QR payments
Can You Pay Any QR Code from Your Banking App?
No. Your banking app can pay a QR code only when it supports the payment service behind that code. Being able to read a QR image does not mean the app can process its payment.
Before confirming anything, check that the app recognises the payment request and shows the recipient you intend to pay.
QR codes can contain different information
A QR code may open a website, show information or start a payment request.
That means two codes with a similar appearance can produce very different results. One might open a restaurant menu. Another might contain payment information intended for a compatible banking or wallet app.
EMVCo’s QR guidance distinguishes general-purpose QR codes from payment formats that require an app capable of processing their payment information.
Reading the image is one step. Completing a supported payment is another.
What determines whether your app will work?
Compatibility depends on the service behind the code and the functions available in your app.
For a merchant-displayed payment QR, check:
- Which payment service issued the code.
- Which customer apps the merchant accepts.
- Whether your app has the relevant payment-scanning function.
- Whether scanning produces a valid payment review screen.
A standardised QR format can support interoperability, but you should still verify that the particular service and app work together.
Do not assume that every app with a scanner supports every payment code.
Use the scanning method the provider specifies
Some payment codes should be scanned inside a banking or payment app. Others open a supported web checkout.
Follow the merchant’s and provider’s instructions. If a normal phone camera only displays text or an unfamiliar link, do not try to turn those results into a payment yourself.
Ask the merchant which app or payment method to use.
For GoTap QR payments, scan through GoTap and follow its payment prompts.
What if your banking app cannot pay the code?
Ask the merchant for another supported option.
That might mean using the required payment app or making a bank transfer to receiving details confirmed by the merchant.
If you make a transfer, check the account name, amount and any fee before authorising it. Tell the merchant which order the payment covers.
If you already authorised an attempt and its result is unclear, investigate that attempt before switching methods. An error or lost connection does not establish that no money moved.
Can a banking app pay a GoTap QR?
GoTap’s current instructions require both the payer and recipient to use GoTap for a GoTap QR payment. Do not assume a banking app can complete it.
The customer scans with GoTap, checks the recipient and amount, and authorises the payment. The merchant then checks the completed incoming payment in their own account.
Do you need NFC to scan a payment QR?
QR scanning uses a camera. NFC is a different technology.
In GoTap, QR payments are separate from phone-to-phone Tap, which requires supported Android devices. Keep an internet connection available when making a GoTap payment.
Does a successful scan mean the merchant has been paid?
No. A scan can identify a recipient or prepare payment details without completing a payment.
The customer must follow the required authorisation steps. The merchant should confirm the completed incoming payment in their own receiving account.
Use a compatible payment method, check the details and establish the result before trying again.