In Kazakhstan, some sellers still insist on payments via a specific bank's QR code, despite a legal requirement to accept a unified QR code. We examine whether this practice is legal and what penalties await violators, reports infohub.kz.
Since January 16, 2026, amendments to the law 'On Payments and Payment Systems' have been in effect in Kazakhstan, requiring businesses to accept payments via a unified QR code. According to the State Revenue Committee (SRC), all sellers using POS terminals for card and mobile payments must offer the option to pay via the unified QR code from any bank connected to the interbank mobile payment system.
The SRC explained: 'Business entities using POS terminals designed to accept payments via payment cards and mobile payments through the interbank mobile payment system are obliged to ensure the possibility of receiving payments via a unified QR code from clients of banks connected to this system.' Therefore, buyers are entitled to pay for goods using any bank app that is a participant in the system.
If a seller refuses to accept payment via the unified QR code or demands the use of a specific app, it is a violation. The absence of necessary equipment (POS terminal) carries administrative liability under Article 195 of the Administrative Code of Kazakhstan. A first offense results in a warning; a repeat offense within a year incurs a fine: for small businesses — 40 MCI (173,000 tenge in 2026), for medium businesses — 60 MCI (259,500 tenge), and for large businesses — 100 MCI (432,500 tenge).
A seller's demand to pay specifically through 'their' bank's terminal has no legal basis. Even if the acquirer rates for the seller vary, this does not give them the right to restrict the buyer's choice of payment method. The buyer is entitled to use any bank connected to the unified QR system.