QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) is now officially accepted in Japan. The launch coincided with the commemoration of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day on August 17, 2025.

This marks the first expansion of QRIS beyond the ASEAN region, following previous implementations in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

In this initial stage, Indonesian users can make payments in Japan at 35 merchant locations by scanning the JPQR Global code using domestic payment applications.

The initiative is the result of collaboration between Bank Indonesia and the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), aimed at increasing transaction convenience and strengthening economic ties between Indonesia and Japan.

35 Japanese Merchants Now Accept QRIS

The number of merchants in Japan accepting QRIS will continue to increase, allowing more Indonesian users to conduct transactions more easily while traveling.

In the future, the implementation will also extend to merchants in Indonesia, enabling Japanese users to scan QRIS codes using their own country’s payment applications.

Bank Indonesia Highlights Milestone in Payment Innovation

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo stated that this launch marks a historic step in Indonesia's national payment system.

“Since it was launched six years ago, QRIS has become a game changer for the digital payment ecosystem and a pillar of Indonesia’s economic sovereignty, now serving 57 million users.”

He added that ongoing QRIS feature development continues to expand acceptance and support digital economic and financial inclusion.

The introduction of cross-border QRIS is one such innovation, reflecting the commitment of Bank Indonesia and the payment system industry to strengthen global digital payment networks.

QRIS Records Strong Regional Performance

Cross-border QRIS implementation has already shown notable results. Since its launch with Thailand in August 2022, the initiative recorded 994,890 transactions worth Rp437.54 billion.

With Malaysia, QRIS transactions have reached 4.31 million, with a total value of Rp1.15 trillion since May 2023.

The partnership with Singapore, launched on November 17, 2023, recorded 238,216 transactions amounting to Rp77.06 billion.

Supported by International Payment Institutions

The Indonesia-Japan QRIS collaboration involved multiple authorities, including Bank Indonesia, ASPI, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan, the Payment Japan Association (PJA), Netstars, and participating financial institutions.

At the same time, Bank Indonesia and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) have begun testing the interoperability of QRIS between Indonesia and China.

The trial involves ASPI, UnionPay International (UPI), and payment service providers.

The expansion to China aims to support international trade and tourism, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

PHOTO: VULCAN POST

This article was created with AI assistance.