Implementation of New Rules for Forming QR Codes for Transfers

November 1, 2025 Resolution No. 97 of the National Bank of Ukraine enters into force, which approved the New Rules for the Formation, Transmission, and Processing of Data Structure and Graphical Representation of the QR Code for Exchanging Details of Credit and Instant Credit Transfers.

The Resolution provides for establishing unified requirements for the use of QR codes by all participants in the payment market who carry out such transfers. The document introduces requirements for data structure, encoding, and minimization of data volume, as well as other sensitive information. It was adopted to unify payment solutions, including payment service providers.

Key requirements include:

• Mandatory adaptation of applications and technical systems by payment service providers;
• The QR code may have a value from 10 to 20 with different error correction levels;
• For QR codes of versions 002 and 003, the image of the hryvnia sign in the center of the code is mandatory.

The Resolution stipulates that payment service providers are obliged to adapt their applications and technical systems to the new requirements. Other participants in payment transactions may apply these rules voluntarily.

The new rules are extended to all payment operations initiated for quick payer identification. The application of restrictions is initiated to enable the generation, display, and exchange of the graphical QR code image between applications.

Service providers are obliged to adapt their systems and must comply with the requirements of Resolution. Companies that have not adapted their systems are obliged to notify the NBU no later than five working days after the relevant decision is adopted. The QR code will enable the merchant to establish a prohibition on editing fields, which will define the fields protected from change by the payer when initiating an instant payment.

The changes are aimed at enhancing the transparency and efficiency of retail payments, establishing clear control procedures for the circulation of financial information, and ensuring stable and predictable conditions for the functioning of the payment market.

We will closely monitor further developments in this area and will report on this in future Legal News.