August 21, 2025 | 12:16 pm
THE Quick Response Indonesian Standard (QRIS), a payment system which utilized QR codes, can now be used in Japan, coinciding with the 80th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia on Sunday, August 17, 2025. This program is the result of collaboration between Bank Indonesia, the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan, the Payment Japan Association (PJA), Netstars, and several financial institutions.
With this move, Japan becomes the first country outside of ASEAN to accept QRIS payments, following its previous implementation in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In the initial stage, Indonesian citizens can transact at 35 merchants in Japan simply by scanning JPQR Global through a domestic payment application.
Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo mentioned that the use of QRIS in Japan is a significant milestone in the history of the national payment system. 'Since its launch six years ago, QRIS has become a game changer for the digital payment ecosystem and has strengthened Indonesia's economic sovereignty, which now has reached 57 million users,' he said.
In addition to Japan, Bank Indonesia has also started testing the interconnection of QRIS with China together with the People's Bank of China (PBoC). If the plan goes well, full implementation will be carried out after all technical phases are completed. This connectivity is expected to facilitate cross-border trade transactions, support MSMEs, and boost tourism between the two countries. The trial process involves ASPI, UnionPay International (UPI), and several national payment system providers.
List of Countries That Can Use QRIS Payment System
To date, QRIS can be used in the following countries:
- Indonesia (August 2019).
- Thailand (August 2022).
- Malaysia (May 2023).
- Singapore (November 2023).
- Japan (August 17, 2025).
Furthermore, during a press conference at the Board of Governors Meeting of Bank Indonesia on April 23, 2025, BI Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta affirmed that the use of cross-border QRIS will continue to expand. The next list of planned collaboration countries includes:
- China.
- India.
- South Korea.
- Saudi Arabia.
Regarding this expansion plan, BI has signed a memorandum of understanding with India in July 2022 and with the central bank of South Korea in July 2024. Since then, ASPI has also entered into technical agreements with the Korea Financial Telecommunication and Clearing Institute to test the QR-based payment system. 'From the inter-authority aspect in central banks, we have already done this. Currently, it has reached the industry level, between ASPI and the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute,' said Filianingsih.
With Saudi Arabia, BI has engaged in intensive discussions with the Monetary Authority and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The digital payment program via QRIS is expected to facilitate Indonesian pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah. 'Hopefully, by the end of this month, we will have intensive discussions with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah from Saudi Arabia,' she said.
Melynda Dwi Puspita and Antara contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor's Choice: List of Countries Supporting Indonesia's QRIS Payments
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