Uzbekistan has launched UzQR, a national system of unified QR codes for accepting electronic payments in trade and services. From early July 2026, every legal entity and individual entrepreneur working in retail or service provision is required to accept payments via this single standard, turning QR payments from an optional digital extra into a core element of the country’s business infrastructure.
Regulatory framework and implementation timeline
The foundation for UzQR was laid in December 2025, when the President of Uzbekistan signed a decree mandating the introduction of unified payment QR codes for the trade and service sectors. The document set a clear deadline: from 1 July acceptance of payments by QR code is no longer voluntary, but an obligation for companies operating in these segments.
In April, the Central Bank approved detailed rules for providing payment services using unified QR codes, defining how banks, payment providers and merchants should connect to and operate within the system. By early June, local banks began publishing information on UzQR, offering tailored products for individual entrepreneurs and legal entities and opening the way for mass onboarding.
The regulatory approach is strict. The absence of an UzQR code at a point of sale is now regarded as a violation of trading rules and may lead to fines. Using someone else’s QR code to receive payments is treated as a separate offence with higher penalties. At the same time, authorities underline that UzQR complements, rather than replaces, existing methods such as cash, bank cards and other QR-based payment solutions.
How uzqr works for businesses
UzQR is designed as a universal payment QR code that is not tied to any particular bank or mobile wallet. The core idea is simple — a merchant uses one QR code, and buyers can pay through the mobile application of any bank or payment service connected to the system. This removes the need for separate QR codes for each provider and dramatically simplifies the payment experience for customers.
The system currently works with cards of the national payment systems Humo and Uzcard, as well as sum-denominated cards in some international schemes. If a card is linked only to foreign currency Visa or Mastercard, payment via UzQR will not yet be possible and a traditional POS terminal remains necessary. This creates a transitional period in which merchants, especially in hospitality and tourism, must support both QR and terminal-based payments to serve domestic and foreign customers.
For entrepreneurs, connection to UzQR is free. To obtain a unified QR code, a business simply contacts its servicing bank, opens a settlement account if necessary and submits an application. The bank handles connection to the system, and the merchant can then generate the QR in an online banking cabinet or mobile app.
The QR code can be printed and placed at the cash desk, on a counter or stand, or demonstrated to the customer directly from a phone screen — a flexible approach that suits both large retailers and small service providers, including mobile and on-site businesses. Payments made through UzQR are credited to the linked settlement account, and merchants can manage multiple QR codes, view transaction history and work with APIs through a single personal interface.
The official tariff for UzQR is set at 0.65 percent of the transaction amount and is charged only to the seller, with no commission to buyers when paying via the unified code. Importantly, the Central Bank stresses that merchants are not required to remove QR codes of other payment services. Businesses may continue using Payme, Click, TezQR and other solutions side by side with UzQR, as long as the unified QR code is available among the options.
Impact on trade, services and urban consumer markets
For the retail sector, UzQR introduces a more predictable, unified framework for digital payments. Supermarkets, shopping centres, specialist stores and street retail can now standardise their QR acceptance, making it easier for customers to pay and for chains to roll out consistent payment practices across multiple locations. This is particularly valuable in large-format retail segments such as building materials, DIY and home improvement, where payment speed and clarity at the checkout are crucial.
Service businesses — from hotels and guest houses to cafes, restaurants, beauty salons and repair services — gain a simple way to accept cashless payments without investing heavily in hardware. A single printed QR code or a QR displayed on a smartphone allows staff to collect payments anywhere on the premises, at the table or at the reception. This flexibility supports the growth of hospitality and tourism services, while also improving transparency of transactions and easing daily reconciliation for management.
The system is likely to accelerate the development of e-commerce, delivery services and on-demand urban services. Couriers, installers, interior fit-out contractors and technical service teams can accept payment on site via a unified QR, reducing the need to carry terminals and lowering the barrier for small firms to introduce non-cash payments. For customers, the ability to pay through any familiar banking app reduces friction and builds trust in digital transactions.
While cash and traditional card terminals will remain important, especially for foreign visitors, UzQR establishes a strong national standard for everyday digital payments. This, in turn, lays the groundwork for more sophisticated financial products for business, including data-driven lending, loyalty programmes and integrated accounting solutions based on transparent, traceable payment flows.
Opportunities for international manufacturers and brands
For international companies in furniture, construction materials, home appliances, interiors and design, the launch of UzQR signals a maturing business environment in Uzbekistan. A unified, regulated QR payment standard makes it easier to integrate into local retail chains and franchise networks, as companies can rely on a predictable digital payment infrastructure rather than navigating a patchwork of proprietary solutions.
Furniture showrooms, kitchen and bathroom studios, flooring and wall-covering retailers, and multi-brand home centres can all benefit from faster and more convenient payment processes, both for small ticket purchases and larger interior fit-out projects. Design and architecture studios, which often work with staged payments and on-site services, gain a mobile, low-cost method to capture client payments consistently across projects.
Beyond operational convenience, UzQR reflects broader regulatory and technological progress in Uzbekistan’s financial sector. For foreign investors, this is an indicator of a more transparent, data-rich market where consumer spending patterns in retail, construction and interiors can be better analysed and forecast. As the system expands and potentially integrates more card schemes over time, international brands will find it increasingly straightforward to align their local sales, omnichannel strategies and customer experience standards with global best practices, while tapping into a rapidly digitising Central Asian consumer base.
