Writer: Ray FitzGerald
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
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International travel can be an awakening experience — or a test in how much inconvenience you’re able to put up with. Juggling passports, exchanging money to the local currency (for a fee each time), and language barriers are some of the hurdles that can be either exciting or exhausting, depending on your temperament.
My go-to currency on trips is plastic, but not all credit cards are equal internationally. Foreign transaction fees, usually 3% to convert your funds into local currency, can kill a budget. Be certain your credit card is geared toward international travel before boarding the plane for that dream trip overseas. On that note, in this article we’ll take a look at the best credit cards for international travel, including cards with no foreign transaction fees, cards with sign-up bonuses, no annual fee cards, and more.
No Foreign Transaction Fee | Chip + PIN | Sign-Up Bonus | No Annual Fee | Business |
Student | Fair Credit
Best “No Foreign Transaction Fee” Credit Cards for International Travel
The average cost of a 12-day international vacation is $3,251 per person. If you put those costs on your credit card and get hit with foreign transaction fees, you’re looking at another $97.53 per person. That money could be spent on an extra night on the town or souvenir for a loved one – or better yet, in savings.
To get the most out of your vacation, you should choose a rewards card that is widely accepted across the globe and charges minimal, or no, foreign transaction fees. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, if you know you’re going to spend some cash, pick a card that doesn’t cost you to use it, starting with our two favorites.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
Before you decide which card is right for you, make sure it’s accepted in the area you’re visiting. Visa and Mastercard are the most common issuers international businesses accept. Citi’s acquisition of Diner’s Club gave it a foothold in many European territories, but it’s still not accepted everywhere. American Express, once a non-entity in Europe and Asia, is more commonplace now and is accepted in many areas that tourists frequent.
Additionally, it doesn’t hurt to keep a backup card on hand, just in case. Accidents happen — cards get left behind at a restaurant, security alerts can cause a card to lock up when it’s being used in a different country. Even if your backup card doesn’t have the favorable terms your primary card has, it won’t get used as much if you’re well prepared.
Best “Chip-and-PIN” Credit Card for International Travel
Cards that contain a security chip and require a PIN for each transaction are still fairly new in the US. A good number of consumers haven’t switched over to the security-rich technology yet. In Europe, and many other foreign countries, chip-and-PIN cards have been standard for more than a decade, and some retailers won’t accept cards that are not enabled with the technology.
Whether it’s buying a dinner or paying for train fare, you’ll need a chip card with a PIN to be on your way. To avoid delays in purchases — or embarrassment at the register — it’s important to make sure your card is as ready for your vacation as you are, perhaps with one of our top-rated picks below.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
The chip-and-PIN enabled Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5X points per dollar spent on all purchases, with no foreign transaction fees. Points can be redeemed for a huge range of travel-related purchases, including the basics, such as flights and hotels, as well as things like select tourist attractions.
Best “Welcome Bonus” Credit Cards for International Travel
Credit Cards are increasingly necessary for a digital age. That doesn’t mean credit card issuers won’t sweeten the pot every now and then to attract new customers. With so much competition, whichever card offers the best rewards, rates, and welcome bonuses usually get to the top of consumers’ wallets fastest.
If you have an international trip coming up, or plan to schedule one in the future, you can get a head start toward free flights with a credit card that offers bonus miles or rewards for signing up and using it. Some cards offer enough bonus miles for a second trip if you take full advantage of the welcome bonus. Even though you may be planning a vacation, it’s never too early to start thinking about the next one by exploring our top welcome bonus travel cards.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee.
- Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Keep in mind that many welcome bonuses are predicated on your charging a certain amount within an introductory period. Don’t incur debt that you’re not capable of paying off just to get a reward. After interest charges, any balance you carry over can negate the benefit of those rewards. More than half of travel rewards cardholders carry a balance each month. That’s what issuers aim for with welcome perks. Don’t fall into the trap.
Best “No Annual Fee” Credit Cards for International Travel
Many credit cards boast big perks and rewards through bold print in advertising. Look down in the fine print and you’ll see an annual fee that renders most of the benefits useless if you don’t charge large amounts to your card each year.
Cards with no annual fee may not look as attractive on the surface, but you’ll be happy you chose that option when you don’t have to pay dues each year. There are several cards that allow travelers to enjoy their international experience without an annual fee. Here are some of our favorites.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
- For a limited time, earn a one-time $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Some annual fees can be worthwhile if you use your rewards card a lot. The amount of miles or cash back you rack up might offset the cost of credit in that case. When all things are equal, though, it’s always smarter to go with a card that doesn’t charge you for having it in your wallet.
Best “Business Travel” Credit Cards for International Travel
The cost of doing business today isn’t just about rent and advertising. The world is growing smaller by the day thanks to increased technology and interest in global business. If your work has you globetrotting to various destinations to get things done, why not reap some rewards for your efforts?
Most business cards feature miles or cash back rewards that can be used for future travel, whether for business or pleasure. It isn’t a far stretch to be able to pay for a personal trip from the rewards card proceeds of a few business trips. After all that work, you’ll need a little R&R time to yourself.
The Capital One Spark Cash Selects is a great choice, offering unlimited cash back rewards that never expire, and a one-time cash bonus when you meet the minimum spending requirement within 90 days of account opening.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
The Ink Business Preferred card is widely accepted around the globe and features three points for every $1 spent on travel expenses, shipping purchases, and internet, cable, and phone service, as well as advertising purchases made with social media and search engine sites. Keep in mind that 3X rewards are limited to the first $150,000 in combined category purchases each account anniversary year. Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more and never expire.
No matter the scope or size of your business, it’s always a good idea to have a card on hand that understands the needs of business travelers. From telephone concierges and travel insurance to bonus perks for entertaining clients, there is a host of rewards available to meet the needs of anyone traveling overseas for work.
Best “Student” Credit Cards for International Travel
College is supposed to be a time for learning and exploring. Why shouldn’t that apply to a student’s travels? No matter if you’re going back home, traveling abroad for class, or just getting away on spring break, many cards offer student-friendly perks. These allow students with newer credit profiles a chance to get out and see the world without building debt that outweighs their GPA.
Credit cards intended for students often have more lax credit requirements than standard offerings. Issuers understand that many students are in the process of building a credit history and may not have the scores required for many cards. They also know that every dollar is at a premium for your average college student, so a number of options, including our expert picks, are also annual-fee-free.
To offset the risk issuers take by granting cards to students, there are often fees attached to the card. These can vary from annual membership fees to service charges or late fees. Make sure you understand the full terms of any card before taking it overseas as your primary form of payment.
And, of course, like all travel cards, make sure you understand any potential foreign transaction fees that may be charged before making purchases during your semester abroad. These fees can add up quickly if you aren’t careful.
Best “Fair Credit” Credit Cards for International Travel
Many cards that offer big perks and top rates are set aside for consumers with excellent credit, but One-third of Americans have a credit score at or below 601. That’s a large number of people who still want to travel and need access to a credit card that meets their needs for international commuting. With many Americans falling into the fair credit category, it’s no surprise that many cards are geared toward them.
Not all are created equal, though. Some cards offer cash back options, with an annual fee to offset some of the savings. If you’re going to charge enough to outweigh the fee, these cards may be the place to look. If you’re more frugal with your charges, and just need a card for emergencies or small purchases, ditch the cash back and look for a card that won’t charge you for membership. Our top picks include both options to get you started.
Fair credit doesn’t have to be a hindrance to great travel or the thing that limits you to in-state vacations or trips to visit family members that live nearby. With the right card — and responsible usage — you can travel anywhere you want to go while maintaining access to a line of credit that’s accepted wherever you shop.
Travel Internationally with the Comforts of Home
Travelling doesn’t have to be a hassle. Despite having to cram your entire life into a suitcase (while somehow managing to keep track of your passport) and the costly hassle of exchanging your money for local currency, there are certain comforts that extend from your doorstep to wherever in the world you find yourself.
With many options to choose from, it’s important that you know what cards are accepted wherever you’re traveling, and the format the card must be in. Many European countries require the chip and PIN technology that’s been standard there for years but is only emerging in the American market. Issuers like Visa and Mastercard are staples around the globe, while other brands aren’t guaranteed to be accepted everywhere.
A good travel credit card will be accepted all over the globe and not pile bloated fees onto your balance for the right to make purchases in a foreign land. With a little research, and careful planning, your trip overseas can be smooth sailing — and a memory you won’t soon forget.
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Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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