UnionPay has become the first international card organization to meet the JPQR standard

UnionPay QR code officially endorsed by the Japanese government. Source:?shutterstock.com

UnionPay International has announced that the UnionPay QR code payment has become one of the mobile payment services recommended by the Japanese government.

In 2018, Japan put forward a plan to create a cash-free society. To simplify mobile payments acceptance for merchants, the committee within the Japanese government settled upon a JPQR standard compatible with 11 QR codes. The program includes the QR code developed by UnionPay, enabling local merchants to accept multiple mobile payment options via a single JPQR code.

Besides, UnionPay cards are already accepted at over 70% of merchants across Japan, with 60,000 local merchants supporting its QR code-based payments.

Another reason for the inclusion was the ability to serve foreign visitors on a large scale. Indeed, the UnionPay app available in 13 countries and regions outside of China with cross-border QR code-based payment options.

This way, users traveling in Japan can securely carry out payments on the go by using their smartphone to scan the QR code.

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