Travelling overseas often means preparing more than just a passport and flight tickets. There is foreign currency to exchange, payment cards to check and sometimes an entirely new mobile payment application to download before arriving at a destination.
For Malaysians visiting several popular Asian destinations, however, paying for purchases abroad is about to become more familiar.
Starting 28 October 2026, Malaysians can use supported local mobile banking applications to make DuitNow QR payments in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos, following a new cross-border payment arrangement between Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway operated by Ant International.
The service initially supports customers of Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank, with Bank Islam expected to join subsequently. More participating banks, e-wallets and overseas destinations are also expected to be introduced progressively.
For travellers, the biggest convenience is that they can continue using their existing Malaysian banking applications at participating overseas merchants, rather than having to register for a separate foreign payment service.
The expansion marks another step towards making cashless payments more convenient for Malaysians travelling internationally, particularly in destinations where QR codes have become a common part of everyday transactions.
Where Can Malaysians Use DuitNow QR Overseas?
Under the initial rollout, Malaysian banking app users can make payments at participating Alipay+-supported merchants across five destinations.
These include mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos, covering a combination of major tourism destinations and regional markets where digital payments are widely used.
However, the service does not mean that every QR code displayed by a merchant in these countries will automatically work with a Malaysian banking app.
Transactions must be made at participating merchants displaying the Alipay+ logo, and customers must use a Malaysian banking application that supports the new overseas payment functionality.
For now, the three participating launch banks are Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank. Bank Islam has been identified as the next bank expected to join, although a specific activation date has not been announced.
The initial five destinations represent the first phase of the rollout, with PayNet planning to expand the service to additional markets as more banking and payment partners come on board.
How to Pay Overseas Using DuitNow QR
One of the main advantages of the new service is its familiar payment process. Rather than downloading Alipay+ or opening a separate account, customers can complete transactions directly through a supported Malaysian mobile banking application.
At a participating overseas merchant, the payment process involves the following steps:
For example, a Malaysian tourist visiting a participating merchant in China or South Korea could scan the merchant's Alipay+-supported QR code using their eligible Malaysian banking app instead of relying entirely on cash or a separate payment wallet.
The announcement does not specify the foreign exchange rates, transaction limits or additional charges that may apply to individual payments. Travellers should therefore review the transaction information displayed by their respective banks before confirming a purchase.
Why PayNet Is Expanding DuitNow QR Beyond Malaysia
DuitNow QR has become a familiar payment method for Malaysians, allowing consumers to make purchases using participating banking applications and e-wallets at merchants across the country.
The latest arrangement with Alipay+ extends that convenience beyond Malaysia's borders, allowing customers to use supported applications when travelling to participating overseas markets.
According to Praveen Rajan, Chief Executive Officer of PayNet, the objective is to make international digital payments feel as straightforward as making a purchase at home.
"Cross-border payments should feel as familiar as paying at home. This connectivity gives Malaysians an easier way to pay abroad," he said.
He added that the collaboration demonstrates how financial institutions and international payment providers can extend the reach of Malaysia's national payment infrastructure, while strengthening economic connections between Malaysia and other regional markets.
The initiative also aligns with Bank Negara Malaysia's broader direction towards faster, more efficient and inclusive cross-border payments.
For Malaysian consumers, it means their existing banking applications could gradually become more useful when travelling, reducing the need to rely on multiple payment platforms across different destinations.
For Malaysians visiting several popular Asian destinations, however, paying for purchases abroad is about to become more familiar.
Starting 28 October 2026, Malaysians can use supported local mobile banking applications to make DuitNow QR payments in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos, following a new cross-border payment arrangement between Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway operated by Ant International.
The service initially supports customers of Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank, with Bank Islam expected to join subsequently. More participating banks, e-wallets and overseas destinations are also expected to be introduced progressively.
For travellers, the biggest convenience is that they can continue using their existing Malaysian banking applications at participating overseas merchants, rather than having to register for a separate foreign payment service.
The expansion marks another step towards making cashless payments more convenient for Malaysians travelling internationally, particularly in destinations where QR codes have become a common part of everyday transactions.
Where Can Malaysians Use DuitNow QR Overseas?
Under the initial rollout, Malaysian banking app users can make payments at participating Alipay+-supported merchants across five destinations.
These include mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos, covering a combination of major tourism destinations and regional markets where digital payments are widely used.
However, the service does not mean that every QR code displayed by a merchant in these countries will automatically work with a Malaysian banking app.
Transactions must be made at participating merchants displaying the Alipay+ logo, and customers must use a Malaysian banking application that supports the new overseas payment functionality.
For now, the three participating launch banks are Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank. Bank Islam has been identified as the next bank expected to join, although a specific activation date has not been announced.
The initial five destinations represent the first phase of the rollout, with PayNet planning to expand the service to additional markets as more banking and payment partners come on board.
How to Pay Overseas Using DuitNow QR
One of the main advantages of the new service is its familiar payment process. Rather than downloading Alipay+ or opening a separate account, customers can complete transactions directly through a supported Malaysian mobile banking application.
At a participating overseas merchant, the payment process involves the following steps:
- Open your Malaysian mobile banking app from one of the participating banks.
- Select the DuitNow QR payment function within the application.
- Scan the merchant's QR code displaying the Alipay+ logo.
- Review the payment details shown in the banking application.
- Confirm the transaction to complete the purchase.
For example, a Malaysian tourist visiting a participating merchant in China or South Korea could scan the merchant's Alipay+-supported QR code using their eligible Malaysian banking app instead of relying entirely on cash or a separate payment wallet.
The announcement does not specify the foreign exchange rates, transaction limits or additional charges that may apply to individual payments. Travellers should therefore review the transaction information displayed by their respective banks before confirming a purchase.
Why PayNet Is Expanding DuitNow QR Beyond Malaysia
DuitNow QR has become a familiar payment method for Malaysians, allowing consumers to make purchases using participating banking applications and e-wallets at merchants across the country.
The latest arrangement with Alipay+ extends that convenience beyond Malaysia's borders, allowing customers to use supported applications when travelling to participating overseas markets.
According to Praveen Rajan, Chief Executive Officer of PayNet, the objective is to make international digital payments feel as straightforward as making a purchase at home.
"Cross-border payments should feel as familiar as paying at home. This connectivity gives Malaysians an easier way to pay abroad," he said.
He added that the collaboration demonstrates how financial institutions and international payment providers can extend the reach of Malaysia's national payment infrastructure, while strengthening economic connections between Malaysia and other regional markets.
The initiative also aligns with Bank Negara Malaysia's broader direction towards faster, more efficient and inclusive cross-border payments.
For Malaysian consumers, it means their existing banking applications could gradually become more useful when travelling, reducing the need to rely on multiple payment platforms across different destinations.
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| From left to right: Michael Guo, General Manager of Alipay+ SEA, ANZ and South Asia, Ant International; Praveen Rajan, Chief Executive Officer of PayNet; Danny Chung, General Manager of Alipay+ Global Growth Center, Ant International; and Azrul Fakhzan B. Mainor, Chief Commercial Officer of PayNet. |
From Foreign Tourists Paying in Malaysia to Malaysians Paying Abroad
The outbound DuitNow QR service builds on an existing collaboration between PayNet and Ant International that has already been supporting payments in the opposite direction.
Since November 2023, international visitors using supported Alipay+ partner wallets have been able to make payments at participating DuitNow QR merchants across Malaysia.
This arrangement has allowed foreign travellers to use familiar payment applications from their home markets when shopping, dining or making purchases at Malaysian businesses.
For local merchants, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, accepting DuitNow QR payments from international visitors can help make their products and services more accessible to tourists without requiring them to adopt entirely separate payment systems.
The new outbound connectivity now extends this arrangement to Malaysians travelling internationally, creating a more comprehensive two-way payment ecosystem between Malaysia and participating overseas markets.
This development also comes at a time when Malaysia is placing greater emphasis on tourism and international visitor spending through its Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 initiatives.
By making digital payments more accessible in both directions, the collaboration could support cross-border spending opportunities for travellers and participating businesses alike.
Cross-Border QR Payments Are Growing Rapidly
The announcement comes amid a significant increase in cross-border digital payment activity recorded by PayNet.
In 2025, PayNet processed nearly 30 million cross-border transactions, representing approximately 150% growth compared with 2024.
Transactions linked to China accounted for a substantial portion of that increase, reflecting the growing importance of digital payment connectivity between Malaysia and one of its major international travel and commercial markets.
The expansion also gives PayNet access to the wider Alipay+ network, which connects more than two billion user accounts across over 50 international payment partners.
According to the announcement, the Alipay+ ecosystem supports more than 150 million merchants across over 210 markets, including more than 10 national payment schemes such as PayNet.
These figures reflect the overall scale of the Alipay+ network rather than the number of merchants immediately accessible through the newly launched Malaysian outbound DuitNow QR service.
For the initial rollout, availability remains limited to participating merchants in the five announced destinations and customers using supported Malaysian banking applications.
More Malaysian Banks and Overseas Markets Expected to Join
The collaboration is expected to expand as additional Malaysian financial institutions adopt the outbound Alipay+ payment capability.
PayNet has made the service available for adoption by other participating banks and e-wallet providers, potentially allowing more Malaysians to access overseas QR payments through applications they already use.
This means the initial arrangement involving Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank is not intended to be the final list of participating financial institutions.
Meanwhile, Bank Islam has already been identified as an upcoming participant, with further developments expected as PayNet continues working with banks, e-wallet operators and international payment partners.
Danny Chung, General Manager of Alipay+ Global Growth Center at Ant International, said the partnership supports efforts to strengthen two-way payment connectivity between national payment systems and the wider international digital economy.
"Our growing partnership with PayNet reflects a shared commitment to taking Malaysia's national payment infrastructure beyond its borders, connecting it more deeply with the global digital economy," he said.
He added that greater interoperability between payment systems could support cross-border travel, commerce and economic participation for consumers and businesses.
As the network expands, more Malaysians may eventually be able to use their existing banking apps across a wider range of overseas destinations.
For now, the most important details for travellers are straightforward: Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank are the initial participating banks, and China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos are the first supported destinations.
At participating Alipay+-enabled merchants, the familiar act of scanning a QR code through a Malaysian banking app can now be part of the overseas shopping and travel experience, without the need to create an additional Alipay+ account.
