PayPal Launches QR Code Touch-Free Payments in Canada

PayPal has today announced the launch of QR code payments in Canada for small businesses to accept touch-free mobile payments from their customers using the PayPal app. To further help small business owners during COVID-19, PayPal will waive standard seller transaction fees for QR code payments until September 30, 2020.

A recent study found that nearly 62% of Canadians are using less cash than they did before the pandemic. Moreover, 53% of Canadians said they have been using card or mobile tap payment for in-store purchases more often.

Amid business re-openings, nearly 42% of Canadians who are shopping in-person are avoiding places that do not accept contactless payments. PayPal’s QR code payments feature makes it simple and safe for businesses to accept touch-free payments.

“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen a surge in demand for digital payments to include safe and affordable solutions for in-person payments,” said John Kunze, Senior Vice President of Branded Experiences, PayPal. “We are rolling out QR codes for buyers and sellers so they can shop and sell safely while social distancing. They don’t need any new devices or expensive point-of-sale terminals. All they need is a PayPal account and their smartphone.”

To make a payment, customers can go to the PayPal app, click ‘Send’ and tap the QR code symbol in the top right-hand corner. The camera will open, and customers can scan a seller’s QR code and follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

For sellers, they simply need to create a PayPal-generated QR code by following the steps outlined here.