Starting March 2026, all merchants in Slovakia will be required to offer customers a cashless payment option — such as a QR code, payment card, or another electronic method.
The key component will be the Instant Payment Notifier (NOP). It ensures that after a QR payment is made, a confirmation is automatically sent to your POS or ERP system — without any manual verification or waiting for the bank to process the transaction.
Customers simply scan the QR code, make the payment, and your system instantly recognizes, verifies, and records it.
Why QR payments matter
- Payments made via QR codes take just a few seconds, cost less than card transactions, and are processed within a secure banking environment.
- This new method allows small businesses to lower transaction fees while speeding up cash flow — the money arrives in your account within seconds.
- In the near future, QR payments will also be linked with eInvoicing, enabling automatic matching of invoices and payments.
Who needs to prepare
The new QR payment requirement applies to all merchants and service providers who receive payments outside of online gateways:
- physical stores using the fiscal cash register system (eKasa),
- service providers accepting in-person payments (e.g. pharmacies, repair shops, consultants),
- showrooms, pickup points, or in-person order collections for online purchases.
Although the regulation mainly affects physical points of sale, QR codes can also be used in online stores — for example, automatically generated after order confirmation or included in an invoice email.
It allows customers to pay quickly without retyping payment details, while merchants receive instant confirmation and enjoy lower fees compared to card payments.
What needs to be done
1. Ensure your system is technically ready
Your ERP, fiscal system, or POS solution must support the MQTT communication protocol, receive payment notifications, and communicate with the Financial Administration.
If your software is outdated, an update or additional integration module may be required.
2. Connect your bank account to NOP
Your account must be part of the instant payment system and able to receive properly formatted transactions (e.g. with a variable symbol like QR-0001234567).
3. Test during the transition period
The integration environment will be available from November 2025, with a public pilot starting in January 2026. Early testing will ensure smooth operation and correct delivery of payment notifications.
4. Automate payment confirmations
Your system should automatically process incoming notifications in real time and record payments as completed transactions. Properly configured processing saves time, reduces errors, and ensures full QR payment functionality.
How we can help
We can prepare your online store or internal system to recognize, process, and record QR payments automatically and securely:
- we’ll analyze your system’s technical readiness,
- set up integration with bank systems or NOP through API connections,
- design and implement QR payments directly into the purchase flow — from order confirmation screens to mobile layouts.
Don’t wait until the deadline
Contact us and we’ll help you integrate QR payments into your sales process — efficiently, securely, and on time.
Frequently Asked Questions about QR Payments and NOP
Who needs to prepare for the March 2026 changes?
All merchants and service providers who accept payments outside of online payment gateways — including physical stores using the fiscal cash register system (eKasa), service providers with on-site payments, showrooms, and pickup points. QR technology can also help online stores, for example when sending invoices or confirming orders.
What exactly is the Instant Payment Notifier (NOP)?
The NOP is a system that sends real-time payment confirmations directly to your POS or ERP system after a QR payment is completed, removing the need for manual checking or waiting for the bank to confirm the transfer.
Why is MQTT mentioned in connection with QR payments?
MQTT is a lightweight communication protocol that ensures instant and reliable data delivery. In QR payment processing, it enables real-time delivery of payment notifications to the merchant’s system.
What are the main advantages of QR payments compared to cards?
QR payments are faster, have lower transaction fees, and are processed directly within the banking network — money arrives within seconds. They also simplify payment reconciliation and accounting automation.
What if the customer’s bank doesn’t support instant payments?
In that case, the payment is sent as a standard bank transfer. The system should detect this and mark the payment as pending until it is credited to the merchant’s account.
Are QR payments secure?
Yes. They are processed through encrypted banking channels and meet the same security standards as traditional online transfers. The QR code only simplifies data entry and reduces errors.
How much does QR payment integration cost?
It depends on your system and the scope of integration. After a technical audit, we can provide a precise estimate, including development time and costs.
Do we need to replace our ERP or fiscal system if MQTT isn’t supported yet?
Not necessarily. In many cases, a software update or additional integration module will be sufficient. After assessing your system, we’ll recommend the simplest upgrade path.
Can we include the QR code directly in invoices or emails?
Yes. The QR code can be embedded in invoice emails, PDF documents, or order confirmations. Each of these options can use the same logic for automatic payment pairing.
What happens if the internet connection or MQTT link goes down?
The system should include a fallback mechanism to process pending notifications later. Once the connection is restored, all delayed payments will be automatically reconciled.
Can you help us with implementation?
Absolutely. We’ll handle the full process — from analysis and architecture design to bank or NOP integration, testing, and final deployment. Contact us for a tailored solution that fits your business.
