Visa has partnered with Octopus Cards Limited (Octopus) to extend Visa Scan to Pay acceptance to Octopus QR merchants across Hong Kong.

Tourists can now pay using their preferred mobile payment apps from home. Merchants can accept these payments through their existing Octopus setup without installing additional hardware or systems.

At launch, visitors can pay at participating Octopus QR merchants using Hyundai Card, Woori Card, Samsung Card and VNPT Money.

Visa said LINE Pay and Shinhan Card are coming soon, with more international payment apps to be added later.

How Visa Scan to Pay works with Octopus

Visa Scan to Pay sits within Visa Pay, which lets consumers make QR payments through digital wallets and bank apps while Visa’s global network processes the transaction.

Visa launched Scan to Pay across Asia Pacific in November 2025.

For merchants, the integration runs on Octopus’s existing QR infrastructure. Small businesses already using the Octopus App for Business can accept payments from inbound visitors across Asia Pacific through the Visa QR network.

Octopus operates under a stored value facility license regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). The company has previously moved to shift users towards smartphone-based wallets.

Targeting visitor spending

Visa cited its Consumer Payment Attitudes Study, which found that about two in three travellers prefer contactless or mobile payments when overseas.

“When people travel, they want payments to be effortless and familiar. Through our collaboration with Octopus, we’re enabling visitors to pay in Hong Kong using the apps they already know and trust,”

said Paulina Leong, General Manager, Visa Hong Kong and Macau.

Leong said the arrangement would help local merchants reach more customers. It could also help them generate additional sales from tourism spending.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board also welcomed the partnership. It said the wider range of cashless payment options would improve visitors’ shopping experiences and reinforce Hong Kong’s image as a tourist-friendly destination.

Outbound phase planned for 2027

The Hong Kong launch is the first phase of the partnership. Visa and Octopus said they will continue to explore enabling Octopus HK wallet users to use Scan to Pay across Asia Pacific in 2027.

“We are excited to take this to the next level by enabling Octopus Wallet users to Scan to Pay when they travel overseas,”

said Andy Yip, Director, Consumer Business & Product, Octopus Cards Limited.

Visa said it will continue onboarding more digital wallets to the Visa QR network to widen payment options for international visitors.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by Visa