# CBK QR

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/cbk-qr
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-06
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [CBK approves QR Code Standard — BQK](https://bqk-kos.org/news/cbk-approves-the-instruction-on-qr-code-standard-to-be-used-for-payments-in-kosovo/?lang=en)
- [Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo](https://bqk-kos.org/?lang=en)

## Overview

**CBK QR** is **Kosovo's national QR-code payment standard**, approved by the **Executive Board of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK / BQK)** through the **Instruction on QR Code Standard** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [XK report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK)</sup>. The structural distinction: **CBK has adopted the European Payments Council (EPC) QR-code standard** — the same QR-code standard used in the EU for **payment transfers initiated by smartphones + fast payment systems** ([EPC QR / Stuzza](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/epc-qr)). This means Kosovo's national QR is **directly compatible with EU SEPA-zone payment infrastructure** — facilitating processing not only domestically but also **regionally + within the SEPA zone**.

The structural significance: Kosovo's choice to **adopt EPC QR rather than develop a Kosovo-specific standard** reflects deliberate **EU-integration alignment** — important for a country with EU-membership aspirations. Most peer countries chose **EMVCo MPM** ([DuitNow QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/duitnow-qr), [PromptPay QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/promptpay-qr), [NQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/nqr), [LankaQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/lankaqr)) or **bespoke national standards** ([UPI QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/upi-qr), [MMQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/mmqr)). Kosovo's EPC alignment is structurally similar to **Bulgaria's [Blink](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/blink) / TIPS path**, **Romania's [RoPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/ropay) EPC-compatible standard**, and **Slovenia's [Flik](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/flik) SEPA-aligned design**. The implementation depends on **technical developments + necessary infrastructure that licensed PSPs in Kosovo will put into operation**.

## History

**Background — Kosovan payment landscape** <sup>[XK report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK)</sup>:
- **Central Bank of Republic of Kosovo (CBK / Banka Qendrore e Republikës së Kosovës — BQK)** — central bank.
- **Euro-denominated economy** (Kosovo uses euro despite not being EU member).
- Limited national-payment-infrastructure modernisation pre-CBK QR.

**National Payments Council re-establishment 2024** [[bis]]:
- Governor Ahmet Ismaili — re-establishes National Payments Council.
- Opening meeting 2024.

**CBK Executive Board approval** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Instruction on QR Code Standard approved.
- EPC standard adopted.

**Implementation phase** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Depends on PSPs' technical infrastructure deployment.

## Technical specification

CBK QR is **Kosovo's EPC-standard national QR-code payment** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Standards body** | **Central Bank of Republic of Kosovo (CBK / BQK)** |
| **Standard** | **EPC QR-code standard** (European Payments Council) |
| **Compatibility** | **SEPA zone interoperable** |
| **Currency** | EUR (Kosovo uses euro) |
| **Governor (recent)** | **Ahmet Ismaili** |
| **Use cases** | Retail sales + invoice payments |
| **Implementation** | Depends on licensed-PSP infrastructure deployment |

**EPC standard advantage** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Single standard works for domestic + SEPA-zone cross-border payments.
- EU-integration aligned.

**Anti-fragmentation goal** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Reduces QR-code fragmentation in Kosovo.
- Single national standard.

## Use cases

**Retail merchant payments** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Cardinal use.

**Invoice payments** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: B2B + utility billing.

**SEPA-zone cross-border** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: EPC standard enables EU-zone interoperability.

**EU-integration alignment** <sup>[XK report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK)</sup>: Strategically supports Kosovo's EU-membership aspirations.

## Implementations & ecosystem

**Standards body**: **CBK (BQK)**.

**EPC standard partner**: **European Payments Council**.

**Licensed PSPs**: Implementing technical infrastructure.

**Kosovan banks**: All major Kosovan commercial banks expected participants.

## Fun facts

- **EPC adoption rather than EMVCo MPM**: Kosovo's choice differs from most non-EU peers ([DuitNow QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/duitnow-qr), [LankaQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/lankaqr), [NQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/nqr) all EMVCo MPM).
- **EU-integration aligned**: Kosovo's pre-EU-membership integration strategy.
- **Euro-denominated**: Kosovo uses euro despite not being EU member or eurozone member — payment infrastructure naturally aligned with European systems.
- **Governor Ahmet Ismaili**: Re-established National Payments Council in 2024.
- **Pre-implementation status**: Approved standard but full deployment depending on PSPs.
- **Western Balkans payment-modernisation wave**: CBK QR fits into broader Western Balkans (Bosnia, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia) instant-payments + QR modernisation.

## Comparison

| Feature | CBK QR (XK) | [Flik](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/flik) (SI) | [Blink](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/blink) (BG) | [NBS IPS QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/nbs-ips-qr) (RS) | [RoPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/ropay) (RO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standards body | CBK (BQK) | Bankart (banks) | BORICA AD | NBS | Transfond+RBA |
| Standard | **EPC QR** | SEPA-aligned | BISERA6 | NBS IPS QR | EPC-compatible |
| Currency | EUR | EUR | BGN (+EUR TIPS) | RSD | RON |
| EU integration | Pre-EU member alignment | EU member | EU member | n/a | EU member |
| Implementation | **Pre-deployment** | Active | Active | Active | Active |

## Status

**Approved standard, pre-deployment** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- **CBK / BQK** standards body.
- **EPC QR standard** adopted.
- **Implementation** depends on PSP infrastructure.
- **Euro-denominated**.
- **SEPA-compatible**.

## Sources

[1]: https://bqk-kos.org/news/cbk-approves-the-instruction-on-qr-code-standard-to-be-used-for-payments-in-kosovo/?lang=en "CBK QR Code Standard"
[2]: https://bqk-kos.org/?lang=en "Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo"
[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_Kosovo "Central Bank of Kosovo — Wikipedia"
[bis]: https://www.bis.org/review/r240410c.htm "Ahmet Ismaili — BIS Review"

- [1] [CBK QR Code Standard — BQK][1]
- [2] [Central Bank of Republic of Kosovo][2]
- [bis] [Ahmet Ismaili — BIS Review][bis]
- <sup>[XK report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK)</sup> `reports/countries/XK-kosovo.md`

## Deployments

Found in the following country reports (grep across `reports/countries/`):

- **KW** — [KW-kuwait.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/KW)
- **XK** — [XK-kosovo.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK)