Starting with 35 merchants, Indonesia’s digital payment system strengthens bilateral ties and boosts cross-border transactions

Indonesia’s QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) has officially gone live in Japan from August 17, 2025, marking its first expansion outside the ASEAN region and opening new opportunities for seamless digital transactions abroad.

A Landmark Expansion to Japan

Coinciding with Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebrations, QRIS is now operational in 35 Japanese merchants under the JPQR Global system. Indonesian users can simply scan using domestic mobile banking apps or digital wallets, while future integration will allow Japanese users to pay in Indonesia via their own local apps.

The initiative is the result of collaboration between Bank Indonesia (BI), the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Payment Japan Association (PJA), operator Netstars, and other financial partners.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo described the launch as a historic milestone for Indonesia’s payment system. “Since its debut six years ago, QRIS has become a game changer for digital payments and strengthened Indonesia’s economic sovereignty. Today, QRIS has reached 57 million users,” Perry said.

The expansion reflects broader goals of enhancing convenience for travelers, promoting tourism, and deepening Indonesia–Japan economic cooperation.

Preparing for China Integration

Beyond Japan, BI and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) have begun testing QRIS interconnection with China’s digital payment system. If successful, it would streamline trade, tourism, and MSME transactions, supported by UnionPay International (UPI) and other service providers.

Proven Success Across ASEAN

QRIS cross-border implementation has already delivered strong results across Southeast Asia:

• Indonesia–Thailand: 994,890 transactions worth Rp437.54 billion since August 2022
• Indonesia–Malaysia: 4.31 million transactions worth Rp1.15 trillion since May 2023
• Indonesia–Singapore: 238,216 transactions worth Rp77.06 billion

The Japan launch is expected to further boost transaction volumes, positioning QRIS as a model for regional financial integration.

The introduction of QRIS in Japan underscores Indonesia’s determination to advance its digital payment ecosystem on the global stage. By connecting with Japan—and soon China—Indonesia not only simplifies payments for millions of travelers but also strengthens economic resilience, empowering businesses and MSMEs while tightening regional financial ties.

Sources: CNA (2025) , RRI (2025)

Keywords: QRIS Japan, QRIS Cross Border, Bank Indonesia, Digital Payment, Indonesia Japan Economy, Perry Warjiyo