Types of Pix QR Codes
Pix defines two primary categories of QR Codes:
- Static QR Code → reusable, fixed structure
- Dynamic QR Code → generated per transaction, supports metadata, reconciliation, and expiration
Static QR Code
What it is
A reusable Pix QR Code that contains a fixed payload associated with a Pix key (email, phone, CPF/CNPJ, EVP). It does not expire, can be printed, shared, or displayed freely, and is ideal for simple or low-complexity payment scenarios.Characteristics
- Permanent and reusable
- Does not embed an amount by default (payer enters manually)
- Simplest form of Pix acceptance
- Works offline (printed, sticker, image)
- Fully compliant with EMV Pix static format
Typical use cases
- Street vendors, cafés, kiosks
- Professionals (delivery drivers, barbers, tutors, freelancers)
- Donation campaigns
- Single payment point shared by many payers
Static QR Code payment flow
- The merchant creates the QR Code once.
- The customer scans it using any Pix-enabled app.
- The user enters the amount manually.
- The payment follows the standard Pix processing flow: validation → SPI → credit.
- Settlement occurs instantly.
Benefits
- Easy to generate and deploy
- Reusable indefinitely
- Works well in physical environments
- No infrastructure needed
Limitations
- No automatic reconciliation
- The payer must type the amount → risk of incorrect value
- Cannot include detailed metadata (order ID, invoice, etc.)
Dynamic QR Codes
Dynamic QR Codes are generated per transaction and contain a structured payload with:
- predefined amount
- expiration time
- reconciliation identifiers
- metadata (order ID, description, payer details)
Dynamic (Immediate)
What it is
A one-time QR Code used for instant payments with:- a preset amount
- a short expiration window
- a unique transaction correlation ID
Ideal for
- E-commerce checkout
- Delivery apps
- POS systems
- Restaurants (per table/command)
Characteristics
- Strong metadata and reconciliation support
- Automatically expires
- Cannot be reused
- Real-time webhook confirmation
Pix Cobrança (Dynamic with Due Date)
What it is
A dynamic QR Code for payments with a due date, similar to an invoice. It supports:- due date
- interest and late fees
- discounts or abatements
- payer identification
Ideal for
- Schools and universities
- Condominium or association fees
- Subscription or recurring billing
- Professional invoices
Characteristics
- Contains full billing information
- Remains valid until expiration
- Reconciliation is automated based on the charge ID
Pix Automático (Recurrent)
Used to establish recurring collection authorizations. The QR Code serves as the initial consent request for periodic debits.Ideal for
- Subscriptions
- Utility bills
- Monthly services
Pix Saque (Withdraw)
What it is
A QR Code that allows a customer to withdraw cash from an authorized merchant.Ideal for
- Retail stores offering ATM-like convenience
- Pharmacies, supermarkets, or convenience stores
Pix Troco (Change)
What it is
A QR Code used when the customer pays more than the purchase amount, receives the product, and gets the difference deposited as a Pix.Ideal for
- Supermarkets
- Gas stations
- Convenience stores
Payment flow (all QR types)
Figure 1. Pix QR Code payment flow
End-to-end Pix QR Code flow
- QR Code creation The merchant or system creates a Pix QR Code — either static (reusable) or dynamic (transaction-specific). For dynamic QR Codes, the payload may include predefined amount, expiration, and reconciliation identifiers.
- Payment initiation by the payer The payer scans the QR Code using any Pix-enabled banking or wallet application and reviews the payment details before confirming.
- Pre-transaction validation by the payer’s institution Before sending the payment, the payer’s institution performs mandatory validations, including account status, available balance, transaction limits, and internal risk checks.
- Settlement through the Pix infrastructure Once approved, the payment instruction is routed through BACEN’s SPI for real-time settlement. If both accounts belong to the same institution, the transaction may be settled internally without crossing the SPI.
- Instant credit to the receiving institution The receiving institution credits the funds to the beneficiary’s account immediately after settlement, completing the payment.
- Confirmation and reconciliation Webhook notifications are emitted to inform merchant or system backends about the payment result, enabling automatic reconciliation, order confirmation, and accounting updates.
Typical use cases
Static
- A bakery prints a single QR Code for the counter
- A barbershop shares its QR Code via WhatsApp
- A street vendor displays a laminated QR Code
Dynamic Immediate
- E-commerce checkout (one QR per order)
- Restaurants generating a code per table
- Delivery apps presenting a QR for each drop-off
Dynamic Due Date
- Schools generating a monthly QR Code invoice
- Condominium fees with interest/discount rules
- Freelancers issuing billed invoices
Withdraw / Change
- Market gives Loja Pix Saque
- Customer pays R 98 purchase and gets R$ 22 Pix Troco
Regulatory notes (BACEN)
Pix QR Codes must comply with:
- EMV® Merchant-Presented Mode (MPM) specification
- Pix “Iniciação por QR Code” rules
- Mandatory CRC validation
- Defined field structure for dynamic charges
- Expiration and billing rules for Cobrança (due-date QR)
- Transaction limits and night window (when applicable)