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Paying by QR code: what ELQR is and how to pay safely

In Kyrgyzstan any QR code can be paid from any bank’s app — thanks to the national ELQR standard. How it works, how to pay and what to watch out for.

Author: Soodahub Published

In shops, cafés, at the bazaar and in taxis, the QR code has become one of the most popular ways to pay in Kyrgyzstan. According to the National Bank, since 2022 the number of QR payments has grown more than 54-fold and their volume almost 85-fold. Behind this is the national ELQR standard.

What ELQR is

ELQR is a single national QR code standard developed at the initiative of the National Bank. It was introduced by the Interbank Processing Centre (IPC), the operator of the national payment system “Elcart”. The standard appeared in 2019 and brought the country’s banks and payment services into one system.

The key advantage: previously a QR code could only be paid with the same bank’s app. Now any QR code connected to the system works for customers of all banks. In other words, the payment goes through even if the seller banks with one bank and you with another.

How to pay by QR

  1. Open your bank’s mobile app.
  2. Tap “Pay by QR” or the scanner button.
  3. Point the camera at the QR code.
  4. Check the recipient’s name and the amount on screen. If the code has no amount, enter it yourself.
  5. Confirm the payment and keep the receipt — a screenshot or the transaction history in the app.

Safety rules

  • Check the recipient. Before you pay, the app shows the recipient’s name. If it doesn’t match the seller, stop.
  • Check the amount. Even with a pre-filled amount, look before you confirm.
  • Don’t scan codes from random places. Fraudsters sometimes stick their own QR code over the real one. If in doubt, ask the cashier.
  • QR is for paying, not receiving money. If someone asks you to scan a code “to receive money”, it’s fraud.
  • Keep the receipt. You’ll need it in case of a dispute or a return.

Paying for an online order

Scanning a QR code from the screen is awkward in an online shop, so when ordering from a phone people usually pay via a direct link to the banking app or by transfer to bank details. On Soodahub the available payment methods depend on the seller and are shown at checkout: cash on delivery or bank transfer. If you pay by transfer, attach the receipt to the order — the seller checks it and ships the item. More on Payment methods.

Sources: economist.kg — the ELQR standard and National Bank data on QR payments (2025–2026).