Getnet, a payment solutions provider in Latin America and Iberia belonging to the Santander Group, and UnionPay International (UPI), have signed a strategic agreement to expand the acceptance of UnionPay cards in Spain and Portugal. This reinforces both firms’ commitment to delivering a more inclusive payment experience across in-store retail, e-commerce and transportation.
This latest partnership consolidates cooperation between Getnet and UPI with various retailers in Spain and Portugal, and “sets the path to accelerate acceptance at online and offline points of sale.”
It will also explore the use of UnionPay QR code payments, “a method widely popular among Chinese users.”
Furthermore, the agreement promotes “sustainable urban and regional mobility, such as buses, metros, and short-leg trains.”
In an environment where Chinese tourism to the Iberian Peninsula is growing by over 15% each year, the aim is to reduce friction “for international travellers and tourists, increase conversion rates, and provide a consistent payment experience across in-store, online, and transport.”
Getnet contributes large-scale deployment capabilities and “a global technology platform.”
During the initial 9 months of this current year, Getnet recorded a 15% year on year increase in transaction volume and 8% growth in the “number of transactions, underscoring its execution capabilities in payments.”
Globally, it ranks among the “top 10 acquirers.”
UPI operates one of the world’s acceptance networks. and UnionPay cards can be “used in 183 countries and regions.”
Outside the Chinese mainland, over 200 million UnionPay cards have been issued in 83 countries and regions, “driving cross-border usage and tourism spending.”
Leveraging operational infrastructure, this latest agreement will now reportedly enable the acceptance of UnionPay cards “at the turnstiles and ticket readers from transit operators in Spain throughout 2026.” This includes trains, buses, metro, bike or parking across “autonomous regions, covering over 50% of the country’s public transport system.”
Rubén Justel, CEO of Getnet Europe, said that this alliance with UnionPay International deepens a “collaboration in Iberian large retailers and extends it into the mobility sector, where payment speed, security, and interoperability are essential.”
With their scale and technological capabilities, they are now going to further extend acceptance and improve the user experience in stores, online and transit.”
James Yang, Executive Vice President of UnionPay International Europe Region, said that Spain and Portugal are considered to be key markets for their network.
Yang added that with Getnet as their acquirer partner, they will accelerate UnionPay acceptance in “high volume segments, such as retail, tourism and transportation, ensuring a smooth payment experience for our cardholders.”
This agreement expands the UnionPay acceptance “coverage at critical consumption points, and facilitates payments for international travelers and residents.”
Benefits for Merchants, Operators and Customers are said to be:
- Increased sales and higher international conversion: Acceptance of UnionPay to capture spending from tourists and international residents.
- Consistent, Omni channel Experience: Contactless in turnstiles and ticket readers, in store POS terminals and ecommerce, with centralized settlement and support.
- Reducing payment friction for occasional users and first- or last-mile transport.
The plan now reportedly envisions phased pilots as well as deployment in 2026 in “high-traffic environments (transport networks and flagship retailers), with Omni channel support (POS, e-commerce and UnionPay wallets) and value-added services.”