As of December 1, 2025, all online stores in Greece are required to support IRIS payments for consumer transactions. This requirement is part of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance’s digital economy reforms, aiming to enable instant payments, reduce costs, and enhance tax transparency.

What is IRIS

IRIS Online Payments is an account-to-account instant payment service that does not require cards. Purchases can be completed via:

• payment to an IBAN, or
• scanning a QR code within the customer’s banking app.

Transactions settle in real time, with immediate credit to the merchant’s bank account and no fees for consumers or businesses. It is supported by all systemic Greek banks (Eurobank, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus, Alpha) and payment providers. IRIS aligns with European guidelines (EPC, SEPA Instant).

Benefits for consumers

• Card-free: pay directly from the banking app (no card number/CVV).
• No fees: the customer pays exactly the order amount.
• Security: authentication within the banking app (biometrics, push confirmation).
• Mobile-first experience: QR scan/instant approval without redirects.

Benefits for businesses

• Zero card interchange: significant cost reduction at higher volumes.
• Instant settlement: funds credited in real time.
• Automatic reconciliation: unique reference/order ID to match the payment with the order.
• Integration with cash registers/ePOS & AADE: easier invoicing and compliance.
• Transparency and trust: payment within a familiar, secure (bank) environment.

What changes for eShops

IRIS becomes an additional payment method at checkout (it does not replace cards, PayPal, etc.). From 12/1/2025, IRIS must be presented as an equal option.

Implementation steps

1. Add to checkout

• Enable IRIS as a payment method on your platform (WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, custom, etc.).

2. Coordinate with your bank/ePOS provider

• Request:
  • IRIS connection technical specifications,
  • sandbox & live credentials,
  • QR/redirect URL instructions.

3. Optimize checkout UI/UX

• Clear labeling and a brief explanation of benefits.
• Suggested copy:
  • “Pay with IRIS – Instant, no card needed”
  • “Instant bank payment from your app”
  • “No fee – Immediate settlement”

4. Go-live checks

• Verify that:
  • payments appear in your admin,
  • order status updates automatically (e.g., “Completed – Paid via IRIS”),
  • confirmation emails are sent,
  • the transaction reference ID is recorded for tax audits.

Deadlines and compliance

• New deadline: December 1, 2025 (one-month extension).
• Compliance checks by AADE through POS and checkout flow cross-matching.
• Early preparation is recommended to avoid penalties and operational risks.