Create SEPA Transfer QR Codes for Free
Pre-fill a euro bank transfer from an invoice, bill or donation form using the EPC (Giro code) standard.
Why it works
Why use a sepa transfer qr code?
No IBAN typed by hand, which removes the most common cause of failed or delayed transfers.
The payment reference travels with the code, so incoming payments arrive already attributable to an invoice.
It's an open standard, supported by many European banks — you aren't tied to a specific bank or app.
Nothing routes through a payment processor, so there are no fees and the money moves bank to bank.
What it is
What is a SEPA Transfer QR Code?
A SEPA transfer QR code uses the EPC standard — often called a Giro code — to pre-fill a euro bank transfer. Scanning it in a supporting European banking app opens a transfer screen with the beneficiary name, IBAN, amount and payment reference already entered, leaving the payer only to confirm.
An IBAN is twenty-two to thirty-four characters, and a payment reference is the thing everyone gets wrong. Between them they account for most of the friction in getting paid by bank transfer: the payer squints at an invoice, types a long string, misses a digit or forgets the reference, and either the payment fails or it arrives unattributable and someone spends twenty minutes matching it up.
The EPC standard exists specifically to remove that. It's widely used across Europe on invoices, donation forms and utility bills, and most European banking apps have a scanner built into the transfer screen. It's worth being precise about the boundary though: this is euro-only, SEPA-only, and support varies by bank — so it belongs alongside a printed IBAN, not instead of one.
“The payment reference is the field everyone gets wrong, and the reason unattributable transfers exist.”
See it in action
What happens when someone scans your sepa transfer qr code
Payer scans in their banking app
IBAN, amount and reference pre-fill
They confirm — nothing typed
Getting started
How to create one, step by step
Enter the beneficiary name and IBAN
Spaces are fine — we strip them. The IBAN is the only field the standard genuinely requires.
Add a BIC if your bank asks for one
Optional for SEPA transfers in most cases, since the IBAN identifies the bank. Include it if your bank specifically requires it.
Set an amount and reference
Leave the amount blank for donations or variable bills. The reference is what makes an incoming payment identifiable.
Test it in your own banking app
Support varies between banks, so scan it yourself before printing. Print the IBAN in readable text alongside as a fallback.
In practice
Popular uses for a sepa transfer qr code
Invoices
a code beside the payment details, so a client pays without retyping anything.
Charities and NGOs
a donation code on a leaflet, poster or collection box.
Clubs and associations
membership fees with the member reference already attached.
Utility and service bills
the reference travels with the payment, so reconciliation is automatic.
Schools and community groups
trip payments or fundraising, without collecting cash.
Where it's used
Industries where a sepa transfer qr code is a common fit
SEPA Transfer QR Code at a glance
0
characters of IBAN anyone has to type
EUR
only — the EPC standard is euro and SEPA-area specific
Free
to create — payment codes aren't limited to a paid plan
Every type, in one place
Explore all 25 QR code types
SEPA Transfer QR Code not quite what you need? Browse the rest of Unqode SmartQR's QR code types below.
URL / Website
Link to any website — static or dynamic and editable later
WiFi Network
Join a WiFi network in one scan, no password typing
Opens a pre-filled email with subject and body ready to send
Starts a WhatsApp chat with your business pre-loaded
Social Media
Sends scanners straight to one social media profile
Landing Page
Builds a full landing page hosted right on the QR code
Google Maps
Drops a pin and opens turn-by-turn directions in Maps
Coupon / Discount
Reveals a discount code or offer the moment it's scanned
A/B Split URL
Splits scans between two destinations to test what works
Image Gallery
Shows a whole set of photos from one printed code
Restaurant Menu
A phone-first menu you can reprice in seconds
Google Review
Opens your Google review box, skipping the search
vCard Contact
Saves a full contact card straight to a phone's address book
PDF Document
Open a menu, brochure, or manual as a scannable PDF
SMS
Opens a pre-filled text message ready to send in one tap
Phone Call
Dials a number directly on scan, no typing needed
App Store
Detects iOS or Android and opens the matching app store
Plain Text
Displays plain text instantly — no app or link required
Event / Calendar
Adds an event straight to a phone's calendar app
Feedback / Rating
Collects ratings and reviews right after a visit
Video
Plays a video on a mobile-friendly page you can update
Audio / MP3
Plays a recording in the browser, no app needed
UPI Payment
Opens any UPI app with your payment details filled in
Crypto Payment
Opens a Bitcoin or BIP-21 wallet, address filled in
Getting it right
Best practices for sepa transfer qr codes
The code itself rarely goes wrong — how it's set up and where it's placed is what determines whether people actually use it.
Always print the IBAN in text as well
Not every European bank supports scanning these, and some support it only in newer app versions. A readable IBAN beside the code means nobody is blocked — the code is a shortcut, not the only route.
Put a real reference in every code
This is where most of the value is. An invoice number in the reference field means the payment arrives already matched, instead of appearing as an anonymous amount someone has to chase.
Leave the amount blank for donations
A fixed amount quietly caps what people give. Donors who would have given more will confirm the pre-filled figure instead.
Scan it with your own bank's app first
It takes thirty seconds and is the only way to know your bank's app handles it. Do this before an invoice template goes into production.
Which type to use
Other QR types worth pairing with sepa transfer qr codes
Questions
Frequently asked questions about sepa transfer qr codes
Many European banks support EPC codes in their apps, usually via a scan option on the transfer screen, but it isn't universal and we can't promise a specific bank. Scan your own code with your bank's app before you rely on it — and print the IBAN alongside so anyone whose app doesn't support it can still pay.
Ready to create your sepa transfer qr code?
Free plan includes 3 dynamic QR codes and 500 scans/month.