Jakarta, INTI – Coinciding with Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebration, Bank Indonesia (BI) has given a special gift to the nation. Starting Sunday, 17, August, 2025 the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) digital payment service is now officially available in Japan. This marks the first expansion outside the ASEAN region, following earlier connections with Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Seamless Transactions in Japan
In the initial phase, Indonesians can use QRIS at 35 merchants in Japan by scanning the JPQR Global code through domestic payment applications. The number of participating merchants will continue to expand, making transactions easier for Indonesian tourists and business players in Japan.
The implementation will also work the other way around. Japanese consumers will soon be able to make payments in Indonesia simply by scanning QRIS with their local payment apps.
Collaboration Between Bank Indonesia and ASPI
This expansion is the result of collaboration between Bank Indonesia and the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI). BI Governor Perry Warjiyo described this milestone as a new chapter in the national payment system.
“Since its launch six years ago, QRIS has been a game changer for the digital payment ecosystem and a driver of Indonesia’s economic sovereignty, now reaching 57 million users,” said Perry.
Heading Toward Expansion in China
Beyond Japan, BI is also conducting pilot testing for QRIS interconnection with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC). The initiative involves ASPI, UnionPay International (UPI), and payment system providers from both countries. Once implemented, the connectivity is expected to simplify cross-border trade, strengthen SMEs, and boost the tourism sector.
Positive Results from Cross-Border QRIS
As of June 2025, cross-border QRIS implementation has already shown promising results. Since its launch, QRIS transactions with Thailand have reached 994,890, with Malaysia 4.31 million, and with Singapore 238,216.
These achievements demonstrate QRIS’s potential to strengthen the cross-border digital payment ecosystem while deepening Indonesia’s economic ties with international partners.
Conclusion
The launch of QRIS in Japan is not only a gift for Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day but also a significant milestone in the country’s digital payment transformation. With expansion to more countries ahead, QRIS is expected to facilitate international trade, support SMEs, and simplify daily transactions in the digital era.
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