May 10, 20262 min

Create a Swiss QR-bill — step-by-step guide

How to create a compliant Swiss QR-bill in 10 seconds — IBAN/QR-IBAN, reference number, and all required fields.

#qr-bill
#switzerland
#iban
#invoicing

Since 1 October 2022, the QR-bill has been the only official Swiss payment standard. The orange inpayment slip is gone. Anyone sending invoices today has to use the QR-code.

This guide shows you how to create a correct QR-bill — either with the SnapBill app in under a minute, or manually if you want to understand what's happening underneath.

What a QR-bill must contain

A compliant Swiss QR-bill has two parts:

The invoice section with addresses, line items, VAT and amounts — the free-form part you've known for years.
The payment section with QR-code at the bottom of the A4 sheet (or as a separate perforated slip) with all payment-relevant data.

The QR-code contains a structured dataset per SIX specification 2.4:

IBAN or QR-IBAN of the beneficiary
Name and address of the beneficiary
Amount (optional)
Currency (CHF or EUR)
Name and address of the payer
Reference (QRR with QR-IBAN, SCOR with regular IBAN, or none)

IBAN or QR-IBAN — which to use?

The most common mistake:

QR-IBAN starts with CH and contains the QR-IID (positions 5–9 between 30000 and 31999). You get it from your bank in addition to your normal IBAN. It lets you use the structured 27-digit QR reference (QRR) that accounting systems auto-match.
Regular IBAN works too — you then use a Creditor Reference (SCOR) per ISO 11649 or no reference with a free message.

For freelancers without automatic debtor management, the regular IBAN is enough. Once you issue more than 30 invoices a month, the QR-IBAN pays off.

Common mistakes

Wrong checksum in the reference number — SnapBill calculates it automatically.
Address too long — the QR spec caps street + number at 70 characters.
VAT rate forgotten — without it, your client loses the input VAT deduction.

For full details on required fields, see our invoice template guide.

Key takeaways

The QR-bill has been the only Swiss payment standard since October 2022.
QR-IBAN + QRR for automatic matching, regular IBAN + SCOR for small volumes.
The SnapBill app creates a compliant QR-bill in under a minute.

Frequently asked

Do I need a QR-IBAN or is my regular IBAN enough?

Both are valid. With a regular IBAN you either use the Creditor Reference (SCOR) or no reference. A QR-IBAN is only needed if you want the structured 27-digit QR reference (QRR) for automatic reconciliation in accounting software. For most freelancers, the regular IBAN is sufficient.

Does the amount need to be in the QR-code?

No. A QR-bill can be sent without an amount — the payer enters it at scan time. Useful for donations or open claims, but avoid it for normal commercial invoices because it increases the risk of typing mistakes.

Can I issue a QR-bill in EUR?

Yes, CHF and EUR are the only currencies allowed. You need a matching account at your Swiss bank. EUR invoices are mostly relevant for exports and cross-border services; most Swiss banks offer EUR accounts without extra fees.

How many characters can the message contain?

Up to 140 characters of unstructured message are allowed in the QR-code. Enough for an invoice number and a short note, but not for long text. For more detail, put it in the invoice section above the payment slip.

Try it now