Hey bunqers 🌈,
In 🇧🇪 Belgium, bills like utilities, taxes, fines, or business invoices come with a reference number that looks like this: +++123/4567/89012+++.
It’s known as structured communication, and adding it to your payment is what tells the recipient exactly which invoice you’re paying. You'll also see it called gestructureerde mededeling or OGM in Flemish, and communication structurée or VCS in French. Whatever it’s called on your bill, we support structured communication for payments to Belgian IBANs so your money always lands against the right invoice automatically.
The +/+ field shows up whenever you pay a Belgian IBAN, no matter which country your own IBAN is from.
How do I add structured communication to my payment?
When you pay a Belgian IBAN, an extra +/+ field appears next to the usual description field. You can fill in either the description field or the +/+ field, but not both. Here’s how you can add the structured communication number:
Open your bunq app
Select a Bank Account you’d like to pay from
Tap Pay
Enter the recipient's Belgian IBAN and the amount
Select the +/+ field
Enter the structured communication number exactly as it appears on your invoice (e.g. 123/4567/89012)
We’ll automatically format it with the +++ prefix and suffix
We also check the number in real time. If the number is incorrect, you'll see an error. Just double-check the digits on your invoice and try again.
Tap Send payment when everything looks good
Heads up: You can choose either the description field or the +/+. You cannot fill both fields.
Why should I add structured communications to my payments?
The recipient (like your energy company, the tax office, or a supplier) uses this number to match your payment to your invoice on their side. Skip it, and your payment might sit unmatched, which means reminders, late fees, or an invoice marked unpaid even though you've already sent the money.
When is the structured communication field available?
The +/+ field is available whenever you're sending a payment to a Belgian IBAN, regardless of which country IBAN you're paying from.
Paying lots of bills at once
Structured communication is unique to each payment, so when you have multiple invoices you’ve got two easy options to choose from, which are faster than typing them one by one.
Scan the invoice
Simply scan your invoice and we’ll fill in the structured communication field for you. Here’s how:
Open the Home tab
Tap on the Scan icon in the upper right corner
Select Scan Invoice
Scan your invoice, or upload a PDF
We’ll automatically fill in the recipient’s IBAN, amount, and structured communication field for you. Just make sure to check all the details are correct, and then tap Send payment.
Upload an XML file (Business)
If, as a Business, you need to pay multiple Belgian invoices at once, you can simply upload an XML payment file. Your bunq app will recognise the structured communication references inside it automatically. Here’s how:
Prepare your XML payment file, make sure each relevant transaction includes the structured communication number in the correct field.
Open the XML file on your phone (e.g. from your email or file manager) and choose to open it with bunq.
bunq parses the file and shows you a preview of all transactions, including the +/+ references.
If any structured communication number has an error, you'll see a message listing the incorrect references. Correct them in the file and upload it again.
Confirm the payments to send them all at once.
Getting money from Belgian IBANs
When someone pays you with a structured communication reference, we’ll save it and show it clearly in your transaction details.
Are you using the bunq API for your bookkeeping? The number arrives in its own field, ready to pull straight into your accounting software.
Can I use structured communication with a Savings Account?
Structured communication is for paying bills, so it's only a Bank Account feature. Since a Savings Account is for setting money aside rather than making payments, the +/+ field isn't available there. When you want to pay a Belgian bill with a structured communication number, just pick a Bank Account to pay from.
Why isn’t the +/+ field showing up when I pay?
The structured communication field only appears for payments to Belgian IBANs. If you're paying to an IBAN from another country, the field won't be shown. Also, payments from a Savings Account don't support the +/+ field, so make sure to use a regular payment Bank Account instead.
What do I do when I get an error saying my number is incorrect?
We always validate the real Belgian structured communication number using a checksum algorithm. Make sure to double-check:
You’re entering a real Belgian structured communication number, and not a different reference number type
The digits on your invoice, it's easy to mistype one character
You're entering only the digits (no +++ symbols needed; bunq adds those automatically)
Can I send a structured communication to a non-Belgian IBAN?
The +/+ field is designed for Belgian recipients.
My XML batch payment was rejected due to a structured communication error. What does the error mean?
It means one or more transactions in your file contain a structured communication reference that fails the check. Open your XML file, correct the number(s), and upload it again.
Where can I find the structured communication number on my invoice?
It's usually clearly labelled as "gestructureerde mededeling", "OGM", "communication structurée", or "VCS". It always follows the format +++XXX/XXXX/XXXXX+++ and will be printed near the payment details on your invoice.