You can pay by QR overseas with a Singapore banking app in several Asian countries, but not everywhere, and not through PayNow itself. Your app scans the other country’s national QR code, such as DuitNow in Malaysia, PromptPay in Thailand or QRIS in Indonesia, and shows the Singapore-dollar amount before you confirm. Whether it costs less than a card depends on the rate in the app.
Here is what is officially linked, which apps work, and how to check the cost.
Where You Can Pay by QR Overseas
These are the linkages we could confirm from MAS, NETS or bank pages, as at November 2026.
| Country | QR you scan | How it is linked | Singapore apps named |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | DuitNow QR | MAS and Bank Negara Malaysia, launched 31 March 2023 | DBS PayLah!, OCBC Digital, UOB TMRW, Maybank2u SG (per NETS) |
| Indonesia | QRIS | MAS and Bank Indonesia, launched 17 November 2023 | OCBC and UOB at launch, DBS later (per MAS); PayLah! (per DBS) |
| Thailand | PromptPay QR | Listed by NETS and DBS | DBS PayLah!, OCBC Digital, UOB TMRW (per NETS) |
| Taiwan | TWQR | Listed by DBS | DBS PayLah! |
| China and other markets | UnionPay QR | Listed by NETS and DBS at UnionPay QR merchants | DBS PayLah!, OCBC Digital (per NETS) |
Not every app supports every country, and banks add or change coverage. Check your own app’s overseas QR section before you travel.
How Paying by QR Overseas Works
The steps are similar across apps. Using DBS PayLah! as described on DBS’s page:
- Scan the merchant’s QR code with the app’s scanner.
- Enter the amount if the merchant has not set it.
- Check the foreign-currency price, the exchange rate and the Singapore-dollar total.
- Confirm, and keep the confirmation screen to show the merchant.
You need mobile data or Wi-Fi to pay. If you rely on a travel eSIM, make sure it is working before you queue. Our eSIM vs roaming comparison covers the options.
The short version: In Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, many local QR codes can be scanned with a Singapore bank app. Always check the Singapore-dollar total the app shows before you confirm, and compare it with what your card would cost.
Is It Cheaper Than a Card?
It can be. NETS states that it offers “competitive FX rates”, charges no currency conversion fees, and that, unlike credit cards, there are no bank admin charges. The amount converts to Singapore dollars at the rate NETS sets.
Compare that with a typical bank card. DBS, for example, lists a 3.25% total foreign currency fee on Visa and Mastercard purchases. If the QR rate is close to a reference rate, the saving on a S$100 purchase could be a few dollars. Illustration only.
Two ways to check on the spot:
- Compare totals. Note the Singapore-dollar total in the QR app, then compare it with the same amount at a reference rate plus your card’s fee.
- Check your statement after the trip and see what each method actually cost.
Not every app states its rate source or any markup. If the app does not show it, assume there may be one and compare.
Sending Money by Mobile Number
Separate from shop payments, PayNow links with two neighbours for person-to-person transfers:
- Thailand (PromptPay): launched 29 April 2021. MAS said transfers use just a mobile number, with a daily limit of up to S$1,000 or THB 25,000, and that fees and exchange rates are shown before you confirm.
- Malaysia (DuitNow): person-to-person transfers went live in November 2023.
For larger or regular transfers, see our guide to the best way to send money overseas from Singapore.
What Is Coming
MAS and The Association of Banks in Singapore said in June 2026 that they aim to pilot interoperability between PayNow and NETS QR by end-2026. That is a domestic change. “Expanded cross-border connectivity” is listed as a longer-term area, with no timeline yet.
What To Do Next
- Open your banking app’s overseas QR section and check which countries it lists.
- Turn on overseas payments in the app if your bank requires it, and check your daily limit.
- Carry a backup: a low-fee card and a little cash. See how much cash to bring overseas.
- Planning a Malaysia trip? Read the Johor Bahru day trip money guide.
