Magic Heidi QR-IBAN example: spot it, use it right
Checksum-valid examples from the official SIX guidelines, the right reference for each IBAN and what SIX version 2.4 changes.
A QR-IBAN is a Swiss account number made for QR-bills with a QR reference. It looks like a normal IBAN, but positions 5–9 hold a QR-IID in the range 30000–31999. That tells the bank the payment comes with a 27-digit QR reference.
QR-IBAN example, position by position
CH44 3199 9123 0008 8901 2
- CH = country code Switzerland
- 44 = IBAN check digits
- 31999 = QR-IID (positions 5–9, range 30000–31999), the giveaway
- 123000889012 = account number
How to spot it: if position 5 is a 3 and position 6 is a 0 or 1, it's a QR-IBAN. Every IBAN is printed in groups of four, with the last character on its own.
Valid examples for testing
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| QR-IBAN | CH44 3199 9123 0008 8901 2 |
| QR reference (QRR, 27 digits) | 21 00000 00003 13947 14300 09017 |
| Normal IBAN | CH58 0079 1123 0008 8901 2 |
| Creditor Reference (SCOR) | RF18 5390 0754 7034 |
All examples come from the official SIX QR-bill guidelines and have valid check digits, so they're ideal for testing your software. Try the combination right away in the free generator: enter the IBAN and reference, look at the PDF.
To see which bank is behind an IBAN and whether it's valid, use the free SIX IBAN check.
Normal IBAN vs. QR-IBAN
The differences at a glance.
| Feature | Normal IBAN | QR-IBAN |
|---|---|---|
| Example | CH58 0079 1123 0008 8901 2 | CH44 3199 9123 0008 8901 2 |
| Positions 5–9 | Bank clearing number (IID) | QR-IID 30000–31999 |
| Reference | No reference or SCOR (RF…) | QR reference only (27 digits) |
| Currency | CHF and EUR | CHF only (SIX 2.4; deadline Nov 2027) |
| Typical use | One-off invoices, clients abroad | Automatic payment matching |
The three reference types
and the matching IBAN
The bank rejects the wrong combination.
QR reference (QRR)
Format: 27 digits, the last one is a check digit
IBAN: QR-IBAN only
Example: 21 00000 00003 13947 14300 09017
- Automatic payment matching
- Check digit modulo 10 recursive
- CHF only (SIX 2.4; deadline Nov 2027)
- Swiss format
Creditor Reference (SCOR)
Format: «RF» + 2 check digits + up to 21 characters
IBAN: normal IBAN only
Example: RF18 5390 0754 7034
- International standard ISO 11649
- In CHF and EUR
- Good for clients abroad
- Never with a QR-IBAN
No reference (NON)
Format: no reference, just a message
IBAN: normal IBAN only
- Simplest option
- In CHF and EUR
- Manual payment matching
- Fine for a few invoices
How to get a QR-IBAN
Ask for the QR-IBAN for your account in your e-banking or at your bank. At UBS, you convert your account number for free in the QR portal (guide). At Raiffeisen, you see the QR-IBAN directly in e-banking (guide). If you don't need a QR reference, your normal IBAN is enough, with no reference or with SCOR.
The QR-IBAN points to the same account as your normal IBAN, so you can use both side by side: the QR-IBAN for CHF invoices with a QR reference, the normal IBAN for everything else.
QR-bill deadlines
- 22 Nov 2025: QR-bills may only contain structured addresses (street, house number, postcode, town, country in separate fields).
- End of Sept 2026: Banks guaranteed processing of old QR-bills with unstructured addresses until this date at the latest (ZKB factsheet, German). Old slips can now be rejected.
- 13 Nov 2026: Banks clean up standing orders and templates (SIX factsheet).
- 14 Nov 2026: New SIX version 2.4: QR-IBAN with QR reference for CHF only; version 2.3 remains valid until November 2027 (Implementation Guidelines 2.4).
If you issue QR-bills, your software had to use structured addresses from November 2025 already. Full details and a checklist: Swiss QR-bill changes.
Currency and clients abroad
The QR-bill exists only in CHF and EUR. Euro invoices under SIX version 2.4 (from 14 November 2026): normal IBAN with a SCOR reference or no reference. Version 2.3 remains valid until November 2027. For clients abroad, the normal IBAN with a SCOR reference is the better choice anyway, because SCOR is an international standard. Banking apps outside Switzerland usually don't scan the Swiss QR code, so your clients type in the IBAN, BIC and reference by hand.
Paying a QR-bill
In your banking app, tap "Scan QR-bill", capture the code, check payee, amount and reference, confirm. Without a scanner, enter IBAN, reference and amount by hand in e-banking, the reference exactly as printed.
Three safety rules:
- After scanning, check that the payee name and amount are right.
- Only pay invoices from senders you know; check unexpected QR-bills by email with the sender.
- If something feels off, call the company on a number you looked up yourself.
Common questions about the QR-IBAN
Can I use a QR-IBAN with a SCOR reference or no reference?
No. A QR-IBAN always goes with a QR reference (27 digits). SCOR references and payments without a reference use the normal IBAN. The bank rejects the wrong combination.
Do I have a QR-IBAN and a normal IBAN at the same time?
Yes, both point to the same account. Use the QR-IBAN for CHF invoices with a QR reference and the normal IBAN for everything else. At UBS you get the QR-IBAN for free in the QR portal.
What is the last digit of the QR reference for?
It's a check digit calculated with modulo 10 recursive. If even one digit is wrong, the check digit no longer matches and the reference is flagged as invalid.
Does the QR-IBAN work for euro invoices?
Not for much longer. With SIX version 2.4, valid from 14 November 2026, the QR-IBAN is meant for CHF invoices only. Version 2.3 remains valid until November 2027. Switch euro invoices to your normal IBAN, with a SCOR reference or no reference.
Do old QR-bills with unstructured addresses still work?
You can't count on it anymore. Banks guaranteed processing until the end of September 2026 at the latest. Create new QR-bills with structured addresses.
The QR code won't scan. What can I do?
Don't shrink the QR code (46 × 46 mm), keep the Swiss cross in the middle and print on white paper. Leave the payment part with receipt (210 × 105 mm) at its original size. If all else fails, enter the details by hand.
What happens if I enter the wrong reference?
If the check digit is wrong, the bank usually won't accept the payment at all. If the reference is valid but the wrong one, the money arrives, but the payee can't match it to your invoice automatically.
How do I check a complete QR-bill?
With the SIX Validation Portal or the UBS checker. To check a single IBAN, use the SIX IBAN check.
QR-bills without the guesswork
Magic Heidi creates SIX-compliant Swiss QR-bills with structured addresses. 3 invoices and 3 expenses free, no credit card.
