TWQR Inbound to Launch in Late April, Making Payments More Convenient for Japanese Tourists in Taiwan
Taiwan's FISC announced the launch of the 'TWQR Inbound' service. Starting late April, Japanese tourists can use PayPay at 400,000 stores in Taiwan, with Singapore's NETS to follow in Q2.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 17:49
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 18:01 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 15:00 (116h 58m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei, 14th) Financial Information Service Co., Ltd. (FISC) announced today that the "TWQR Inbound" service is officially activated. Starting at the end of April this year, Japanese tourists coming to Taiwan can use their familiar mobile payment apps to scan and pay in Taiwan, with Singapore following suit in the second quarter. Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Chairman Peng Jin-lung stated that this cross-border cooperation not only aids financial inclusion but also promotes tourism and stimulates the economy.
"TW" and "QR" stand for Taiwan and QR Code, respectively. FISC has linked the two major payment systems of banks and electronic payment institutions, using TWQR as a common logo, and is collaborating to promote QR Code payment services.
Since 2024, FISC has expanded the TWQR scan payment service to Japan and South Korea, enlarging the TWQR ecosystem. At the same time, it has continued to push for cross-border inbound services. Today, a special "TWQR Inbound Service Launch Press Conference" was held to announce the collaboration with international wallets from Japan and Singapore.
FISC Chairman Lin Kuo-liang explained that in the past, international tourists visiting Taiwan often faced inconveniences such as currency exchange difficulties and issues making small payments. With the launch of the TWQR Inbound service, this situation will fundamentally change through cross-border digital payment cooperation and interoperability.
According to Tourism Administration statistics, the total number of tourists visiting Taiwan in 2025 is expected to reach 8.57 million, an annual growth of 9%. Given the geographical proximity of Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, they are not only important economic and trade partners but also have close private exchanges. Japan is the country providing the largest number of tourists to Taiwan, prompting FISC to partner with Japan and Singapore to promote the TWQR mobile payment service.
FISC stated that at the end of April this year, PayPay, the mobile payment leader in Japan with an over 60% market share and over 73 million users, will be the first to integrate. At that time, Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan will be able to directly scan and pay at more than 400,000 stores displaying the TWQR sign across Taiwan. Following closely, Singapore's national payment network NETS is scheduled to go online in the second quarter, enabling over 11 million Singaporean users to use it in Taiwan.
Lin Kuo-liang bluntly stated that this is not just the activation of a payment function, but a significant milestone in digital financial service cooperation among neighboring countries like Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.
In his speech, Peng Jin-lung said that this cooperation signifies another crucial step in connecting Taiwan's digital financial infrastructure with the world, hoping everyone works together to enhance international tourists' trust in Taiwan's financial environment.
Some foreign tourists choose to pay with credit cards when shopping in Taiwan. Lin Kuo-liang pointed out in a post-event interview that affordable street food and local specialties are vital tourism features of Taiwan, which credit card networks struggle to reach. Therefore, credit card payments and TWQR are not in competition but together complete the final mile of paving the payment network for Taiwan's tourism.
Electronic Payment Association Chairman Liu Mei-ling added that many stores in Taiwan still do not accept foreign credit cards. Thus, the launch of the TWQR Inbound service is a major boost to enhancing the travel experience for foreign tourists.
FISC also noted that the covered stores range from the four major convenience store chains, department stores like Taipei 101 and Breeze, commercial districts like Ningxia Night Market, Jiufen Old Street, and Dihua Street, as well as well-known local food vendors. (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150414
(CNA Reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei, 14th) Financial Information Service Co., Ltd. (FISC) announced today that the "TWQR Inbound" service is officially activated. Starting at the end of April this year, Japanese tourists coming to Taiwan can use their familiar mobile payment apps to scan and pay in Taiwan, with Singapore following suit in the second quarter. Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Chairman Peng Jin-lung stated that this cross-border cooperation not only aids financial inclusion but also promotes tourism and stimulates the economy.
"TW" and "QR" stand for Taiwan and QR Code, respectively. FISC has linked the two major payment systems of banks and electronic payment institutions, using TWQR as a common logo, and is collaborating to promote QR Code payment services.
Since 2024, FISC has expanded the TWQR scan payment service to Japan and South Korea, enlarging the TWQR ecosystem. At the same time, it has continued to push for cross-border inbound services. Today, a special "TWQR Inbound Service Launch Press Conference" was held to announce the collaboration with international wallets from Japan and Singapore.
FISC Chairman Lin Kuo-liang explained that in the past, international tourists visiting Taiwan often faced inconveniences such as currency exchange difficulties and issues making small payments. With the launch of the TWQR Inbound service, this situation will fundamentally change through cross-border digital payment cooperation and interoperability.
According to Tourism Administration statistics, the total number of tourists visiting Taiwan in 2025 is expected to reach 8.57 million, an annual growth of 9%. Given the geographical proximity of Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, they are not only important economic and trade partners but also have close private exchanges. Japan is the country providing the largest number of tourists to Taiwan, prompting FISC to partner with Japan and Singapore to promote the TWQR mobile payment service.
FISC stated that at the end of April this year, PayPay, the mobile payment leader in Japan with an over 60% market share and over 73 million users, will be the first to integrate. At that time, Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan will be able to directly scan and pay at more than 400,000 stores displaying the TWQR sign across Taiwan. Following closely, Singapore's national payment network NETS is scheduled to go online in the second quarter, enabling over 11 million Singaporean users to use it in Taiwan.
Lin Kuo-liang bluntly stated that this is not just the activation of a payment function, but a significant milestone in digital financial service cooperation among neighboring countries like Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.
In his speech, Peng Jin-lung said that this cooperation signifies another crucial step in connecting Taiwan's digital financial infrastructure with the world, hoping everyone works together to enhance international tourists' trust in Taiwan's financial environment.
Some foreign tourists choose to pay with credit cards when shopping in Taiwan. Lin Kuo-liang pointed out in a post-event interview that affordable street food and local specialties are vital tourism features of Taiwan, which credit card networks struggle to reach. Therefore, credit card payments and TWQR are not in competition but together complete the final mile of paving the payment network for Taiwan's tourism.
Electronic Payment Association Chairman Liu Mei-ling added that many stores in Taiwan still do not accept foreign credit cards. Thus, the launch of the TWQR Inbound service is a major boost to enhancing the travel experience for foreign tourists.
FISC also noted that the covered stores range from the four major convenience store chains, department stores like Taipei 101 and Breeze, commercial districts like Ningxia Night Market, Jiufen Old Street, and Dihua Street, as well as well-known local food vendors. (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150414