Bank Indonesia continues to expand the use of cross-border QRIS to make digital payments between Indonesia and China easier. After being connected with Alipay and UnionPay, QRIS is now being targeted for integration with WeChat Pay, one of China’s largest digital payment platforms.
This move is part of Bank Indonesia’s broader effort to strengthen cross-border payment connectivity. With cross-border QRIS, users from Indonesia and China can make transactions by simply scanning a QR code through a connected payment application. Bank Indonesia describes QRIS as a payment standard designed to make QR code transactions faster, easier, cheaper, safer, and more reliable.
For travelers, business owners, and foreign residents, this development could make daily transactions between the two countries more practical.
QRIS Is Already Connected with China
The implementation of QRIS between Indonesia and China has continued to develop in 2026. At the moment, QRIS transactions with China already support Alipay and UnionPay, while the integration with WeChat Pay is still under technical development and adjustment.
This connectivity allows Indonesians in China to make payments using domestic applications that support QRIS. At the same time, Chinese visitors in Indonesia can pay at QRIS-supported merchants using their preferred payment platforms.
According to the article, during the sandboxing period with the People’s Bank of China, QRIS recorded 1.64 million inbound transactions worth around Rp556 billion, or approximately US$32.1 million. Inbound transactions refer to payments made by Chinese users in Indonesia, while outbound transactions refer to payments made by Indonesian users in China.
Why WeChat Pay Matters
WeChat Pay is an important target because it is one of the most widely used digital payment platforms in China. Alongside Alipay, it plays a major role in China’s cashless payment ecosystem.
If QRIS successfully connects with WeChat Pay, the reach of Indonesia-China digital payments could become even wider. Chinese tourists, business travelers, and visitors would have an easier way to pay in Indonesia, especially in sectors such as tourism, retail, restaurants, and small businesses.
For Indonesians traveling to China, the system could also make payments more convenient because they may not need to rely as heavily on cash exchange or international cards.
What It Means for Travelers and Businesses
For travelers, QRIS cross-border payments can reduce payment friction. Indonesian visitors in China may be able to pay more easily through connected payment apps, while Chinese visitors in Indonesia can use the digital wallets they already use in daily life.
For Indonesian businesses, especially SMEs and tourism-related merchants, this opens a practical opportunity to serve Chinese customers more smoothly. Instead of preparing multiple separate payment systems, merchants can rely on QRIS as a unified QR payment standard.
This is especially relevant because China remains an important market for Indonesian tourism and trade. Easier payment access can help make transactions faster, more familiar, and more convenient for visitors.
Part of QRIS Cross-Border Expansion
QRIS cross-border payment is not only being developed with China. The system has also expanded to several other countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. This shows how QRIS is increasingly becoming part of wider regional and global payment connectivity.
This development supports financial inclusion and easier retail transactions across borders. For users, the goal is simple: fewer payment barriers when traveling, shopping, or doing business internationally.
What Users Should Pay Attention To
For users, QRIS integration with China’s payment network means transactions could become more practical. Indonesian travelers in China may be able to scan and pay through supported apps, while Chinese visitors in Indonesia can pay at connected QRIS merchants.
However, users should still pay attention to several details before making cross-border payments, including:
- whether their payment app supports the service
- the exchange rate applied
- possible transaction fees
- merchant availability
- payment limits from each provider
So while the system can make payments easier, users should still check the terms inside their payment app before using it abroad.
Cross-Border Payments Are Becoming Easier
The expansion of QRIS to WeChat Pay marks another important step in Indonesia’s digital payment development. After Alipay and UnionPay, WeChat Pay integration could make Indonesia-China transactions more seamless for travelers, businesses, and SMEs.
For people moving to or living in Indonesia, digital payment access is now part of daily convenience. From paying at local merchants to managing relocation needs, practical payment systems can make settling into a new country much easier.
NOBLE ASIA also helps foreign residents and professionals understand daily life in Indonesia through its relocation support for expats in Indonesia, including practical guidance for settling in, finding a home, and adjusting to local systems.
With broader QRIS connectivity, cross-border payments no longer have to feel complicated. In many cases, it may soon be as simple as scanning, paying, and moving on with the day.
