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Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

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by Sam Lipscomb | Updated Feb. 28, 2023

Overview of the Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

If you’re planning a trip out of the country it’s important to be aware of foreign transaction fees. Most U.S credit card companies will charge a fee every time you use your card abroad. The fee is generally around 3% of each transaction you make while out of the country. The good news is there are credit cards with no foreign transaction fees available. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, using one of these cards can mean huge savings on spending abroad. Our experts have done the math on the top no foreign transaction fee credit cards to help you find one that fits your needs. See More



Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card for Travel

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  • Earn 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. When you redeem your points for travel through Chase that equals $900!
  • Receive a $300 travel credit each anniversary year to reimburse you for travel purchases charged to your card
  • Earn a total of 5 points on air travel and a total of 10 points on car rentals and hotels when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after you spend the first $300 on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points on all other travel and when you dine at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and receive 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
  • Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards for Travel
  • Points are worth 50% more with Pay Yourself Back, during the current offer when you redeem for statement credits against purchases already made in select rotating categories
  • One-to-one point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Receive complimentary Priority Pass™ Select Membership to 1,300+ airport lounges after an easy one-time enrollment. Receive an application fee credit of up to $100 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Receive the benefits of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Lost Luggage Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver and more

Annual Fee

$550

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

17.74% - 24.74% Variable

Details

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is our top pick among credit cards that boast no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on car rentals and hotels when purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after you spend the first $300 on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points on all other travel and when you dine at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and receive 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

If you spend your points on travel using the Chase travel portal, you’ll receive a 50% bonus on each point. You can also earn a 60,000-point early spending bonus for using your card for $4,000 in purchases over your first 3 months.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, which is largely offset if you claim the card’s $300 annual travel credit. You’ll also get up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years.

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, you’re likely someone who’s on the road and out of the country quite a bit. Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve charge no foreign transaction fees, it’s also one of the best travel cards on the market. You can earn a great signup bonus when you get the card. One attractive feature of the card is its built-in travel and purchase protections, which can help save you money if things go awry.

One major perk of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the versatility of how you can redeem points. You can convert them into cash back or even use them through Chase’s own travel portal, which gives you a 50% bonus on each point. You also have the option to transfer points to a variety of hotel and airline partners. All of this makes the Chase Sapphire Reserve a great card for travelers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Card for All Around Rewards

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  • Earn a 60,000 point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership
  • Earn 4x points at restaurants (including delivery or takeout) in the U.S. Earn 4x points at supermarkets in the U.S. (on up to $25,000/year in purchases, then 1x point).
  • Earn 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1 point on other purchases
  • Earn up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you dine at select restaurants with your card, The Cheesecake Factory, Grubhub, Milk Bar, Wine.com and select Shake Shack locations once you enroll, this can be a savings of up to $120 per year
  • There are no foreign transaction fees. However, there is a $250 annual fee
  • Terms Apply

Annual Fee

$250

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

17.49% - 24.49% Variable

Details

The American Express® Gold Card is a close second in our roundup of the best cards with no foreign transaction fees. With the Gold Card, you’ll earn 4x points on up to $25,000 in annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets, after which you will earn 1x points. You’ll also earn 4x points at restaurants in the U.S. (including takeout and delivery), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1x points on other purchases. You can earn a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership.

The Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and charges no foreign transaction fees. You can partially offset the annual fee by taking advantage of a $10 monthly statement credit when you dine at certain restaurants or through Seamless, Grubhub or a handful of other vendors (enrollment required). Terms Apply.

Why We Like It

Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the American Express® Gold Card earns solid transferable points and has good bonus categories. You can use the points you earn with your Gold Card to book travel directly through American Express, or you can transfer them out to a variety of hotel and airline loyalty programs.

The American Express® Gold Card doesn’t have the same built-in travel and purchase protections as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it’s still a solid option for anyone who travels and dines out frequently. Note that Amex isn’t as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard, so it’s good to also have a backup option in your wallet just in case.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card for Flat Rate Cash Back

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  • Earn a one-time early spend bonus of $200 when you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of having an account
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back - no matter the purchase
  • There is no annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad
  • Earn 5% unlimited cash back on rental cars and hotels booked with Capital One Travel. Terms Apply
  • Categories don't change or rotate, rewards are automatic. There is no limit to the cash back you can earn and cash back won't expire as long as your account is in good standing
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months; receive 19.74%- 29.74% variable APR after that depending on creditworthiness. For balances transferred, there is a 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

0% for 15 Months

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0% for 15 months

Regular APR

19.74% - 29.74% Variable

Details

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the most straightforward card on our list. The card has no annual fee and earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You can also earn a $200 early spending bonus after spending $500 within your first 3 months of being a cardholder. You don’t have to wait to redeem your cash back and it stays with you as long as your account is open.

Why We Like It

Anyone looking for a simple, no-frill cash back credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees should take a serious look at the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. With a simple earning structure and no annual fee, there isn’t much reason not to have this card in your wallet. While you won’t earn transferable points, this card is a great way to get a little money back on all of your day-to-day purchases at home and around the world.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card for Students

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  • After you spend $500 in the first three billing cycles with your Deserve EDU Mastercard, you will receive a one year Amazon Prime Student membership
  • Once you are approved and begin using your card, you will earn 1% cash back on every purchase
  • Receive cell phone protection up to $600
  • There are no deposits required to receive your card. There are no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.
  • If you are an international student, there is no social security number required for you to apply
  • Unlimited referral bonuses: Refer a friend to Deserve EDU using your personal referral code and upon their approval, card activation and use, you will receive $30 and so will your referral
  • There is no impact to your credit score to see if you prequalify
  • Card is issued by Celtic Bank, Member FDIC

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

20.24% Variable

Details

The Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students is a great option for students who want to avoid foreign transaction fees. This card has no annual fee and earns 1% cash back on all purchases. It’s easy to get approved for with average or limited credit, as college students often have. You’ll have access to up to $600 in cell phone protection with your card. On top of everything, you’ll get one year of Amazon Prime Student after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles with your EDU card.

Why We Like It

While there are other student-centric cards that may seem like better choices, the Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students stands out because of its broad usability as a Mastercard and its easy cash back benefits. While 1% cash back isn’t particularly great, it’s still a solid rate, especially considering it applies to all purchases. Any student looking for a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees should strongly consider the Deserve EDU.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card with No Annual Fee

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  • There are no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad and there is no annual fee with the VentureOne® card
  • Receive an early spend bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months. When redeemed for travel, this equals $200!
  • Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase
  • Redeem your miles when you want with no blackout dates, you can fly any airline and stay at any hotel; anytime
  • No limit to the number of miles you can earn and miles won't expire as long as your account is in good standing
  • Transfer your miles to over twelve loyalty travel programs for added flexibility
  • Low 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months; receive 16.49% - 26.49% variable APR after that depending on creditworthiness

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

0% for 15 Months

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0% for 15 Months

Regular APR

16.49% - 26.49% Variable

Details

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a solid, but simple travel rewards card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. When you use your card, you’ll earn 1.25 points for every dollar that you spend. You can then use these points to offset travel purchases, but you can also transfer them to a variety of different hotel and airline transfer partners if you’d like to redeem your rewards that way. Right now, you can earn an early spend bonus of 20,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership.

Why We Like It

The Capital One Venture Card, which is the VentureOne’s premium counterpart, is arguably a better all-around card. However, the VentureOne shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s still a great travel option and boasts many key features, all for no annual fee. For starters, the card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid option whether you’re abroad or at home. It also simplifies travel rewards, allowing you to redeem points as straight cash back against travel purchases.

However, a key feature of both the VentureOne and the Venture cards is that you can transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners. This option can often give you outsized value for your points, so don’t overlook it when it comes to planning your next trip. Either way, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great option for anyone that wants a simple travel rewards card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or an annual fee.

Methodology

SmartAsset has developed a quantitative and independent system for evaluating the relative value of a credit card offer versus other offers in the marketplace. Our system evaluates cards based exclusively on their features, such as their rewards earning rate (if applicable), fees, perks, and rewards program redemption options. The annual rewards values on this page are calculated using annual spending assumptions in various categories such as, but not limited to, gas, restaurants, airfare, and US supermarkets. These spending assumptions are built on research that SmartAsset has conducted on existing cash back credit cardholders. Our promise with our credit card recommendations is that we will always strive to have the most comprehensive, accurate, and objective method of evaluating credit card offers. Any recommendations are solely determined by the result of this research and model, and is never influenced by any fees, commissions, or other forms of compensation that SmartAsset may receive from credit card issuers for leads generated on our website.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the credit card issuer. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which SmartAsset.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). SmartAsset.com does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

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