Press room

Halyk Bank is expanding its QR payment service for traveling customers. Soon, UnionPay cardholders using Halyk Super App (for individuals) and Onlinebank (for entrepreneurs and legal entities) will be able to pay for purchases in China and in more than 40 countries where UnionPay QR is accepted, including Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia, and others.

How the service works

The new functionality allows users to scan the merchant’s QR code via the mobile app, generate their own QR code for payment, and instantly pay for goods and services in stores, restaurants, and service outlets that support QR acquiring. If a UnionPay card is not available at the time of payment, a digital card can be issued online. Users are also advised to update the Bank’s mobile app to access the service.

Opportunities for businesses and travelers

The new feature makes payments in China significantly more convenient for both tourists and entrepreneurs who regularly travel for sourcing or conduct business with Chinese partners.

For entrepreneurs, the service provides additional opportunities:

• convenient settlements with suppliers and merchants in China;
• payment for goods at markets and shopping centers where QR payments are widely used;
• reduced need for cash during business trips.

For individual customers, the new feature simplifies everyday payments while traveling — from cafés and shops to transport and various services.

Over 600,000 trips to China annually

The Kazakhstan–China route remains one of the key destinations for both business and leisure travel. According to official data from the Ministry of Tourism, citizens of Kazakhstan make more than 500–600 thousand trips to China annually, and the introduction of a visa-free regime continues to drive growth in both tourist and business travel.

In 2025, China recorded over 150 million inbound trips by foreign nationals, representing a 17% increase year-on-year. Of these, 30.08 million trips were made under a visa-free regime, marking a 49.5% increase compared to the previous year.

An additional indicator of growing travel activity is the increase in passenger traffic at the Kazakhstan–China border in early 2026.

China is one of the most promising digital payment economies in the world

China is considered one of the most advanced digital payment economies globally. In major cities, more than 90% of retail payments are made via QR codes.

The main payment tools are QR acquiring systems, so in many retail outlets - from small shops and markets to restaurants and services - QR payments have actually replaced bank cards and cash.

This has often created challenges for foreign tourists and entrepreneurs, as many merchants accept only QR payments, while international bank cards may not be accepted everywhere.

Over 20 years of partnership

Halyk Bank and UnionPay have been collaborating for over 20 years, developing modern payment solutions and expanding international settlement capabilities for customers.

The launch of UnionPay QR and Weixin Pay QR support marks another step in the development of the Bank’s digital services and the expansion of cashless payment options for customers worldwide.