Wise Launches eSIM and Cross-Border QR Payments in Malaysia

Wise has launched a travel eSIM and cross-border QR payments inside its app, with Malaysia among the first markets to receive both. The features went live on 6 October for eligible Wise Account customers, ahead of the year-end travel season.

The QR scanner lets Malaysian travellers pay shops abroad that use local QR networks. Wise said the feature works in more than 50 destinations across five continents. Its direct connections include DuitNow in Malaysia, PayNow in Singapore, QR Ph in the Philippines, PromptPay in Thailand, Pix in Brazil, Swiss QR-bill in Switzerland and Qvik in Hungary. Through a partnership with Ant International, the app also reads Alipay+ merchant QR codes in markets including mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Cambodia. Alipay+ is not offered to Wise customers in the United States and Canada.

Wise said the feature addresses a real problem for travellers from this region. A YouGov survey it commissioned found that 91% of Malaysians who travelled abroad in the past 12 months hit payment hurdles. Common complaints involved setting up or accessing local e-wallets just to scan a QR code at a shop or stall.

The launch builds on Wise’s direct connection to PayNet, Malaysia’s national payments network, which began rolling out in July. DuitNow QR already links with Singapore’s PayNow, Thailand’s PromptPay and Indonesia’s QRIS. The Wise scanner extends similar access to travellers from countries outside those arrangements, including Malaysia-bound visitors.

The Wise eSIM is installed on a device once and reused across trips. Users buy data inside the Wise app and set the exact data allowance and number of days to match their itinerary. The app shows guidance on how much data a typical trip needs, to prevent over or under buying. Customers must pay for eSIM plans using their Wise account balance, as payments from external cards or bank accounts are not supported. Data is only consumed when the eSIM connects to a supported network at the destination, and Wise refunds unused plans if travel plans change.

Standard regional eSIM plans cover more than 150 destinations. The customisable version is available to customers in Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, the European Economic Area, the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Wise said it is among the first providers in the world to offer such plans. The eSIM connectivity is supplied by Gigs, a UK-based provider, with Wise acting as payment and administration facilitator.

Wise said the QR payments and eSIM plans are available to eligible Wise Account customers from 6 October. The company gave no fixed completion date, which suggests a phased rollout.