Traveler’s Guide to Using QR Payments in Indonesia (LinkAja, DANA, etc.)

💰 Click here to see Indonesia Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: November, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = Rp18,130.00

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: Rp543,900 – Rp906,500 ($30.00 – $50.00)

Mid-range: Rp1,269,100 – Rp2,719,500 ($70.00 – $150.00)

Comfortable: Rp2,719,500 – Rp4,532,500 ($150.00 – $250.00)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: Rp36,260 – Rp362,600 ($2.00 – $20.00)

Mid-range hotel: Rp199,430 – Rp1,323,490 ($11.00 – $73.00)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: Rp45,325.00 ($2.50)

Mid-range meal: Rp181,300.00 ($10.00)

Upscale meal: Rp1,813,000.00 ($100.00)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: Rp3,500.00 ($0.19)

Monthly transport pass: Rp400,000.00 ($22.06)

You are standing at a street stall in Indonesia. The seller points to a small printed square taped to the cart and says “QRIS?” Your foreign card is useless, and your wallet holds one IDR 100,000 note that is too large for a snack. In 2026 this happens to travelers every day. QR payments are now normal in Indonesian cities, but most e-wallets are built for residents. This guide shows how QRIS works, which wallets are worth setting up, and when to skip digital payments entirely.

What QRIS Is and How a Payment Works

QRIS stands for Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard. It is the national QR system regulated by Bank Indonesia and was fully implemented in 2020. Before QRIS, each wallet had its own code. Now a merchant displays one code, and customers can scan it with GoPay, OVO, DANA, ShopeePay, LinkAja, BCA Mobile, Mandiri Livin’ or any other participating app.

A typical payment takes about ten seconds:

1. The merchant shows a QRIS code.
2. You open your e-wallet or mobile banking app.
3. You scan the code.
4. You enter the amount, unless the merchant has already filled it in.
5. You confirm with your PIN or biometrics.
6. You and the merchant both get an instant confirmation.

Always show the success screen to the cashier. It is the normal way to prove you have paid.

Where QR Payments Work, and Where Cash and Cards Still Win

In cities, QRIS is close to universal. You will see it at Indomaret and Alfamart, restaurants, cafes, street food stalls, tourist attractions and museums. Many traditional markets now accept it too. TransJakarta and KAI Commuter also support it, and some taxis do.

Cash still matters in four situations:

• Rural areas and smaller islands. Outside the main tourist hubs, cash is often the only option.
• Pasar tradisional. Stalls and small warungs mostly run on cash.
• Very small purchases. A IDR 5,000 snack is usually easier with a banknote.
• Tipping. Wallet apps generally have no tipping feature.

International Visa and Mastercard cards work at major hotels, upscale restaurants, malls and larger supermarkets, and for online bookings. Amex and Diners Club have limited acceptance. Your home bank may charge a foreign transaction fee, typically 1-3%. Some merchants add a 2-3% surcharge for cards. This goes against card network rules but can still happen, so ask before you tap.

For cash, look for ATMs from BCA, Mandiri, BRI or BNI. Most accept Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus/Plus cards. Limits are usually IDR 1,250,000 or IDR 2,500,000 per transaction, depending on the machine and bank.

Choosing an E-Wallet: GoPay, OVO, DANA, ShopeePay, LinkAja

Five wallets dominate in 2026. All of them need a local Indonesian phone number to register.

GoPay

GoPay is built into the Gojek super-app, so it covers rides, food delivery and QRIS payments. It also handles bills and peer-to-peer transfers, and verified users get GoPayLater. It is the easiest wallet to start with because you can top it up in cash through a Gojek driver. Website: www.gojek.com/gopay.

OVO

OVO is closely tied to Grab, Gojek’s main competitor, but it also works on its own at QRIS merchants. It offers bill payments, transfers and OVO PayLater. Website: www.ovo.id.

DANA

DANA is a standalone wallet not tied to any super-app. It supports QRIS, bills (electricity, water, phone credit), transfers and e-commerce. Premium users get 10 free interbank transfers per month. You can top up through a linked local debit card, but whether foreign debit cards work for foreign users in 2026 is unconfirmed, so do not count on it. Website: www.dana.id.

ShopeePay

ShopeePay comes from the Shopee shopping platform and is increasingly accepted offline through QRIS. It often runs cashback promotions. Website: shopee.co.id/shopeepay.

LinkAja

LinkAja is backed by state-owned enterprises including Telkomsel, Mandiri, BRI, BNI, BTN and Pertamina. It leans toward public transport and government services, including TransJakarta, KAI Commuter and some toll roads. It also supports BI-FAST interbank transfers. Website: www.linkaja.id.

Most travelers do best with GoPay or OVO, matching whichever ride app they use, plus DANA or ShopeePay as a second option. Setting up all five is unnecessary. LinkAja is mainly worth considering if you will use public transport a lot or already use Telkomsel.

Step-by-Step Setup for Travelers

1. Buy a local SIM card. You need it for registration and for one-time passwords (OTPs). Airports and convenience stores sell them.
2. Download the apps. Get Gojek/GoPay, Grab/OVO, DANA, ShopeePay or LinkAja from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Do this on reliable Wi-Fi.
3. Register. Enter your Indonesian number, type in the OTP, then create a 6-digit PIN.
4. Upgrade through KYC. Basic accounts have lower limits, for example IDR 2,000,000 per month, against IDR 20,000,000 per month for premium. Upgrading also unlocks transfers and withdrawals. Foreigners usually upload a passport photo and a selfie. Approval takes a few hours to one business day, so start on arrival day.



5. Top up. See the next section.
6. Pay. Tap “Scan” or the QR icon, point the camera at the code, enter the amount if needed, confirm with your PIN and show the success screen.

Topping Up Your Balance

Most travelers get stuck here. You have three main routes.

Bank transfer (Virtual Account)

In the app, tap “Top Up” or “Isi Saldo” and choose “Bank Transfer” or “Virtual Account”. Pick a bank such as BCA or Mandiri. The app shows a unique Virtual Account number. Send money to it from an ATM or a local mobile banking app. Funds usually arrive instantly or within a few minutes. Fees are typically IDR 1,500-2,500 for GoPay, OVO and ShopeePay, and IDR 1,000-2,000 for DANA and LinkAja. This route works best if you hold a local bank account.

Convenience stores

Go to Indomaret or Alfamart (DANA also works at Lawson). Tell the cashier which wallet and how much, for example “Isi saldo GoPay lima puluh ribu”, which means top up GoPay IDR 50,000. Give your phone number and pay cash for the amount plus a fee of IDR 2,000-3,000. Minimum top-ups can be around IDR 20,000. Funds usually appear instantly.

Cash to a driver

With Gojek you can pay cash to your driver to top up GoPay at no fee. Grab drivers work in a similar way for OVO.

Rides, Trains and Toll Roads

• Ride-hailing: GoPay is the smoothest option on Gojek, and OVO on Grab. You can also pay the driver cash, especially for car services, or link a card to the app. Foreign transaction fees may apply to cards.
• Intercity trains: Book in the official KAI Access app. It accepts QRIS, LinkAja, GoPay, OVO, DANA and Virtual Account transfers. Visa and Mastercard also work, often with a processing fee of about IDR 2,500-5,000.
• KAI Commuter (Jabodetabek): Use e-money cards (Flazz, e-money, Brizzi or TapCash) or QRIS directly at the gates.
• Toll roads: E-money cards are mandatory: Flazz (BCA), e-money (Mandiri), Brizzi (BRI) or TapCash (BNI). Buy and top them up at convenience stores, ATMs or bank branches. Some newer gates may accept QRIS, but acceptance is limited, so do not rely on it. If you rent a car for a Trans-Java drive, sort the card out before you leave.

2026 Budget Reality: Fees, Limits and Tips

For consumers, QRIS itself carries no direct fee. Merchants pay a Merchant Discount Rate to their provider: roughly 0.4% for micro-businesses, 0.7% for small and medium businesses and 0.9% for large ones. Your costs come from topping up and from tipping.

• Wallet top-up by bank transfer: IDR 1,000-2,500 per transaction.
• Wallet top-up at a convenience store: IDR 2,000-3,000 per transaction.
• Interbank transfer via BI-FAST: IDR 2,500, now standard.
• Card payments: 1-3% foreign transaction fee from your bank, and sometimes a 2-3% merchant surcharge.

Tipping is not mandatory in Indonesia. Restaurant bills often include a 5-10% service charge, sometimes with a 10% government tax on top. Tips are still appreciated and are best given in cash. Based on the usual ranges:

• Budget: Round up the bill or leave IDR 10,000 at a restaurant without service charge. Give porters IDR 10,000 per bag.
• Mid-range: IDR 20,000 for restaurant staff, porters (per bag) or spa therapists, and IDR 20,000 for a driver on a good day.
• Comfortable: IDR 50,000 for a guide, driver or spa therapist after a full day or a great service.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• Wider adoption: QRIS reaches near 100% of urban retail and is growing quickly in rural areas.
• Cross-border QRIS: It is working with Malaysia and Thailand, so visitors from those countries can pay in IDR using their home apps. Expansion to Singapore and the Philippines is likely, but check current status before relying on it.
• Stricter KYC: Higher limits now require passport verification for foreigners.
• BI-FAST: Interbank transfers are smoother, which can make top-ups and withdrawals faster and cheaper.

Top-up fees have seen only minor adjustments, with some promotional periods ending, so the figures above may shift slightly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Arriving with no local SIM. Without it you cannot receive the OTP, and registration stops there.
• Leaving KYC until the last minute. Verification can take up to a business day, and unverified accounts have low limits.
• Relying on QRIS in rural areas. Smaller islands and remote towns often take cash only.
• Using small top-ups repeatedly. Each store visit costs IDR 2,000-3,000 in fees, so top up a sensible amount in one go.



• Assuming foreign cards will top up your wallet. Acceptance for foreign users is not guaranteed, so do not plan around it.
• Forgetting toll road e-money cards. QRIS at toll gates is limited, and a car without a card will cause delays.
• Paying on public Wi-Fi. Use mobile data for financial transactions and set a strong PIN.
• Not asking about card surcharges. A 2-3% extra fee can appear at checkout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can tourists use QRIS in Indonesia?

Yes, but you need a payment app that supports it. Most travelers set up an Indonesian e-wallet with a local SIM. Visitors from Malaysia and Thailand may be able to scan with their home apps through cross-border QRIS, so check your app first.

Which e-wallet is best for travelers in Indonesia?

GoPay is usually the easiest, because you can top it up in cash through a Gojek driver at no fee. OVO suits Grab users. DANA and ShopeePay make good backups, and LinkAja is useful for public transport. Pick one or two rather than all five.

Do I need a local phone number for e-wallets?

Yes. Most Indonesian e-wallets require a local number for registration and OTP verification. Buy a local SIM at the airport or a convenience store, then download and register your apps. To raise limits, expect to upload a passport photo and selfie.

Are there fees for paying with QRIS?

Consumers generally pay no direct fee for QRIS payments. Merchants pay a small rate, around 0.4% to 0.9% depending on business size. Your costs come from topping up your wallet, usually IDR 1,000-3,000 per top-up, and from any foreign card fees.

Is cash still needed in Indonesia in 2026?

Yes. Cash is essential in rural areas, on smaller islands, at traditional markets and for small purchases. It is also the best way to tip, since e-wallet apps rarely support it. Withdraw rupiah from BCA, Mandiri, BRI or BNI ATMs, which typically allow IDR 1,250,000 or IDR 2,500,000 per transaction.

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📷 Featured image by firman fatthul on Unsplash.