7 Travel Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
Finding a credit card with no foreign transaction fees saves you money when traveling abroad. Here are seven cards that don't charge them.
We may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our site but our editorial selection of products is made independently. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. We calculate a typical annual reward for each card, assuming $36,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer.
Do you have a trip planned overseas or are thinking about booking one? Make sure your travel rewards credit card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
If you don't know if your credit card charges a foreign transaction fee, go to the credit card's website and look for a link to "pricing and information," "rates and fees," or "terms."
One such link should bring you to the Schumer Box, a summary of your card's fees, interest rates and terms. You might also find the Schumer Box on printed statements. Once you know where your card stands, you might find it pays to shop around. Best yet? Some of these cards are offering a $1,000-plus bonus offer to new cardholders.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Cards with no foreign transaction fees
Foreign transaction fees typically range from 1% to 3% of the value of a transaction, and while this might not seem like much, these fees can add up over time. For example, a week's stay at a European hotel could cost you $3,000. If your card's foreign transaction fee is 3%, you must pay an additional $90.
Here are some of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. Kiplinger vetted each card for its annual review of the best travel rewards credit cards. Our readers selected several of these cards in our latest Readers' Choice Awards credit cards for travel. This list is not exhaustive but includes examples from a range of issuers.
Some of these cards offer substantial sign-up bonuses for new cardholders. You're unlikely to get your bonus points or miles immediately.
If you want to use a sign-up bonus for an upcoming trip, contact the card issuer to see when the bonus will be posted to your account. As always, before applying for any credit card, review the card's details to ensure you're making the right choice.
Here are seven choices, listed in alphabetical order:
1. Bilt Mastercard®
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards rates: Earn up to 4X points at Bilt partner restaurants, up to 3X on hotels and flights booked through the Bilt Travel Portal, 3X on Lyft after linking your accounts and 1X on other everyday purchases. Eligible rent and mortgage payments can earn up to 1.25X points, depending on your everyday spending.
2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards rates: Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $395.
- Rewards rates: Earn unlimited 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.
- Travel benefits: Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles each year starting on your first anniversary. Cardholders can also receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
4. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards rates: Earn 5X points on Chase Travel, 3X on dining, gas stations, EV charging, eligible vacation homes, select streaming services and online grocery purchases, 2X on other travel and 1X on all other purchases. Terms and exclusions apply.
- Travel benefits: Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. Cardholders can also receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee.
5. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $95.
- Rewards rates: Earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel, 3X on air travel and other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging stations and 1X on all other purchases.
- Travel benefits: Get $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, each calendar year when booked through Citi Travel. ThankYou Points can also be transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
6. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $350.
- Rewards rates: Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X on other eligible purchases.
- Travel benefits: Receive an annual companion certificate after renewing your card, a first checked bag free on Delta flights worldwide and a second checked bag free on domestic Delta flights. Cardholders also get 15% off eligible Delta award travel and can receive up to a $120 Global Entry or up to an $85 TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years. Terms apply.
- Terms apply
7. U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards rates: Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly through the U.S. Bank Travel Center, 4X on travel and 4X at gas stations and EV charging stations on the first $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 2X on dining, streaming services and grocery store purchases and 1X on other eligible purchases. Some exclusions apply.
- Travel benefits: Cardholders receive airport lounge access, a TSA PreCheck benefit and select travel protections.
Make your travel spending go further
Traveling abroad can come with plenty of extra expenses, but foreign transaction fees don't have to be one of them. Before your next international trip, check whether your credit card charges these fees and consider how its annual fee, rewards and travel benefits fit your spending habits. The right card can help you avoid unnecessary charges while potentially earning rewards on the money you're already spending.
Related content
- Best Places to Visit Where the Dollar is Strong
- The 10 Safest Countries to Visit
- Here's How to Renew Your Passport Online
- How to Save on Booking a Cruise
All information about the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has been collected independently by Kiplinger. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline, etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.
