# Canada — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CA
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **Interac e-Transfer QR** business payments
- **Request Money QR** invoice/storefront
- **Real-Time Rail** modernization (2026)
- **Instant transfers** within minutes
- **Micro-merchant** QR focus

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Bank of Canada
- **Website:** https://www.bankofcanada.ca/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) | National | RBC Mobile |
| 2 | TD Bank | National | TD App |
| 3 | Scotiabank | National | Scotia App |
| 4 | BMO | National | BMO App |
| 5 | CIBC | National | CIBC Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **Interac:** National payment network
- **Big Five banks:** Dominant
- **Credit unions:** Regional presence
- **Fintech:** Growing sector

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Interac e-Transfer | Interac | Instant | Active |
| Request Money QR | Interac | QR business | Active |
| LVTS | Payments Canada | High-value | Active |
| Real-Time Rail | Payments Canada | Instant | 2026 |

### Interac e-Transfer
- Fast and secure transfers
- Email or phone based
- Bank-to-bank direct
- Within minutes (up to 30)
- 300+ financial institutions

### Real-Time Rail (Lynx - 2026)
- Modernization initiative
- ISO 20022 messaging
- 24/7/365 availability
- Enhanced data capabilities

---

## QR code standards

### Interac e-Transfer Request Money QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Interac |
| **Feature** | Business payments |
| **Access** | Storefront, invoice, online |
| **Setup** | No hardware needed |

### Request Money QR Features
- QR code-driven payments
- Storefront display
- Invoice integration
- Website/app embedding
- Small business focus

### Use Cases
- Micro-merchants (hot dog vendors)
- Small business invoicing
- Non-profit donations
- Event payments
- Service payments

### Third-Party Solutions

| Provider | Feature | Status |
|----------|---------|--------|
| Nanopay | Scan-to-Pay | Active |
| Activity Messenger | Event payments | Active |

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Bank Apps | Big Five | Yes | e-Transfer |
| Nanopay | Third-party | Yes | Scan-to-Pay |
| Apple Pay | Apple | NFC | Tap |
| Google Pay | Google | NFC | Tap |

### Nanopay Scan-to-Pay
- Mobile phone QR generation
- Customer scans to pay
- Direct bank account payment
- Secure transactions
- Faster payment receipt

### Bank Integration
- All Big Five support e-Transfer
- QR code generation in apps
- Request Money functionality
- Quick reference codes
- Consumer familiarity leveraged

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Request Money QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CA/request-money-qr) | Business QR | Interac | Active | — |
| [e-Transfer](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CA/e-transfer) | Instant | Bank | 300+ FIs | — |
| [Nanopay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CA/nanopay) | Scan-to-Pay | Third-party | Active | — |

## Sources

- [Interac - Business Request Money](https://www.interac.ca/en/payments/business/interac-e-transfer-business-request-money/)
- [Interac - e-Transfer](https://www.interac.ca/en/payments/personal/send-receive-money-with-interac-e-transfer/)
- [Interac - Charity Case Study](https://www.interac.ca/en/content/business/charity-payment-processing-interac-e-transfer-how-interac-teed-up-quick-reference-code-donations-for-ronald-mcdonald-house-toronto/)
- [Nanopay - Request Money](https://nanopay.net/products/requestmoney/)
- [Canada.ca - Mobile Payments](https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/payment/mobile-payments/paying-with-mobile.html)
- [Activity Messenger - e-Transfer](https://activitymessenger.com/blog/accept-interac-e-transfers-for-event-payments/)

## Full country report

[CA-canada.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CA)