MobileNov 11, 2026, 11:40 PM UTC·1 min read

Google Wallet adds QR code payments for travelers abroad

Google Wallet is adding a QR code payment option to its international payments section, built with Alipay+, for places where tap-to-pay terminals are rare.

A traveler scans a QR code with a smartphone to pay at a market stall using Google Wallet. — Image: telepolis.pl

Google Wallet is getting a new way to pay abroad: QR codes. The option is set to appear in the wallet's international payments tab, aimed at markets where paying by scanning a code is the norm and contactless card terminals are not.

QR payments are especially common in many Latin American countries and other developing markets. There, contactless technology never caught on widely because merchants would have to buy a dedicated terminal. A QR code removes that hurdle: a payment is made by scanning a code with another smartphone, with no extra hardware needed.

Powered by Alipay+

The feature is possible thanks to a partnership between Google and Alipay+, a payment system that operates in more than 210 countries and regions. Users do not need to install an unfamiliar local app to pay this way, and they are not limited to cash.

There is a catch. Because the service charges a commission on every transaction, using it can mean higher prices than other payment methods.

Why it matters

For travelers, the benefit is practical. When a currency exchange office is far away, a seller does not want cash, or you are in a country where you do not speak the language, paying through a tool you already have can help you avoid awkward situations. It also means you do not have to hand your money to an unfamiliar local service, and can rely on Google Wallet instead.

The company has not yet detailed when the option will reach users or in which countries it will be available first.

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Tags:google walletqr paymentsalipay+mobile paymentsandroid