No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
The easiest way to save about 3% on every purchase you make overseas or with international retailers online. Compare credit cards with no international transaction fees.
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Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees help you save money because they don't charge additional fees when you're travelling overseas or shopping online with an international retailer. In comparison, most other credit cards charge a fee of 2–3% of each international transaction you make.
Compare No Foreign Currency Exchange Fee Credit Cards
All credit cards below have a 0% foreign transaction fee. Compare these cards using other features that are important to you including annual fees and the interest rate.
How do credit cards with no foreign fees work?
When you travel or shop online with a retailer that's based overseas, many cards will charge a foreign transaction fee worth around 2–3% of your purchase amount. But credit cards with 0% foreign fees waive this cost or rebate it to your account, helping you save money when you make international transactions.
How much can I save with a 0% foreign fee card?
The potential savings you can get on a credit card with no foreign transaction fees depend on how much you spend overseas and the fees you would pay on a different credit card. For example, if you spent $2,000 on your card that charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%, you would pay $60 more than you would with a card that charges a 0% foreign transaction fee.
It's also worth noting that the cost (and potential savings) may not be obvious straight away. For example, if you spent $200 a month through an online store that is based overseas, a 3% foreign transaction fee would add just $6 to your monthly account balance. However, switching to a card with a 0% foreign transaction fee would save you $72 per year.
How to compare 0% foreign fee credit cards
A bunch of credit cards offer 0% foreign transaction fees, so what else should you compare when considering a credit card for overseas spending?
- Rebate requirements. Some credit cards automatically waive foreign transaction fees when you make overseas purchases. Others offer a rebate on foreign transaction fees when you meet specific requirements, such as spending a set amount per month. If you don't meet these requirements for a particular month or statement period, any overseas purchases made during that time will attract the applicable foreign transaction fee.
- Annual fees. To ensure you're getting the best credit card for your spending habits, you need to weigh the cost of the annual fee against the savings you'd get from paying 0% foreign transaction fees. If the savings aren't as much as you thought, you could be better off with a $0 annual fee credit card.
- Overseas ATM withdrawal fees. Getting cash out of an ATM overseas can also attract a fee worth up to $5 or between 2-3% of the total transaction. Some overseas ATM operators also apply an additional charge. Choosing a card that offers $0 international ATM withdrawals could allow you to avoid or reduce this cost but you could still have to pay other fees.
- Cash advance fees. Even if you get a credit card that offers $0 ATM fees, using it to withdraw cash will attract a cash advance fee that is worth between 2-4% of the transaction. You will also be charged interest at the cash advance interest rate, which is higher than the purchase rate on most credit cards. So if you need to get cash when you're overseas, you might want to consider using a debit card or prepaid travel card instead.
- Purchase rate. Unless you pay your credit card balance in full each statement period, your overseas spending will be charged interest at the card's standard rate. In some cases, this could reduce the value you get from having no foreign transaction fees, so make sure you consider this cost when you're comparing different cards. If you do often carry a balance, a low rate credit card could be a more cost-effective option.
- Other travel benefits. Some cards offer additional perks, such as complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access or reward points for your spending. Make sure you check what requirements you need to meet to use these perks, otherwise they won't add to the value of the card.
- Security features. As well as fraud-monitoring services and zero liability for fraudulent transactions, some credit cards offer transaction limits for overseas spending, temporary blocks and extra security through services including Verified by Visa, Mastercard SecureCode and American Express SafeKey.
Tips to protect your card when shopping online
What else should I think about?
Whether you're shopping online or withdrawing cash from an overseas ATM, here are some key details to keep in mind (beyond fees):
- Daily cash withdrawal limits. Some credit card providers have a limit the amount you can withdraw from an ATM using your credit card – and it could be lower than your available credit limit. Check your credit card account details through Internet or mobile banking, or call your provider for specific information on these limits.
- Global ATM alliance networks. Many Australian credit card providers have ATM alliance networks that extend around the world and allow you to get cash out overseas without paying an ATM withdrawal fee. For example, a credit card from Westpac, St.George, BankSA or Bank of Melbourne gives you access to the Global ATM Alliance network, which includes Westpac NZ (New Zealand), Barclays (UK), Bank of America (US) and Deutsche Bank (Germany and Spain).
- Exchange rates. Currency exchange rates will apply when you use an Australian credit card for a transaction in another currency. This rate can fluctuate daily, and can make it hard to work out the cost in Australian dollars (until it's added to your transaction list). Check with your credit card provider to find out when exchange rates are updated, or just keep an eye on your transaction list and available balance to work out how much you've spent once the transactions converted to Australian dollars.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is currency conversion?
When you use an Australian credit card to make a transaction in another currency, it will be converted back to Australian dollars based on the exchange rate that's applicable for your credit card. For example, if you spent US$100 and the applicable exchange rate was US$0.72 to AUD$1, this transaction would show up on your credit card account as AUD$138.89 (to the nearest cent).
If I'm given the choice, what currency should I pay in?
Sometimes when you're travelling, a business will give you the option of paying in the local currency or in Australian dollars. If you choose to pay in Australian dollars, the transaction will be processed using Dynamic Currency Conversion, which usually costs you a lot more than paying in the local currency.
Realistically, how many travel money options do I need?
It's often useful to have a couple of different ways to spend money when you're travelling. As well as a credit card, you may want to buy foreign currency before you go or take a debit card in case you end up needing cash when you're away. While a bit more restrictive, another option is to get a prepaid travel card that lets you spend money in different currencies, which would give you another way to avoid foreign transaction fees.
Compare more travel money options
If you're a frequent traveller or regularly shop online with international retailers, a credit card that has 0% foreign transaction fees could help you keep your costs to a minimum. Just remember to compare a range of options and look at the other features available so that you can find a credit card that really suits your needs.
Pictures: Shutterstock
Back to topAmy Bradney-George has been writing about personal finance for more than 13 years – including over 600 articles as a senior writer for Finder. Her work has also appeared in publications including Money Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, Financy, ABC News Australia and Equity Magazine. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Drama from Griffith University.
I am looking for a business credit card with 0% international transaction fees.
Hi Alex,
Thanks for getting in touch!
As of this writing, we don’t have a list of business credit cards with 0% foreign transaction fees. If you are still looking for business credit cards, you can use our comparison table to help you find the card that suits you. On the page you’ll also read information about:
When you are ready, press the ‘Go to site’ button to apply. As a friendly reminder, read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the card, as well as the Product Disclosure Statement and Terms and Conditions before committing to the product.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
I withdrew money from an ATM in the Philippines and the machine said temporary closed, and no money came out. ii wrote the time down and the date. When I got back to Australia, 28 degrees said that I put my chip in and so the transaction was valid. I wrote back that no money came out of the machine, and all machines have cameras now, so they should be able to see I got no money. Can I take this to AFCA as I should not be to blame and it has to be on camera.
Hi Nicholas,
Thanks for getting in touch and sorry to hear about what happened. You can check and inquire with AFCA how to handle the situation but make sure you have all supporting documents to validate your claim. Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
(Apologies for lengthy message) I love to travel and I hate paying ANY fee’s overseas. About 10 years ago I was away for 4 months and with the total fee’s I paid along the way I could have stayed away much longer, so since then I’ve searched high and low for credit/debit cards to use.
I found 28 degrees first and that was fantastic until they changed the fee structure for having a positive amount on the card itself and using ATM’s, so I stopped using that one. Plus they introduced some fee’s for paying the card off if it went into debt.
The past few years I’ve used Citibank debit card and that has been fantastic. I’ve paid no fee’s at all and its very simple to get hold of with no extra banking requirements to keep it – like put X amount per month in the account. I use it overseas and that’s pretty much it. Plus if you do use it in Australia at some restaurants you get a free bottle of wine!!
Recently I changed banks and joined ING. I heard they had a similar card (Orange everyday Visa) and I managed to get hold of that as well. I’m not 100% sure if you have to deposit at least $1000 per month to get the benefit of no fee’s but as I’ve joined that bank that part is done anyway. Certainly worth a look but double check those rules.
I would strongly suggest having a look at both the cards above as they are excellent for travel and not paying fees. I wouldn’t travel without them!
Also, I tried an NAB travel card before and that was a total waste of time due to the poor conversion rates the banks charge, and checking other banks “Travel Cards” I found the same thing. They sound good but you are not getting the best rates on conversion and to add to a bad conversion in Thailand a few years ago I was slugged $8 a time at the ATM.
Hope that helps someone! Happy travels.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for reaching out for sharing your experience on credit cards. Feel free to get in touch with us again should you need any assistance.
Best,
Nikki
If 28 degrees card is in credit (nothing owing) and use it to withdraw cash at overseas ATM, then surely there will be no ‘cash advance fee’ or interest charged? Is that right? Thanks.
Hi Dave!
Thanks for your message.
You can withdraw or do a CASH ADVANCE from your 28 Degrees credit card at no cash advance interest rate charged. However, you will still be charged a cash advance fee and an ATM withdrawal fee (operator fee)
Hope this clarifies.
Regards,
Nikki
Perhaps Nikki misunderstood Dave’s excellent question. Or perhaps I have!!! If your 28 degrees card has a positive balance of say $3k and you withdraw 500€ then surely there’s no cash advanced fee nor interest charged???
Hi Traveller,
Thanks for getting in touch!
Sorry for the confusion. If you have a positive credit card balance and you intend to use your money put into it, there will be no cash advanced interest rate charged. However, there will still be a charge on cash advance fees and ATM withdrawal fee (ATM operator fee).
Hope this clarifies!
Regards,
Nikki
If I had say a Bankwest or 28 Deg card and wanted say to purchase, whist in Australia, a cruise costing several thousand $US dollars with an overseas company using that card would I be charged a conversion and/ or an overseas transaction fee?
Hi Brian,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
For the Latitude 28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard, there’s 0% of transaction value under the foreign currency conversion fee.
If you have a Bankwest Zero Mastercard, then you will be charged 2.95% of transaction value as the foreign currency conversion fee. However if you have a Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard then NO foreign transaction fee.
As a friendly reminder, while we do not represent any company we feature on our pages, we can offer you general advice.
I suggest that you also verify this info with your bank/credit card issuer before you make your dollar transaction.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Jeni