How a UPI QR code works
A UPI QR code is an ordinary QR code that holds a upi://pay link. When someone scans it with a UPI app, the app reads your UPI ID and name from the link. It then asks the payer to confirm and enter their UPI PIN. The money goes straight from their bank account to yours. This page only writes the link into a QR code; it never touches the payment.
The link is built from a few standard fields:
| Field | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
pa | Payee address: your UPI ID (VPA) | asha@okbank |
pn | Payee name shown to the payer | Asha%20Design%20Studio |
am | Amount in rupees (optional) | 1250.00 |
cu | Currency, always INR | INR |
tn | Transaction note (optional) | Invoice%20INV-0042 |
tr | Reference ID (optional) | INV-0042 |
A full example: upi://pay?pa=asha@okbank&pn=Asha%20Design%20Studio&am=1250.00&cu=INR&tn=Invoice%20INV-0042. Spaces and symbols are percent-encoded, so every UPI app reads the same values.
Fixed amount or open amount?
- Open amount (leave the amount blank): the payer types the amount. Use this for a shop counter, a donation box or a standing QR on your website.
- Fixed amount: the payer's app shows the amount already filled in. Use this for one invoice or one product price. Make a new code when the price changes.
Some apps let the payer edit a pre-filled amount, so always check what you actually received.
Static vs dynamic UPI QR codes
The codes made here are static: the details are fixed in the pattern, and the same code can be paid any number of times. Banks and payment companies also issue dynamic QR codes, made fresh for each bill, often on a billing screen. A dynamic code carries a unique order reference, so the merchant's system can match each payment automatically. For a small shop or a freelancer, a static code plus your bank's payment alerts is usually enough.
Tips for shops and freelancers
- Print the card large and flat. Laminate it so it doesn't crease, and put it where the payer can hold the phone steady.
- Use the name your bank shows. Payers see the name registered to the UPI ID. If it doesn't match the card, they may hesitate.
- Put the invoice number in the note. It then appears in the payment details, which makes it easier to match payments. Our invoice generator and GST invoice generator have a payment instructions box where you can add your UPI ID.
- Give a receipt. After payment, send a receipt for your records and the customer's.
- Watch for swapped stickers. Check your printed code now and then. Scan it yourself to make sure it still shows your name.
Stay safe: receiving money never needs your PIN
A common UPI scam goes like this: someone says they are sending you money, then shares a QR code or a "collect request" and asks you to scan it and enter your PIN to "receive" it. Entering your UPI PIN always sends money out of your account. You never need to scan a code or enter your PIN to receive a payment. If anyone asks you to, stop and decline.
UPI payments between people (P2P) don't carry a merchant discount rate (MDR) for the payer. If you accept UPI through a payment company's merchant account, read its terms for any charges.
Frequently asked questions
Which apps can scan this UPI QR code?
upi://pay format, so it doesn't depend on one app.Should I add an amount?
Does this site see my payments?
Does the QR code expire?
Do I need to scan a QR code to receive money?
Can I get paid by foreign clients through UPI?
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