How Swiss QR Code Works
Complete guide: history, Zahlteil, reference types, payload structure and best practices.
What is Swiss QR Code?
Swiss QR Code — officially known as the QR-Rechnung (QR invoice) — is Switzerland's national standard for electronic payments. It was developed by SIX Group, the central infrastructure provider of the Swiss financial center, as the direct successor to the orange ESR (Einzahlungsschein mit Referenz) and the red ES (Einzahlungsschein) payment slips that had been in use for decades.
The Swiss QR Code is a standard QR code (ISO/IEC 18004) with a strictly defined text payload. When a payer scans the code with their Swiss banking app, all payment fields — IBAN, amount, currency, reference and recipient name — are filled in automatically. The payer simply reviews and confirms the transfer.
Unlike GiroCode (the European SEPA standard), Swiss QR Code is used exclusively in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and is deeply integrated into the Swiss invoicing ecosystem. For official invoices, SIX specifications require the QR code to be placed on a standardized payment slip called the Zahlteil.
The code supports two currencies (CHF and EUR), three reference types (QRR, SCOR, NON) and is compatible with every Swiss and Liechtenstein IBAN (prefix CH or LI, 21 characters).
History: From Einzahlungsschein to QR-Rechnung
The transition from paper-based payment slips to the Swiss QR Code took place over several years. Here is the key timeline:
- 1
Until 2020
Orange ESR + Red ES
Switzerland used two types of payment slips for decades: the orange ESR (Einzahlungsschein mit Referenz), which supported a 27-digit reference number for automated processing, and the red ES (Einzahlungsschein) for simple transfers without reference.
- 2
2018
SIX Group announces Swiss QR Code
SIX Group announced the Swiss QR Code (QR-Rechnung) as the official replacement for both payment slip formats. The specification was developed in collaboration with Swiss banks and financial institutions.
- 3
30 June 2020
Old payment slips discontinued
Both the orange ESR and the red ES were officially discontinued. From this date, no new payment slips of these types could be issued. Swiss QR Code became the only permitted standard for new QR-based invoices.
- 4
2020 – 2022
Transition phase
During the transition period, banks gradually rolled out Swiss QR Code support. Many businesses updated their invoicing software and processes to comply with the new standard.
- 5
30 September 2022
Swiss QR Code mandatory for all banks
Swiss QR Code became legally mandatory for all Swiss banks. Every bank in Switzerland must accept and process Swiss QR Code payments. Old payment slips from before 2020 that were still in circulation could no longer be processed.
The Three Reference Types Explained
Every Swiss QR Code must specify one of three reference types. The correct choice depends on your use case: mass invoice processing, international compatibility or a simple ad-hoc transfer.
| Type | Code | Format | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR-Referenz | QRR | 27 digits (Modulo-10 check) | Mass payments, invoices, memberships |
| Creditor Reference | SCOR | RF + 2 check digits + up to 21 chars | International transfers, ISO 11649 |
| Ohne Referenz | NON | (empty) | Simple bank transfers |
QRR is the most common type in Switzerland. It uses a 27-digit number with a Modulo-10 recursive check digit, enabling automated reconciliation in accounting systems — the same principle as the former ESR reference. SCORfollows the international ISO 11649 Creditor Reference standard, starting with RF followed by two check digits and up to 21 alphanumeric characters. NON is used when no reference is needed, for example in personal transfers or when only an additional message (Mitteilung) is provided.
The Swiss QR Payload – Technical Structure
The Swiss QR Code payload is plain UTF-8 text, with each field on its own line. The structure is strictly defined by the SIX Group specification and must be followed exactly. Here is a complete example for a NON reference payment of CHF 100.00:
SPC 0200 1 CH5604835012345678009 K Max Mustermann GmbH Musterstrasse 1 8001 Zürich CH (7 empty lines – Ultimate Creditor reserved) 100.00 CHF K (6 empty lines – Debtor optional) NON EPD
| Line | Content | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPC | Header – always "SPC" (Swiss Payments Code) |
| 2 | 0200 | Version – always "0200" |
| 3 | 1 | Coding type – 1 = UTF-8 |
| 4 | CH5604835012345678009 | Creditor IBAN – CH or LI, 21 characters |
| 5 | K | Creditor address type – K = combined address |
| 6 | Max Mustermann GmbH | Creditor name – max 70 characters |
| 7 | Musterstrasse 1 | Creditor address line 1 |
| 8 | 8001 Zürich | Creditor address line 2 (postcode + city) |
| 9 | (empty) | Creditor address line 3 (unused for type K) |
| 10 | (empty) | Creditor address line 4 (unused for type K) |
| 11 | CH | Creditor country – ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 |
| 12–18 | (7 empty lines) | Ultimate creditor – reserved, always empty |
| 19 | 100.00 | Amount – decimal with dot, or empty |
| 20 | CHF | Currency – CHF or EUR |
| 21 | K | Debtor address type (or empty) |
| 22–27 | (6 empty lines) | Debtor fields – name, address, country (or empty) |
| 28 | NON | Reference type – QRR, SCOR or NON |
| 29 | (empty) | Reference – 27 digits for QRR, RF… for SCOR |
| 30 | (empty) | Additional information (Mitteilung) – max 140 chars |
| 31 | EPD | Trailer – always "EPD" (End Payment Data) |
| 32 | (empty) | Alternative procedure – optional, rarely used |
The Zahlteil – Switzerland's Payment Slip
For official Swiss invoices, the Swiss QR Code must be embedded in a standardized payment slip called the Zahlteil. This occupies the lower third of an A4 page and is one of the most distinctive aspects of the Swiss QR Code standard.
The Zahlteil consists of two parts separated by a vertical dashed line with a scissors symbol:
- 🧾
Empfangsschein (left section)
The Empfangsschein is the smaller receipt section (approx. 62 mm wide). It contains the payment information in human-readable form: payable to (Zugunsten von), amount, currency, payable by (Zahlbar durch) and an "Empfangsschein" label. It is detached and kept by the payer as a confirmation after payment.
- 📱
Zahlteil with QR Code (right section)
The main Zahlteil section (approx. 148 mm wide) contains the Swiss QR Code (minimum 46 mm × 46 mm) on the right side and the payment details in text form on the left. It includes the payable to section, amount/currency, additional information and reference.
- ✂️
Separation line
A dashed line with a scissors symbol runs vertically between the Empfangsschein and the Zahlteil. The Zahlteil is separated from the invoice body by a horizontal dashed line at the top.
Technical specifications for the Zahlteil:
- •QR Code minimum size: 46 mm × 46 mm
- •Quiet zone around QR Code: minimum 5 mm on all sides
- •Swiss Cross in the center: mandatory, 7 mm × 7 mm
- •Font: Liberation Sans or metrically equivalent (e.g. Arial)
- •Minimum font size: 8 pt for body text, 11 pt for section headings
- •Text color: black only (not grey or colored)
- •Background: white only
- •Total Zahlteil height: 105 mm (lower third of A4)
Supported Banks
Since September 30, 2022, all Swiss banks are legally required to support Swiss QR Code. This includes large universal banks, cantonal banks, regional banks, Raiffeisen cooperatives and neobanks. There are no exceptions — every bank operating in Switzerland must accept and process Swiss QR Code payments.
All major Swiss banking apps — PostFinance App, UBS Mobile Banking, Raiffeisen E-Banking, ZKB Mobile Banking, Migros Bank App, and many others — support scanning Swiss QR Codes directly from the transfer screen.
Swiss QR vs GiroCode – Side by Side
Swiss QR Code and GiroCode are both payment QR standards, but they serve different regions and have distinct technical structures. They are not interchangeable.
| Feature | 🇨🇭 Swiss QR | 🇪🇺 GiroCode |
|---|---|---|
| Region | CH + LI only | 36 SEPA countries |
| Currency | CHF, EUR | EUR (mainly) |
| Zahlteil | Mandatory for invoices | Not required |
| Reference types | QRR, SCOR, NON | Structured / Unstructured |
| Swiss Cross | Yes – mandatory | No |
| Standard org | SIX Group | European Payments Council (EPC) |
| Since | 2020 | 2016 |
| IBAN | CH / LI only | All SEPA countries |
| BIC required | No | No (since v002) |
| Amount optional | Yes | Yes |
When to use which: Use Swiss QR Code for any invoice or payment destined for a Swiss (CH) or Liechtenstein (LI) bank account. Use GiroCode for SEPA payments across the 36 European countries — including Switzerland when the recipient bank account is in a SEPA country other than Switzerland.
Best Practices
- 📐Minimum QR code size: 46 mm × 46 mm on printed documents.
- ⬜Quiet zone: at least 5 mm of white space on all four sides.
- 🇨🇭Swiss Cross: mandatory in the center, only black and white – never replace with a logo.
- 🔤Font: Liberation Sans or metrically equivalent, minimum 8 pt body text, 11 pt headings.
- 🖨️Print quality: minimum 300 DPI; avoid JPEG – use PNG or SVG to prevent compression artefacts.
- ✅Always test: scan with at least two Swiss banking apps before mass distribution.
- 📄Digital invoices: the Zahlteil can be included in PDF; QR codes are scannable from screens.
- 🔒Privacy: generation happens client-side – no payment data leaves the device.