Swiss QR Code FAQ

Swiss QR Code (QR-Rechnung) is Switzerland's standardized payment QR code that replaced the old orange and red Einzahlungsscheine. It was introduced by SIX Group and became mandatory for all Swiss banks on September 30, 2022.

Swiss QR Code became mandatory for all Swiss banks on September 30, 2022. The old orange and red payment slips were discontinued on June 30, 2020.

These are the three reference types in Swiss QR Code: QRR (QR-Referenz) is a 27-digit number used for mass payments, SCOR (Creditor Reference) follows ISO 11649 for international use, and NON means no reference is used for simple transfers.

Yes, Swiss QR Code supports both CHF and EUR transactions, making it useful for cross-border payments between Switzerland and the eurozone.

The Zahlteil is the standardized payment slip that accompanies every Swiss QR Code invoice. It occupies the lower third of an A4 page and contains the QR code on the right and a smaller receipt section (Empfangsschein) on the left.

No. Swiss QR Code is used exclusively in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, while GiroCode is the SEPA standard for 36 European countries. They have different payload structures and are not interchangeable.

All Swiss banks are legally required to support Swiss QR Code since September 2022, including UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, all Kantonalbanken, Migros Bank, Cler, and Valiant.

The Swiss Cross (white cross on red background) must appear in the center of every Swiss QR Code. It identifies it as a Swiss payment QR code and distinguishes it from standard QR codes. No logos or other images may replace it.

No, BIC is not required for Swiss QR Code. The IBAN alone is sufficient to identify the recipient bank in Switzerland.

Swiss QR Code requires a Swiss IBAN starting with CH or a Liechtenstein IBAN starting with LI, both exactly 21 characters long.

Yes, the amount is optional in Swiss QR Code. Leaving it blank creates an open invoice where the payer enters the amount manually.

The Swiss QR Code must be at least 46mm × 46mm on printed documents. A quiet zone of at least 5mm must surround the code.

No. Swiss QR Code specifications strictly require only the Swiss Cross in the center. Unlike GiroCode, no logos are permitted.

Swiss QR Code uses a specific EMV-based payload format defined by SIX Group, contains structured payment data (IBAN, amount, reference), and always has the Swiss Cross in the center. A normal QR code has no standardized payment structure.

Open your Swiss banking app and use the QR scan feature. All major Swiss banking apps (PostFinance, UBS, Raiffeisen, BEKB etc.) support Swiss QR Code scanning directly.

Yes. Swiss QR Code is processed entirely on the device – no payment data is sent to external servers when generating. The actual payment is authorized through your bank's secure authentication process.

Swiss QR Code is designed for payments to Swiss (CH) and Liechtenstein (LI) IBANs only. For international SEPA payments, use GiroCode instead.

Swiss QR Code uses error correction level M, which allows up to 15% of the code to be damaged or obscured while still being readable. Always ensure the Swiss Cross area is clean and undamaged.

The additional message (Mitteilung) in Swiss QR Code can contain up to 140 characters. The reference field supports up to 27 digits for QRR or up to 25 characters for SCOR references.

Yes, Swiss QR Code invoices can be sent digitally as PDF. The QR code is scannable from both printed and digital formats on screen.

The Empfangsschein is the small receipt section on the left side of the Zahlteil. It contains the same payment information in human-readable form and is meant to be kept by the recipient as confirmation.

qrpayhub.com will offer a REST API for Swiss QR Code generation as part of the API plan (coming soon), allowing integration into invoicing software, ERPs and accounting systems.

The Zahlteil requires Liberation Sans (or a metrically equivalent font) at a minimum of 8pt for regular text and 11pt for headings. Only black text on white background is permitted.

Yes. Many Swiss businesses send PDF invoices containing the Zahlteil section digitally. Banking apps can scan the QR code directly from a phone or computer screen.

The Swiss QR Code (QR-Rechnung) with its Zahlteil replaced both the orange Einzahlungsschein (ESR, with reference) and the red Einzahlungsschein (ES, without reference) on June 30, 2020.