Google Pay in Uzbekistan: What to Check on Your Cafe or Restaurant Terminal

On 19 October 2026, Google announced the launch of Google Pay in Uzbekistan. The announcement came at a panel session in Samarkand during the C5+1 events. On 22 October, the Tourism Committee confirmed the launch and said Apple Pay is expected within days (Spot). If you run a cafe or restaurant, check three things: whether your POS terminal accepts NFC contactless payments, whether it accepts foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, and whether phone payments are recorded as cashless in your POS system.

What happened and what we know so far

The facts below are based on statements from Google, the Tourism Committee and local media as of late October 2026.

• Google Pay is live. Guests pay by holding an NFC-enabled phone near a contactless terminal.
• Apple Pay is still on the way. The Central Bank, commercial banks and the HUMO and Uzcard payment systems are working on the technical integration. At the time of publication, the launch has not been confirmed.
• Not every card can be added yet. Each bank enables Google Pay support on its own, so at first it all depends on the card issuer (UzDaily).
• HUMO and Uzcard in Google Pay are reportedly coming later. No dates have been given.

The first to benefit are likely to be foreign guests who already have a card linked to their phone.

What this means for your venue

Tourist numbers are high and still growing. According to the Tourism Committee, 7.74 million foreign tourists visited the country in January–July 2026, up 22.6% year on year. If your terminal can't read a phone, a guest may have to hunt for cash, ask to pay by transfer, or simply go next door.

This matters most for cafes and teahouses on tourist routes in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, restaurants in central Tashkent, coffee shops near hotels and fast food outlets at train stations. When a group dinner bill arrives, a tourist would often rather tap once than go and exchange currency.

There is also a separate channel for QR payments. In August 2026, an Alipay+ gateway launched on HUMO's infrastructure. Users of Alipay and connected wallets can now pay in Uzbekistan via UZQR (Gazeta.uz). The partners say businesses don't need any extra setup, but it's worth confirming with your bank.

Mandatory QR and cash rules already in force

These new payment options arrive alongside rules that are already in effect. Under Presidential Decree No. UP-246 of 10 December 2025:

• from 1 July 2026, venues must accept payments via a unified bank-generated QR code. Not having one counts as a breach of trading rules;
• from 1 April 2026, alcohol and tobacco can only be sold for cashless payment. Cash is not accepted.

For a restaurant with a bar, every cashless payment method that actually works is part of revenue, not just a convenience. Always check the current version of the decree on lex.uz.

What to do now: 5 steps

1. Check NFC on your terminal

Call your acquiring bank and give them your terminal model. Ask whether it supports contactless payments and whether this is switched on. The feature may be built in but disabled. Also ask about the no-PIN payment limit. If your terminal is old, ask about a replacement or a Tap-to-Phone backup, where an NFC smartphone works as a terminal.

2. Confirm acceptance of foreign cards and wallets

Ask your bank to confirm three things in writing: acceptance of Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad, acceptance of mobile wallet payments, and the fee for these transactions. It's best to clarify acquiring rates in advance.

3. Check how payments reach your POS and the OFD

Run a test payment by phone and by QR, including via UZQR. The receipt must be fiscal, and the payment must be recorded in the POS as cashless, not cash. The wrong payment type distorts your cashless share and throws off end-of-shift reconciliation.

4. Train cashiers and waiters

A short team briefing prevents most awkward moments:

• tell guests "you can tap your phone" rather than "insert your card";
• if a payment doesn't go through, keep the phone near the terminal and don't pull it away too early;
• in the POS, select "card" or "QR" as the payment type, not "cash";
• one English phrase for staff: "You can pay by phone or QR".

5. Put up stickers

Display the contactless and QR icons at the entrance, at the counter and in the bill folder. Guests often decide whether to come in while they're still on the street.

What to check	Who to ask	Expected result
NFC and contactless payments	Acquiring bank	Enabled, no-PIN limit known
Foreign Visa / Mastercard and wallets	Acquiring bank	Confirmed in writing, fee known
UZQR and Alipay+	Acquiring bank	QR issued, test payment successful
Payment type in the POS	POS / OFD	Test receipts are fiscal and cashless
Staff and stickers	Manager	Everyone knows the script, stickers are up

How it looks in the POS

For the guest, paying by phone is no different from paying by card. For your accounts, one thing matters: the POS must record the payment type correctly. AliPos POS issues fiscal receipts in line with Uzbek requirements and works with Payme, Click and Uzum. Every deletion and void is logged with the employee's name and time. At the end of each shift, reports and Telegram bot notifications are available. Owners see revenue in real time in AliPos Boss, which helps spot discrepancies faster. Learn more about the setup for coffee shops on our cafes and coffee shops page. We also covered how the market is growing in our review of food service turnover in 2026.

FAQ

Does Google Pay work in Uzbekistan, and where can I use it?

Yes, since October 2026. You can pay anywhere with a POS terminal that has contactless payments enabled. Which cards you can add depends on your card issuer.

When will Apple Pay launch?

The Tourism Committee said Apple Pay is expected within days. At the time of publication, the launch has not been confirmed. Phone payments require a terminal with NFC contactless support; check the details with your bank.

Can HUMO and Uzcard cards be added to Google Pay?

Not yet. These cards are reportedly coming later. No dates have been given.

How do I ring up a receipt when a guest pays by phone?

The same way as a card payment: select a cashless payment type in the POS and issue a fiscal receipt. Never select "cash".

O'zbekistonda Google Pay orqali kafe va restoranda qanday to'lov qilish mumkin?

Mehmon NFC'li telefonni kontaktsiz to'lovni qo'llab-quvvatlaydigan terminalga yaqinlashtiradi. Kafe egasi bankdan terminalda NFC yoqilganini va xorijiy Visa/Mastercard kartalari qabul qilinishini tasdiqlatib olishi kerak.

You can start these checks with one call to your bank and a short team briefing. If you want every cashless payment to show up instantly in your shift report and on your phone, take a look at AliPos pricing or submit a connection request. We'll call you back and show you how it works for your venue.