QRIS Tap: Indonesia’s NFC Payment System and iPhone Compatibility
Jakarta – Indonesia’s QRIS Tap, a new contactless digital payment method leveraging Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, is currently exclusive to Android devices. While officially launched by Bank Indonesia (BI) in March 2025, iPhone users are still awaiting access to the feature.
Why iPhones Don’t Yet Support QRIS Tap
According to BI Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta, the limitation isn’t due to issues with Indonesia’s payment infrastructure or the QRIS Tap system itself. The primary obstacle lies in Apple’s current policy, which restricts NFC access on iPhones primarily to Apple Pay [Bank Indonesia].
Currently, iPhone NFC functionality is limited to tap-to-pay transactions through Apple Pay. Third-party applications, including those enabling QRIS Tap in Indonesia, haven’t received full access to activate similar features.
However, BI reports positive signals from Apple. “Apple Indonesia and Apple headquarters have come and they will also explore it, they will open and explore the QRIS Tap feature, that’s how it is, to see the possibility of opening the NFC feature,” stated Filianingsih Hendarta [Bank Indonesia].
What is QRIS Tap?
QRIS Tap is the latest evolution of the QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) payment system. It allows users to make payments by simply tapping their NFC-enabled Android phone against a QRIS reader [GovInsider]. This method is faster and more convenient than scanning a QR code.
BI designed QRIS Tap to streamline the payment process. As Filianingsih Hendarta explained, “This system no longer requires scanning or scanning QRIS barcodes. Just attach the cellphone, the transaction is completed in seconds” [GovInsider].
QRIS Tap is a key component of the Indonesian Payment System Blueprint (BSPI) 2030 and supports the government’s broader digital transformation initiatives, particularly in transportation.
Expanding QRIS Tap Usage
Beyond smartphones, QRIS Tap is now compatible with Google Wear OS-based smartwatches. The adoption of QRIS Tap is growing across various sectors.
As of recent data, over 475,000 QRIS Tap transactions have been processed, with a month-over-month growth rate of 7.9%. Transaction volume has also increased, growing 6.4% month-over-month to approximately IDR 4.6 billion. Average transaction values differ by sector, with transportation transactions averaging around IDR 5,000 and retail/restaurant transactions averaging around IDR 70,000 [GovInsider].
How to Apply QRIS Tap
To use QRIS Tap, users first open their payment application and select the QRIS Tap method. Then, they simply tap their NFC-enabled phone against the QRIS reader provided by the merchant [QRIS Interactive].
Users should ensure their phone has NFC capabilities and that their payment application is updated to the latest version. Merchants also need to update their systems to accept QRIS Tap payments [QRIS Interactive].