What is SGQR? The Complete Guide to Singapore’s Unified QR System

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Singapore is one of Southeast Asia's leading cash-lite societies, and one of the key reasons is the Singapore Quick Response Code, or SGQR.

You'll spot the SGQR code everywhere: shopping malls, convenience stores, hawker centres, and neighbourhood market stalls. It's become the backbone of cashless payments in Singapore, serving everyone from locals paying with their banking app to tourists using an overseas e-wallet.

In this guide, we'll break down how SGQR works, where you can use it, and how a multi-currency account like Wise can help travellers spend in Singapore with zero hidden fees and transparent exchange rates.

We'll also show how eligible Wise users can scan supported QR codes in Singapore, including PayNow QR codes at participating businesses.

Understanding SGQR: What Is It and How Does It Work?

Launched in 2018, SGQR is the world's first unified payment QR code, built on global standards and specifications.

This joint initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore¹ and the Media Development Authority combines multiple payment QR codes into a single label, making checkout simpler for consumers, SGQR merchants, and SGQR hawkers alike.

Before SGQR, merchants had to display a separate QR code for every wallet or bank they accepted. The visual clutter was real, and so was the confusion. Today, one unified SGQR code supports many payment schemes at once.

A single SGQR supports a wide range of payment apps – from Singapore banking apps like DBS PayLah!, to PayNow (Singapore's instant transfer system via mobile numbers), the nationwide debit network NETS, and even cross-border payment options like Malaysia's DuitNow.

Wise, which is directly connected to Singapore's PayNow network, lets users make QR code payments through its app at thousands of merchants here. Singapore was also the first country to get the Wise scan-to-pay feature.

In November 2024, the enhanced SGQR+ rolled out, extending support to international schemes including Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, ShopeePay, GrabPay, and Google Pay (when linked to a Mastercard or Visa credit card).

Where Can You Scan SGQR in Singapore?

The majority of merchants in Singapore accept SGQR – over 239,000 of them.

Because SGQR requires no physical payment terminal, it's particularly valuable for micro merchants and small business owners, who benefit from a simpler setup. Think hawkers, market stall operators, and independent retailers who might not otherwise accept credit card payments directly.

Picture this: you’re a tourist heading to a highly rated neighbourhood coffeeshop you found on Google, only to realise you forgot to bring cash. Thankfully, the stall has an SGQR decal. You simply scan it with your banking app, pay, and you’re done. That’s how convenient SGQR has become in Singapore for cashless payments.

Some apps even sweeten the deal. Shopee occasionally runs promotions with mall F&B chains like I Love Taimei, where scanning the SGQR via ShopeePay earns users 5% Shopee coins cashback.

SGQR Hawker Initiative

Hawker stalls in Singapore have long been run by "aunties" and "uncles" more at ease with cash than smartphones. To bridge that gap, the Singapore government launched the Hawkers Go Digital Programme in 2020, encouraging hawker adoption of SGQR through subsidies, bonuses, and on-the-ground digital ambassadors.

The results speak for themselves.

By 2024, over 11,500 stallholders were offering e-payments led by NETS, with monthly transaction values growing year-on-year.

These days, you can walk into most hawker centres – especially in the Central Business District (CBD) – armed with just your phone. Just look for the SGQR decal at the front of the stall, and then scan and pay. It’s that simple.

How to Pay with an SGQR Code

For Singapore Residents (Using Local Apps)

Paying with SGQR is a quick, familiar process for most locals. Here's how it works using the DBS digibank app as an example:

1. Launch the digibank app and tap Scan & Pay.
2. Scan the merchant's SGQR code.
3. Log in using your digibank User ID and PIN, or authenticate with Face ID or fingerprint.
4. Key in the exact amount you want to pay and tap Next.
5. Verify the payment details, then tap Transfer Now to complete.

That's it. Your payment’s done.

For Tourists and Visitors

Visitors don't need a Singapore bank account to use SGQR. Many SGQR codes support cross-border wallets, including:

• Alipay (China)
• Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia)
• WeChat Pay (China)
• Kakao Pay (South Korea)
• TrueMoney (Thailand)
• UnionPay apps (China)
• GCash (Philippines)
• GrabPay (Singapore)

This makes it easy for travellers from across the region to pay with the apps they already use at home. Google Pay users can also link a credit card to pay via SGQR.

How to Scan and Pay with Wise in Singapore

Wise is integrated with Alipay too, and you can pay directly through the Wise app.

Here's how to pay:

1. In your Card tab, swipe left on your card image to bring up Pay with QR code or Pay like a local.
2. Tap Scan QR code to use your camera, or Import QR code to select one from your photo gallery.
3. Scan a supported QR code, or select an image containing one.
4. Follow the steps to confirm your payment.

That's it. You can review the transaction anytime under your transaction list in the Wise app.

With Wise, currency conversion happens at the mid-market rate – the rate you see on Google – with low, upfront fees. Alternatively, convert to your desired currency in advance to store it in the wallet when rates are in your favour, and pay with zero conversion fees.

Curious to see the mid-market rate for yourself? Take a look below:

If you’re a Wise user in Singapore, Alipay+ QR payments are only available in supported countries abroad.

What if You Can't Scan the SGQR Code?

Sometimes merchants only take cash, or they're using a personal QR code rather than the unified SGQR. There could also be a technical glitch, or your apps might not be set up yet.

At shops with a card terminal, you can tap your Wise card as a backup. Or, if you need cash while travelling, Wise lets you make fee-free ATM withdrawals up to 100 SGD. Third-party ATM operators may charge their own fees.

SGQR vs PayNow: What's the Difference?

It's a common point of confusion, but SGQR and PayNow are not the same thing.

Both are national initiatives, but they serve different purposes. SGQR is the unified QR code framework that works across multiple payment platforms and types. PayNow, on the other hand, is just one of the payment methods that SGQR supports.

PayNow is Singapore's real-time bank transfer system, allowing users to send money instantly using a mobile number, NRIC/FIN, UEN number, or QR code (including personal ones).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between SGQR and SGQR+?

SGQR+ is an enhanced version of the SGQR framework, introduced to improve interoperability and support more payment methods, including expanded cross-border payment capabilities. Both work the same way for everyday payments.

Does SGQR support Alipay?

Yes. SGQR has supported Alipay since 2019.

What are the transaction fees for SGQR?

Consumers don't pay transaction fees when using SGQR. That said, if you're paying by credit card or in a foreign currency, fees may apply depending on your card or wallet provider.

Scan and Pay in Singapore with Wise

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including MYR, JPY, CNY, and USD so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up SGD to get started.

Virtual cards are free and can be added to your Google or Apple Pay wallet, while a physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 8.50 SGD. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as free ATM withdrawals up to the value of 100 SGD each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend with directly in SGD and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.26%.

Plus, you can activate Wise Interest to earn returns* on your SGD and other currencies, meaning your travel money could be growing right up until you spend it.

*Growth is not guaranteed. Capital at risk.

🚀 Get Started with Wise

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Sources:

1. Singapore Quick Response Code - Monetary Authority of Singapore
2. PayNow Singapore - Association of Banks Singapore