or an 8- or 9-digit number you choose. Both send money to the bank account linked to them.

Can one UPI ID have several bank accounts?

Yes. Money paid to the UPI ID goes to the account you set as default, which you can change at any time.

Is it safe to give my UPI ID to others?

Yes. It only lets people pay you and does not show your account number. Never share your UPI PIN or OTP.

I paid the wrong UPI ID. Can I get the money back?

The payment can't be cancelled. Contact your bank and raise a complaint in the app with the transaction ID, and ask the receiver to return it. Recovery is not guaranteed.

Official sources

SBI – UPI FAQs (what a VPA is, creating up to 3 VPAs, default account, UPI number, changing phone or SIM, de-register, collect requests) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
Axis Bank – UPI FAQs (UPI ID characters, verify name, UPI number) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
ICICI Bank – UPI FAQs (UPI number, payments can't be cancelled, default account, collect requests) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
ICICI Bank – UPI for NRI (UPI ID inactive for 12 months is deactivated) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
NPCI BHIM – FAQs (VPA meaning, verifying the account holder's name, spam requests) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
PIB – UPI–PayNow linkage (28 Mar 2023) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
PIB – UPI completes 10 years (launch on 11 Apr 2016) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (accessed 31 Oct 2026)