Visa has announced a new initiative to enable seamless cross-border QR code payments across Asia Pacific. The company is partnering with leading QR payment providers in the region, including Lakala in Mainland China, Touch ‘n Go Digital in Malaysia, FOMO Pay in Singapore, LINE Pay in Taiwan, and VNPay and Zalopay in Vietnam. Through these collaborations, Visa aims to allow consumers to use their preferred digital wallets to scan and pay at merchant QR codes, both in their home countries and while traveling abroad.
The pilot program will first launch in Singapore before expanding to other countries in the region. T.R. Ramachandran, Senior Vice President and Head of Products and Solutions for Visa Asia Pacific, said, “This expansion is a breakthrough in the Asia Pacific payments ecosystem. Travelers accustomed to using QR payments locally can now enjoy that same convenience abroad.
Visa’s cross-border QR payments initiative
Visa is dedicated to enhancing user experience across various geographies and QR platforms, making international payments as seamless and secure as possible.
The initiative comes as QR payments are rapidly gaining popularity in Asia. According to Visa’s Consumer Payment Attitudes Study, 26% of Southeast Asian consumers prefer QR payments through digital wallets, following traditional card payments at 34%.
Visa’s partnerships leverage Juspay’s payment technology to provide QR payment providers with technical support, ensuring smooth and consistent user experiences across the different platforms. The program is expected to benefit merchants by lowering transaction costs and simplifying operations. Small and medium-sized businesses, in particular, stand to gain from increased reach, as they can now serve both local and international customers using QR payment systems.
As global travel and international commerce continue to evolve, Visa’s initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to payment accessibility. By broadening QR payment options, Visa aims to foster greater financial inclusion and facilitate more connected experiences for travelers across Asia Pacific.
