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Using the generator above, you can create a Swiss QR invoice in around two minutes. It’s free, requires no registration and no account with us. The generator continuously checks your details against the latest SIX specifications. As soon as the live check turns green, you can download the invoice as a PDF or print it straight away.
In 2022, the QR invoice replaced the red and orange payment slips. That is why many people still refer to it as a «QR payment slip». It is essentially the same thing: a payment slip with a receipt and a QR code that the banking app scans.
Key points at a glance
- For private individuals, clubs and most self-employed people, a Standard IBAN without a reference.
- Since November 2025, structured addresses Mandatory. The generator only creates those.
- Your entries remain on your device. We can’t see the IBAN, the name or the amount.
Create a QR invoice in 3 steps
1. Your details under «Payment to». This is you or your company. You’ll need your IBAN from Switzerland or Liechtenstein, your name and your address, including street, postcode and town. The house number is optional.
2. Amount, reference and message. You can also leave the amount field blank. In that case, the payer will enter it themselves – which is handy for donations or membership fees where the amount is left to the payer’s discretion. The reference is based on your IBAN; the generator will automatically show you what to use. The payment reference should include, for example, the invoice number.
3. Wait for the live preview, then save as a PDF or print. As long as something is missing or incorrect, the Live Check will tell you exactly what the problem is. If everything is correct, the QR invoice generator will create an A4-format PDF with the payment section at the bottom and a perforated line.
In short: you don’t need to know the rules. The generator knows them for you.
IBAN or QR-IBAN?
There are two types of IBAN that may appear on a QR invoice.
Standard IBAN. This is the IBAN for your account, as shown in your online banking. It is the right choice for private individuals, associations and most self-employed people. A QR invoice with a standard IBAN does not require a reference.
QR-IBAN. It looks like a normal IBAN, but the fifth to ninth characters are a bank code between 30000 and 31999. You can only obtain a QR-IBAN from your bank, usually as part of a corporate banking agreement. It is designed for businesses that send out a large number of invoices and wish to automatically match incoming payments to their accounts.
A QR-IBAN only works with a QR reference. A standard IBAN never works with a QR reference.
The generator recognises the type of IBAN you’re entering and adjusts the reference accordingly. Not sure whether your IBAN is a QR-IBAN? Check it using our IBAN calculator. It also shows you which bank the IBAN belongs to.
An explanation of the three reference species
The reference number helps the recipient to link a payment to a specific invoice. There are three variants on a QR invoice.
| Reference | Structure | Goes well with | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reference | none | standard IBAN | Private individuals, clubs, small businesses |
| QR reference (QRR) | 27 digits, the last of which is a check digit | QR code and IBAN only | Companies offering accounting software |
| Creditor Reference (SCOR) | starts with RF, 5 to 25 characters | just a standard IBAN | Companies meeting international standards |
The QR reference is the successor to the ESR reference number on the orange payment slip. It is generated by your accounting software or your bank, not entered manually.
You may be familiar with the Creditor Reference under ISO 11649 from abroad. The two digits following ‘RF’ are check digits.
My view is this: if you only issue a few invoices a month, you don’t need a reference. The invoice number in the payment details is enough to match up each payment.
New rules from November 2025
Version 2.3 of the Swiss guidelines for QR invoices has been in force since 21 November 2025. The most significant change applies to everyone: addresses must structured . Street, house number, postcode and town are entered in separate fields and no longer appear freely across two lines.
What else has changed:
- Extended character set. Characters such as ő, č, ł and ș are now also permitted. This allows names from Eastern Europe to be written correctly. Emojis and non-Latin scripts remain prohibited.
- Postcode without the country code. So 8000 instead of CH-8000. The country is listed in a separate field.
For invoices containing old, combined addresses, there was only a transitional period, which ends in autumn 2026. Depending on the bank, such an invoice may therefore already be rejected today. Our generator produces only structured addresses, so you’re on the safe side.
For individuals, organisations and the self-employed
You don’t need a business to create a QR invoice. As a private individual, a standard personal bank account with an IBAN is all you need. Typical scenarios: you’re selling your bike, you’re issuing an invoice for a part-time job, or you’re collecting money for a group present.
It works in exactly the same way for clubs. Under «Payment to», enter the name of the club – for example, «Musik Oetwil Club» – along with the club’s address or that of the treasurer. For membership fees, you can create the PDF once and send it to everyone. If you want each member’s name to appear on the payment section, enter the payer’s name under «Payable by» and create a separate PDF for each member.
As a self-employed person It works in exactly the same way. If you issue invoices regularly, it’s worth having a separate business account: income and expenditure remain clearly separated, and bookkeeping and tax returns become easier. As a sole trader with a small turnover, a second, free account with a digital bank is often all you need. Our guide shows which option is right for you: Business account comparison.
Do you charge by the hour? With the Hourly Wage Calculator You can see which hourly rate corresponds to a monthly or annual salary in a salaried role. Your own rate must be significantly higher than this, as you are responsible for paying your own AHV contributions, holiday pay and days without work.
You don’t need a QR-IBAN in any of these cases. It’s only worth it if you receive so many payments that you no longer want to sort them manually.
Generators from UBS, PostFinance and others.
Banks also offer their own methods. The main difference lies in whether you have to register and whether there is a charge.
- UBS: With the UBS QR Portal You can create QR invoices in accordance with UBS’s guidelines free of charge and without logging in.
- PostFinance: The PostFinance QR code generator is aimed at business customers. It was not available at the time of our review in October 2026.
- Raiffeisen: Raiffeisen has its own QR Invoice Generator for one or more invoices.
- ZKB: ZKB does not have its own free generator. It refers to the Paid partner offer: QR module with a discount for ZKB customers.
You don’t have to use the generator at your own bank. A QR invoice is a SIX standard. Any valid generator produces an invoice that any Swiss bank can read.
How to pay a QR invoice
There are several options for your payer. This will help you if anyone asks.
Online banking and banking apps. The most common method. The payer scans the QR code using their banking app or uploads the PDF via their online banking service. The IBAN, amount and reference are then already filled in. Free of charge.
At the post office counter. You can also make payments at the post office counter, either in cash or by debit card. Please note: PostFinance charges a fee of a few francs for deposits made at the counter, and these fees may be passed on to the recipient – in other words, to you.
At the SBB ticket machine. According to SBB, QR invoices up to CHF 600 can be paid at a payment terminal, using cash or a debit card. The fee is 1.25 % of the amount, with a minimum of CHF 2.50 and a maximum of CHF 5.
By credit card. Some credit card issuers offer the option to pay QR invoices via their app. Check the fees beforehand, as these vary depending on the provider.
In short: the banking app is the most convenient option for everyone involved.
If the QR code won’t scan
Most problems do not arise in the generator, but when printing or combining the IBAN and reference.
- Reduced in size when printed. The «Fit to page» option reduces the size of the number section. The QR code must be 46 × 46 mm in size. Always print at 100 % size.
- QR-IBAN without a QR reference. Or the other way round: a QR reference with a standard IBAN. Both are rejected.
- Old address with no structure. Invoices based on old templates that include the street and town on the same line will no longer be processed after the transition period.
- Invalid characters. An emoji in the name or a special typographical character from Word. Our generator flags such characters immediately and automatically replaces apostrophes and quotation marks.
- Crumpled or creased. A crease right through the middle of the QR code makes it unreadable for some apps. Fold the sheet above the number section.
- Poor print quality. Faded toner or coloured paper reduces the contrast. Black on white is essential.
Tip: Before sending any new invoice, scan it once using your own banking app. You don’t need to initiate the payment; the scan will show you whether everything is being processed correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a QR invoice without a payment amount?
Yes. Leave the «Amount» field blank. An empty field will then appear on the payment section, and the payer can enter the amount themselves in their banking app. This is handy for donations or voluntary contributions.
Can I fill in the QR invoice by hand?
Only the blank fields. If the amount or the payer is missing, both can be entered by hand in the spaces provided. However, the QR code will not contain this information; the payer will need to enter it manually in their app. It is not possible to amend printed details by hand. In this case, please create a new invoice.
How do I print out the QR invoice correctly?
On white A4 paper, in black, using 100 % size and without «Fit to page». You don’t need to add perforations. The dotted lines marked with scissors show where the number section is to be cut off.
Can I send the QR invoice as a PDF by email?
Yes. You can send the PDF generated by the tool straight away. Your payer can upload it via their online banking or scan the code from the screen.
What does a QR invoice look like? Is there an example?
As long as you haven’t entered anything yet, the generator will show you a sample calculation at the top. On the left is the receipt, and on the right is the payment section with the QR code and the Swiss cross in the middle.
Does the generator cost anything?
No. The generator is free of charge, requires no registration and has no limits.
Where is my data stored?
Nowhere. The generator runs in the browser; it doesn’t send your input to any server, nor does it store anything on your device. If you close the page, the details are gone.
Do I need a specific bank for the generator?
No. The QR invoice is a Swiss standard. Every bank in Switzerland and Liechtenstein can read it.
Conclusion
For most invoices, you don’t need any software or a QR-IBAN. A standard IBAN, your address in a structured format and a generator that checks the rules are all you need. The main reason is that the requirements changed in 2025, and errors often only come to light when the payment doesn’t go through. The exception is companies with a large volume of invoices; for them, a QR-IBAN combined with accounting software is worthwhile.
Your next step: Create the invoice above and scan it once using your own banking app.
You can find more calculators in our Overview of all financial calculators.