Virtual barcode

Make the virtual barcode (virtuaaliviivakoodi) and bank barcode of a Finnish invoice from the IBAN, amount and reference, or read an existing code.

Payment & FeesBusiness

Payee's IBAN (FI)

Amount

EUR

Due date

Reference

Make a reference from an invoice number

Enter the payee's IBAN and the reference. The code appears here as you type.

Results are informational. Calculation is based on your input and public rules, official accounting may differ. For accuracy, confirm the final result if needed from the appropriate official source or specialist. See the terms of use.

How it works?

The payment part of a Finnish invoice has a bank barcode (pankkiviivakoodi) and its 54 digits as text, the virtual barcode (virtuaaliviivakoodi). The payer copies the digits into their online bank or scans the barcode, and the bank fills in the payee's account, the amount, the reference and the due date.

The structure is set by Finance Finland's "Bank Bar Code Guide" (version 5.3). Version 4 takes a Finnish reference: 4, the IBAN's 16 digits, the euros (6 digits) and cents (2), 000, the reference padded with zeros to 20 digits and the due date as YYMMDD. Version 5 takes an RF reference: instead of 000 and the reference it holds the RF reference's two check digits and its body padded to 21 digits.

The barcode is Code 128, character set C. No digits are printed under or over it: they are on the invoice separately as the virtual barcode. The calculator draws the barcode as the guide says, 105 mm wide with 20 mm of clear space on both sides.

A code can only be made for a Finnish account (an FI IBAN) and always with a reference. With no amount, or one of 1,000,000 euros or more, the amount is zeros and the payer types it. With no due date its place is zeros too. The details go to our server only to compute the code: they are not put into the address and not stored.

Frequently asked questions

What is a virtual barcode?

A virtual barcode (in Finnish virtuaaliviivakoodi) is the content of the Finnish bank barcode as 54 digits. It holds the code's version, the payee's IBAN, the amount, the reference and the due date. Under the Finvoice guidelines the virtual barcode leaves out the barcode's start, check and stop characters, so it is exactly 54 digits. The same code works on paper and on a PDF invoice.

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How do I pay with a virtual barcode?

Finnish online banks and banking apps usually let you paste a virtual barcode or scan the barcode of a paper invoice when you pay. The bank then fills in the payee's account, the amount, the reference and the due date. Look the details over before you confirm. To see first what a code holds, paste it into this calculator's "Read a code" task.

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What is the difference between version 4 and 5?

Version 4 takes a Finnish reference and starts with 4, version 5 takes an RF reference (ISO 11649) and starts with 5. The rest is the same: the IBAN, the amount and the due date are in the same places. The calculator picks the version from the reference. If the invoice carries an RF reference, the barcode must be version 5 as well.

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Why does an Estonian or other foreign IBAN give no code?

A bank barcode may only be made for a Finnish account whose IBAN starts with FI: so says Finance Finland's guide, and the code has room only for the IBAN's digits. For an account in another country make a payment QR code for a euro transfer, for example on the Payment QR tab of the RF calculator.

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What if there is no amount or it is very large?

The code has 8 digits for the amount: 6 for the euros and 2 for the cents, so the largest is 999,999.99 euros. With no amount, or one of 1,000,000 euros or more, the amount is written as zeros and the payer types it. The guide also lets the sender leave the barcode out in that case.

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Does an RF reference with letters work?

No. A bank barcode holds digits only, so an RF reference with letters in its body (for example RF20 INV1 234) does not fit. The guide says to leave the barcode out then. Use a reference made of digits: the reference number calculator turns an invoice number into a Finnish reference.

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Where do the bank barcode and the virtual barcode go on the invoice?

The bank barcode is printed in the lower half of the invoice's payment part (tilisiirto): 70 to 105 mm wide, 10 to 12.7 mm high, at least 20 mm clear on both sides and with no digits under it. No other barcodes may go on the same form. There is no rule of its own for the virtual barcode, it usually stands with the payment details, labelled "Virtuaaliviivakoodi". Print the barcode at 100%.

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