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If you plan on traveling to another country or purchasing online from an overseas vendor, you can save a small fortune by investing in a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Overseas transaction fees are typically around 3%, so for every $1,000 you spend in another country, using the wrong credit card could cost you an extra $30.
Thankfully, the list of credit cards without foreign transaction fees includes some of the best travel rewards cards available to U.S. consumers. Whether you’re paying for a local food tour in Hanoi, purchasing a flight from an airline with no U.S.-facing website, or buying the finest Middle Earth Manuka Honey from New Zealand (yes, you can actually buy Hobbit Honey), these are the best cards to use and not have to pay a foreign transaction fee on your purchase.
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The Best Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
| Credit Card | Best For | Welcome Offer | Bonus Rewards Categories | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savor Rewards from Capital One | Cash back | $300 Cash Back after you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services; 3% at grocery stores; and 1% on all other purchases. | $95 |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Transferable rewards — business card | Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. | $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Transferable rewards | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (2X on all other travel purchases); 3X on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; and 1X on all other purchases. | $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Transferable rewards — premium card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Earn Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | $550 (Rates & Fees) |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | Fixed-value rewards | Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. | Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. | $95 |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card | Fixed-value rewards — premium card | Earn 75,000 online bonus points after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. | 2 points for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. | $550 |
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Fixed-value rewards with no annual fee | 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. | Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. | $0 |
| The Bilt Mastercard® | Transferable rewards with no annual fee | None. | Earn 3X on dining, 2X on travel, and 1X on other purchases plus 1X on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year) *Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points—see Rewards & Benefits. | $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Transferable rewards — premium card | As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Transferable rewards — premium business card | Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25. | Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points® on Flights, and Prepaid Hotels Booked through AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus. | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Transferable rewards | Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. | 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com; 3X points per $1 spent on airfare and other hotels; and 3X points at gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants, and supermarkets | $95 |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Transferable rewards with no annual fee | Earn 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. | 1.25X miles per dollar on every purchase, plus 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $0 |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Transferable rewards | 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. | $95 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Transferable rewards — premium card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on other eligible purchases | $395 |
| Capital One Venture X Business | Transferable rewards — premium business card | 150,000 Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. | 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on all other purchases | $395 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | Fixed-value rewards — premium card | Earn 50,000 points when you spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening | Earn 3X points for every $1 on eligible net travel purchases and mobile wallet spending | $400 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | Transferable rewards | Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip. | Earn 5X on hotels, 4X on airlines, 3X points on other travel and dining, and 1X on other purchases | $95 |
| The New United Gateway℠ Card | Airline rewards with no annual fee | Limited-Time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Then, a Variable APR of 20.49% - 28.99% will apply. | 2x miles on United® purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting, and 1x mile on all other purchases. | $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | Airline rewards | Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 2X AA miles on American Airlines purchases, at restaurants, and on gas stations purchases, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases | $99, waived for first 12 months |
| Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® | Airline rewards — business card | Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. | Earn 2X AA miles on American Airlines purchases, at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases | $99, waived for first 12 months |
| The New United Club℠ Card | Airline rewards — premium card | Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 4x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on all other travel and dining, and 1 mile on all other purchases | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card | Hotel rewards | Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. | Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member | $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| World of Hyatt Business Credit Card | Hotel rewards — business card | Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus Explorist status through 2/28/26 after you spend $7,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Offer ends 6/30/25. | Earn 4x at Hotel hotels and 2x on your top three spending categories each quarter through December 31, 2024. After that, earn 2x on your top two spending categories each quarter. Plus, earn 2x on fitness club and gym memberships and 1x on other purchases. | $199 (Rates & Fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card | Hotel rewards with no annual fee | Earn 60,000 bonus points + 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.. | 3X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases | $0 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Hotel rewards — premium card | Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. | Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases. | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
How To Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees
If you choose the right rewards card, you don’t have to make any extra effort to avoid this nasty fee. Just use your card for every purchase, and your transaction will be converted to U.S. dollars on your statement — typically at a much better exchange rate than you’ll get exchanging U.S. dollars for local currency or choosing to pay in the local currency at checkout.
The reason you get a great exchange rate is that payment processors convert huge volumes of foreign currency every day. That means you’re getting the wholesale rate Visa or Mastercard pay on all their global transactions — done with little or no markup.
However, the banks have one additional trick up their sleeves: When making a purchase abroad, you may be given a choice between paying in U.S. dollars or the local currency. You definitely don’t want to convert the transaction to dollars. This service, also known as Dynamic Currency Conversion, is a huge ripoff.
Related: How To Save Money While Traveling Internationally
Our Selection Criteria for Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
When choosing our favorite cards with no foreign transaction fees, we’ve focused primarily on cards that earn transferable or fixed-value rewards, rather than co-branded cards earning airline miles or hotel points. With the current trend of award chart devaluations and a steady transition to revenue-based rewards programs, points that transfer to a variety of airline and hotel programs offer much better value than points and miles issued by a single hotel or airline brand. We’ve also given plenty of weight to select bonus rewards categories, favoring travel, dining, entertainment, and gas purchases. That's because these account for a significant portion of vacation and business travel spending.
Another consideration when compiling this list was how widely the issuer is accepted overseas In Australia, for example, Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere — from major cities to small outback country towns. However, American Express cards aren’t as widely accepted; where they are, you might pay an additional “merchant fee” of 2%–3% extra at the register. A lot of Amex cards also feature bonus spending categories that are restricted to U.S. vendors. Thus, while plenty of Amex cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, few made our list.
Lastly, we looked at whether a card's benefits justify its annual fee. We’ve included more premium travel cards, those with annual fees north of $400, than typically found in “best of” lists for cards with no foreign transaction fees. But, in this case, the majority of travel rewards cards with higher annual fees also offer perks like travel and airline credits, complimentary lounge access, elite status benefits, and a wide range of travel and purchase protections providing extra value and security when traveling abroad.
Final Thoughts
Acquiring a rewards card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees is a great way to reduce your out-of-pocket costs when traveling overseas. Highlights include the class-leading Ink Preferred business card, which will net you 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel (up to a combined $150K in bonus category purchases) without the premium annual fee charged on the Sapphire Reserve (Rates & Fees).
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I haven’t traveled internationally (yet), but this was a great heads-up! I haven’t traveled internationally (yet) so have never considered it, so I checked and am happy to find out that while my card didn’t make the list I won’t be charged a foreign transaction fee!
However, does anyone still convert their cash to local currency and carry money with them the old-fashioned way anymore? Is it still a good idea to visit the exchanger in the airport, or does everyone generally accept cards these days and hard cash isn’t necessary?
Thanks for the recommendations. I really like using my Chase Sapphire Preferred while abroad to avoid foreign transaction fees.
Excellent list. 20 yrs ago Outrageous foreign fees were the norm. An AMEX over seas can be useful some spots and others not. I Always keep a back up travel visa & Mc card with no foreign fee.
Always good to keep in mind. Foreign transaction fees will eat up any reward value.
This is a great write up but don’t forget to point out which cards’ bonus categories don’t apply overseas. Most Amex cards only give bonus categories for purchases domestically. So no, you’re not paying a FTF however you’re missing out on bonus points. The Sapphire Reserve however has no limitations. Just something to consider.
Great point Darren, this is why only one Amex card made the list.
We LOVE our Chase sapphire preferred card for this very reason!
It is so important to know which cards have foreign transaction fees and which do not. Plus, make sure you update and double check before you leave.
Good tips! A lot of places we’ve been traveling in South America are cash-focused, so definitely research ATMs before traveling too.
Schwab’s free investor checking is my go-to bank for free ATM transactions abroad. They even reimburse ATM fees charged by the owner of the ATM you use at the end of the month. Details here.
Thanks!! just getting ready for some international travel.
I keep forgetting about this! Mostly my husband uses his card and it doesn’t have a fee, so we don’t have to worry. However, this coming trip we both will be charging so I need to look through my cards. This is great info! It’ll help with not having to travel with all my cards too.
How do you all have your wallet set up when you travel?
Actually I use a lot of promotions outside my country and it’s so difficult since every time they want to left out of the deal just because of paying with a credit card issued by another country..
Wonder if there any non credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
cheap no-fee capital one and discover work great for our budget minded infrequent traveling.
Great to see such a comprehensive list of credit cards offered in the US with no foreign transaction fees. Would be awesome to see a list of those offered in Canada as well
All cards by default should avoid this bogus fee.
USAA offers several rewards or cash back cards that have no foreign transaction fees.
Always looking for new card reward offers. I am amazed some of my friends cant be bothered
Has you ever considered the Paypal Cashback Mastercard? It has no annual fee, 2% cashback on all purchases, and no FTF. What are your thoughts?
I like the Capital One Quicksilver card for no annual fee and no FX fees and simple cash back.
Always keep this is mind when traveling overseas.
Banks are really greedy. Does not surprise me at all!!!
We’ve been using Penfed’s Visa card. No foreign transaction fees… and we’ve been super happy.
I have lots of cards with no foreign transaction fees, but until I got the arrival plus card, I didn’t have one that gave more than one point per dollar on regular purchases. It has already been useful.
Always travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Two more points for this great article:
1. Some banks also charge 1% or 3% on cash withdrawals at ATMs overseas—that’s right, they charge money for money you already own. It’s more common these days; Citibank didn’t charge this in the past and then they did, so check your bank. One way around it: a Charles Schwab account. No minimum, no fee, and they rebate any ATM fees you encounter, and they do not charge Forex fee on your own money!
2. More and more, bank ATMs in Europe are offering Dynamic Currency Conversion on withdrawals. It’s the same trap as with credit cards; do not accept it!
Paul, thanks for taking the time to remind folks of these fees. The more people that can successfully avoid them, the better chance we have of them disappearing all together!
I’m trying to remember – ALL CapitalOne cards don’t have the FTF, right?
That sounds right to me. Discover too but Discover isn’t widely used overseas.
i like the 3x points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. zero foreign transaction fees.
I’ll definitely pick one of these cards up!
Great overview of these types of cards. Always something to consider when looking to get a new card.
I’ve heard conflicting info about who has the best rates, Visa vs. MasterCard.
What’s your take on it?
It’s hard to put any Amex on this list with their acceptance issues in other countries.
And while contactless is increasingly an option, I’ve still run into chip+PIN kiosks in multiple countries over the last year, so that’s an important consideration.
I don’t know. This list seems rather short. For instance, donn’t all Capital One cards have no foreign transaction fees?
Thanks for the list. I need another foreign transaction fee free card.
CSR all the time for me!
I know for a fact that the many if not all of the so-called no-foreign-transaction-fee Bank of America and American Exprss Cards just bury the fees into the final amount instead of itemizing them as they had done in the past. I found out by making train ticket purchases from the automated ticket machines during single sessions that should not last more than 15 minutes with fee-charging and no-fee BOA and AMEX cards in Europe.
CSR and ink are my go to.
I use discover card. Works great in Asia (especially Japan) and has no annual fee or foreign transaction fee!
Every bit of savings helps. Never charge overseas without a no foreign transaction fee CC.
no fx fees are always worth a look
I like that the Wells Fargo Propel Amex earns 3X points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and doesn’t charge an annual fee. That will save me $,
Perks of having the Capital One is no foreign transaction fees!! Super convenient.
The entry level Quicksilver having no FTFs is huge. That’s the workhorse right now for my wife and I.
I think US Bank is still one of the worst offenders when it comes to FTFs, especially when it comes to travel cards (the Radisson card immediately comes to mind given how many non-US properties they have). AMEX has been really good in the past few years about removing FTFs from their travel cards and it is definitely time US Bank and others that still do this remove them. If anything, do it for the swipe fees you will receive!
I keep explaining this to my friends and they just shrug and keep their terrible cards. They don’t travel as much as we do so they can’t be bothered. They are also the ones who will get just $20-worth of cash each time at a foreign ATM, paying a $5 fee…
Wow. Not a great parallel but another example of the poor keeping themselves poor. These individuals don’t sound poor but they’re certainly making poor decisions.
For leisure travel, restaurants and hotels are my biggest expenses, so I use the Citi Prestige at those establishments (and for entertainment purchases until 9/31/19). Outside those categories, I use the Chase Ink Preferred. And I bring a Barclays card for Chip + PIN, if neither of the first two cards are accepted (at some unattended gas stations and train stations, for example).
In this day and age pretty easy to avoid foreign transaction fees. Know the rules before you go.
If I’m doing leisure travel, restaurants and hotels are my biggest expenses, so I’ve used Citi Prestige most often. If the purchase is not in either of those two categories, I use Chase Ink Preferred. And I bring a Barclays card for Chip + PIN, when the first two cards aren’t accepted.
Thank you for clarifying the concern for foreign transaction fees. I’m glad it is as simple as just picking the cards that don’t charge that fee.