What is a GiroCode?
A GiroCode is a standardised QR code that encodes all the data required for a SEPA bank transfer in a machine-readable format. When a payer scans the code with their banking app, the transfer form is filled out automatically – including recipient name, IBAN, amount and payment reference. All the payer needs to do is verify the pre-filled details and confirm the transaction.
Technically, the GiroCode is based on the specification of the European Payments Council (EPC), which is why it is also commonly referred to as SEPA-QR, EPC-QR or payment QR code. All these terms refer to the same underlying standard – a plain-text payload, encoded as a QR code, that banking apps across Europe can interpret in the same way.
The GiroCode was officially introduced in Germany in 2018, following the EPC's publication of the QR Code Guidelines. Since then it has been adopted by virtually all major German banks and savings banks, and is increasingly recognised by banking apps throughout the SEPA zone. Today it is considered the de-facto standard for scan-to-pay bank transfers within Europe.
Who developed the GiroCode?
The technical standard behind the GiroCode was developed by the European Payments Council (EPC) – the decision-making and coordination body of the European banking industry for payment schemes. The EPC manages the SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) scheme, the SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) scheme and the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) scheme. The QR code guideline that defines the GiroCode format is called the EPC069-12 SEPA Credit Transfer QR Code Guideline.
In Germany, the Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft (DK) – the umbrella association of German banks – adopted the EPC standard and introduced it under the brand name “GiroCode”. The name itself is a portmanteau of “Giro” (German for bank transfer) and “code” (QR code).
How widespread is GiroCode in Europe?
While GiroCode is best known in Germany, the underlying EPC standard is used across the entire SEPA zone. Austria uses the closely related Stuzza QR code (also based on EPC), Belgium has widely adopted the same EPC QR standard for invoice payments, and Switzerland has introduced its own variant called the Swiss QR Code (QR-Bill) – which shares many similarities but includes Swiss-specific fields. In the Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy, the EPC QR format is also gaining traction as banks update their apps.
As of 2024, virtually every major German retail bank – including Sparkasse, VR-Banken, ING, DKB, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Postbank, N26 and Comdirect – supports QR code scanning for SEPA transfers.
How Does a GiroCode Work?
Understanding how a GiroCode works requires looking at two sides: the creation side (how the QR code is generated) and the scanning side (how the QR code is read and processed).
Step-by-step: From creation to payment
- Enter payment details: The invoice issuer enters the recipient name, IBAN, BIC (optional), amount (optional) and payment reference into a GiroCode generator tool like ours.
- Generate QR code: The tool assembles a plain-text EPC payload from these fields and encodes it as a QR code using error correction level M.
- Embed in invoice: The QR code image is placed on the invoice – typically in the bottom-right corner, near the bank details.
- Payer scans code: The customer opens their banking app, taps the QR scanner function and points the camera at the GiroCode.
- Transfer form auto-fills: The app decodes the payload and pre-populates the transfer form with all encoded fields.
- Payer verifies and confirms: The customer checks the pre-filled data, enters their TAN or uses biometric authentication, and confirms the transfer.
What data is transferred?
The EPC payload that is encoded in a GiroCode contains the following fields, each on a separate line:
- Service tag: Always “BCD” – identifies the payload as a bank QR code
- Version: Either “001” or “002”
- Character set encoding: Typically “1” for UTF-8
- Identification code: “SCT” for SEPA Credit Transfer
- BIC: Bank Identifier Code of the recipient's bank (optional since 2016)
- Recipient name: Full account holder name (max. 70 characters)
- IBAN: Full IBAN of the recipient
- Amount: Optional, format “EUR12.34”
- Purpose type: Optional category code (usually left empty)
- Creditor reference: Structured reference (usually left empty)
- Payment reference: Free-text description (max. 140 characters)
Security aspects
A GiroCode is a push payment – the payer actively initiates the transfer and must confirm it with their bank's authentication method (TAN, fingerprint, Face ID, etc.). Unlike direct debits, nobody can pull money from your account using only a GiroCode. The banking app always shows the pre-filled data before any money moves, giving the payer full control.
However, as with any QR code, payers should always verify the pre-filled data before confirming. A manipulated QR code could in theory redirect a payment to a different IBAN. Banks and security experts therefore recommend always checking the recipient name and IBAN before confirming any scan-to-pay transfer.
Advantages of a GiroCode
For invoice senders (businesses and freelancers)
- Fewer payment errors: Customers no longer type IBAN or payment reference manually. Transposition errors, wrong amounts and missing references become rare exceptions rather than common problems.
- Faster incoming payments: Studies show that invoices with GiroCode are paid on average 2–4 days faster than those without.
- Easier reconciliation: When the payment reference is pre-filled correctly, matching incoming payments to invoices in your accounting software becomes automatic.
- Professional image: A GiroCode signals that you are tech-savvy, customer-focused and up to date with modern payment standards.
- No extra costs: Unlike PayPal or Stripe, there are no percentage fees for SEPA bank transfers. The GiroCode itself is free to generate.
For payers (customers)
- Simple and fast: Scan once, review, confirm – payment takes under 30 seconds.
- Error-free: All data is pre-filled; no risk of typos.
- No app registration required: Any banking app that supports SEPA QR scanning works immediately, without any additional sign-up.
- Full control: The payer always sees exactly what is being transferred before confirming.
- Privacy-friendly: No third-party payment processor sees your transaction data.
GiroCode vs. PayPal and other online payment methods
- PayPal charges fees of 1.5–3.5% per transaction
- PayPal and Stripe require the payer to have an account with the service
- Chargeback risk is much higher with PayPal than with SEPA bank transfers
- SEPA transfers are covered by your bank's deposit protection; PayPal balances are not
- GiroCode works with any bank in the SEPA zone – no additional infrastructure needed
Who Can Use GiroCodes?
In principle, anyone with a SEPA bank account can issue and receive payments via GiroCode. The standard is particularly valuable for the following groups:
Freelancers and self-employed professionals
For freelancers, consultants, designers, developers and other self-employed professionals, GiroCodes are a game-changer. You can generate a unique QR code for every invoice in seconds, embed it in your PDF and significantly reduce the time customers take to pay. Because you control the payment reference, incoming payments are easy to match to specific invoices in your accounting.
Small and medium businesses (SMEs)
SMEs that send high volumes of invoices benefit enormously from GiroCodes. Every incorrectly transferred payment requires time to investigate and correct. Modern accounting software like sevDesk and FastBill can generate GiroCodes automatically as part of the invoicing workflow.
Associations and non-profit organisations
Clubs and associations use GiroCodes on membership fee invoices, event tickets and donation requests. Donation QR codes without a fixed amount allow donors to choose their own contribution.
Private individuals
Even private individuals can use GiroCodes for group purchases, shared expenses or informal payments. Many banking apps allow users to generate a personal payment QR code directly from their account details.
GiroCode vs. Other Payment Methods
| Feature | GiroCode | PayPal | Stripe | Direct Debit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction cost | Free (bank SEPA fee) | 1.5–3.5% + fixed fee | 1.5% + 0.25 € (SEPA) | Free or low bank fee |
| Account required | Bank account only | PayPal account | Card or bank account | Bank account only |
| Privacy | High – bank only | Low – PayPal sees all | Medium – Stripe sees all | High – bank only |
| Chargeback risk | Very low | High (buyer protection) | Medium | Medium (8-week reversal) |
| Setup complexity | None | Low | Medium | Requires SEPA mandate |
| SEPA availability | All 36 SEPA countries | 200+ countries | 40+ countries | All 36 SEPA countries |
GiroCode in Different European Countries
Germany – GiroCode
In Germany, the EPC QR standard was introduced under the name “GiroCode” by the Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft in 2018. It is now supported by all major German banks and savings banks.
Austria – Stuzza QR
Austria uses the Stuzza QR code, closely based on the EPC standard. German GiroCodes are often readable by Austrian apps due to the high compatibility between the two standards.
Belgium
Belgium was among the early adopters of the EPC QR standard. Belgian banking apps like KBC, ING Belgium and BNP Paribas Fortis support EPC QR scanning.
Switzerland – QR-Bill
Switzerland introduced the Swiss QR-Bill in 2020. It uses the same ISO 20022 data standard but includes Swiss-specific fields (QRR reference number). Swiss QR-Bills are not directly compatible with German GiroCodes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is a GiroCode only usable in Germany?
No. The GiroCode is based on the EPC SEPA QR standard, which is used throughout the 36-country SEPA zone. Many banking apps in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and other SEPA countries can scan and process GiroCodes.
Can I create a GiroCode without specifying an amount?
Yes. The amount field is optional. If you leave it empty, the transfer form will have an empty amount field and the payer can enter their own amount. This is ideal for donation requests.
Which fields are mandatory in a GiroCode?
The minimum required fields are the recipient name and the recipient IBAN. BIC, amount and payment reference are all optional. For invoicing, including both amount and invoice number as reference is strongly recommended.
Is it free to create and use GiroCodes?
Creating a GiroCode with our generator is completely free. The SEPA bank transfer itself may incur your bank's standard transfer fee, but there are no per-transaction fees for GiroCode itself.
How large should a GiroCode be on a printed invoice?
The recommended minimum size for a printed GiroCode is 2 × 2 cm. For best scan reliability, 3 × 3 cm or larger is preferred. Print at at least 300 DPI.
Does a GiroCode work on digital invoices too?
Yes. Digital invoices in PDF format can also include a GiroCode. The recipient can scan the QR code directly from their screen or phone.
What is the difference between a GiroCode and a BezahlCode?
The GiroCode follows the EPC SEPA QR standard and is designed specifically for SEPA credit transfers. The BezahlCode is an older German format. Today, GiroCode is the dominant standard for invoice payments in Germany.
Use GiroCode Professionally – Software Recommendations
Anyone who wants to use GiroCodes professionally on invoices will eventually need good accounting or invoicing software. Creating GiroCodes manually is fine for occasional use – but for regular invoicing, an automated solution quickly pays off.
We recommend two proven tools that natively support GiroCodes:
sevDesk
sevDesk is one of Germany's leading accounting platforms for freelancers and SMEs. Invoices with automatically generated GiroCode can be created in just a few clicks and sent directly by email. The software is DATEV-compatible and supports the small business regulation.
Try sevDesk free *FastBill
FastBill offers a simple, speed-focused invoicing platform. With FastBill you can create a professional invoice including a GiroCode in under two minutes – directly in the browser, no installation needed. Ideal for freelancers and small teams.
Try FastBill free for 14 days ** Affiliate link – If you purchase through this link, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For occasional use or as a starting point, we recommend our free GiroCode Generator – completely local, no registration required.