QRIS Will Be Integrated With Nusuk Cards, Hajj-Umrah Pilgrims Can Now Be Transactions Easily

Illustration: Photo: Doc. ANTARA

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia (BI) expands cooperation in the QR Code-based digital payment system, namely the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) with Saudi Arabia.

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo revealed that the QRIS system and electronic money from Indonesia will be integrated with a Nusuk card, which is an official card used by the congregation during worship in the Holy Land.

He added that later Umrah and Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia will be able to carry out shopping transactions in Saudi Arabia using QRIS.

"God willing, we will also use our QRIS for Umrah pilgrims with a Nusuk card, Nusuk not only for Umrah, for Nusuk it can use Qris, for e-wallet, it can also be bought," he explained in the agenda of the Opening Ceremony Karya Kreatif Indonesia 2025, Thursday, August 7th.

For information, BI confirmed that all technical discussions with the Saudi Arabian central bank (Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority) have been completed, and currently it is just waiting for the implementation process.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, BI also revealed that payment systems with QRIS will be usable in other countries such as Japan on August 17, 2025, and in China by the end of 2025.

"God willing, in the middle of this year our crisis can be accepted in Japan, God willing, by the end of this year we can connect with China's QR," he said.

Previously, Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Filianingsih Hendarta said that his party was collaborating between countries in encouraging an interoperable, safe, and efficient cross-border payment system based on QR.

"This initiative certainly reflects the spirit of regional solidarity between Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, as a form of cooperation in building a connected and inclusive financial ecosystem in the Asian region," he said on the sidelines of the 2025 Indonesian Creative Work (KKI) event, Thursday, August 7.

He said that this payment system would be directly connected to Japan's digital payment system, namely JPQR.

"In the near future, on August 17, 2025, we will start implementing cooperation with Japan, through the JPQR system," he said.

Filianingsih conveyed that through this collaboration, transactions between Indonesia and Japan can be carried out more easily and quickly, without the need to exchange the currency physically.

He added that payments can be made directly using financial applications from each country.

As for the initial phase of the trial, QRIS transactions in Japan can only be carried out through two service providers, namely BCA and Gopay.

"Of course, this bilateral relationship certainly not only strengthens economic cooperation between countries, but also provides tangible benefits for the community and business actors across countries," he added.

Filianingsih said that the expansion of this cross-border payment system was part of BI's efforts to expand the QRIS network globally.

Previously, QRIS had been integrated in several Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand since August 2022, Malaysia since May 2023, and Singapore since November 2023.

Dengan memungkinkan pembayaran lintas negara yang cepat, mudah, aman, dan efisien, QRIS kata

Filianingsih menyampaikan penggunaan QRIS memungkinkan transaksi lintas negara yang lebih cepat, mudah, aman, dan efisien.

Hal ini sekaligus juga mendukung pengembangan ekonomi digital yang inklusif, khususnya bagi pelaku UMKM yang menjadi tulang punggung ekonomi Indonesia

"Inisiatif ini merupakan bukti nyata komitmen bersama kita dalam memperkuat konektivitas keuangan kawasan," ucapnya.

"By allowing fast, easy, safe, and efficient cross-border payments," QRIS said

Filianingsih said the use of QRIS allows faster, easier, safe, and efficient cross-border transactions.

This also supports the development of an inclusive digital economy, especially for MSME players who are the backbone of the Indonesian economy

"This initiative is a clear proof of our joint commitment to strengthening regional financial connectivity," he said.