Best Travel Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees? Check Out This List - [2023]
Whenever you’re spending in a foreign currency - whether that’s when you travel overseas or when you shop with an online retailer based abroad - it’s useful to know your options to spend and make cash withdrawals internationally without hefty foreign transaction fees.
UK customers can generally pick from international debit or prepaid cards, or travel credit cards which have features designed for ease of use overseas. Different options suit different preferences and needs - to help you pick, this guide walks through no foreign transaction fee cards from well known UK banks, and some top low cost alternatives like the Wise card and the Revolut card.
Key points: best travel cards with no foreign transaction fees
Wise: Spend in 170+ countries with mid-market rate currency conversion and no ongoing fees
Revolut: Pick the account that suits your spending, and get free currency conversion to plan limits
Barclay card: Earn 0.25% cash back on spending, with no foreign transaction fee to pay
- Halifax: Get the same interest rate across all spending categories, and no Halifax ATM fee
Santander: Earn 0.5% cash back on spending with no foreign transaction fee - 3 GBP/month charge applies
What is a foreign transaction fee?
A foreign transaction fee is an extra percentage charge that’s added to your overall bill whenever you spend with your credit or debit in a foreign currency. These charges are added when you spend with a merchant overseas, when you’re on a foreign holiday and make an ATM withdrawal, or when you spend with a card online, and pay in a currency other than pounds.
Not all credit and debit cards use foreign transaction fees - but they’re pretty common, and they can push up the costs of spending overseas without you even realising it.
How do foreign transaction fees work?
Foreign transaction fees are percentage fees added to the amount you pay when you spend in a foreign currency. If you’re spending with a debit card, the amount you spend when you’re abroad will be converted back to pounds, and then this, plus the foreign transaction fee, will be deducted from your account. If you’re using a credit card, the foreign transaction fee is added when switching your overseas spending back to pounds, and then the total is shown on your monthly card bill.
Depending on your card provider, the foreign transaction fee may be shown as a separate line on your statement or card bill, or it may simply be rolled into the sterling amount shown for the purchase or withdrawal.
How much are foreign transaction fees?
Where foreign transaction fees apply, they’ll often be around 3% of the total transaction value. That doesn’t sound too bad, but it quickly adds up if you’re making a big ticket purchase or if you’re on a longer holiday with your family, for example.
The good news is that some banks and specialist providers don’t charge foreign transaction fees. In this article, we’ll cover providers that do not have foreign transaction fees such as Wise and Revolut, as well as some UK banks that offer cards with no foreign transaction fees.
5 best travel cards with no foreign transaction fees in the UK
We’ve picked a selection of no foreign transaction fee cards, including international debit cards from specialist services Wise and Revolut, and travel credit cards from major UK banks.
Although all of these cards have no foreign transaction fee to pay, that doesn’t mean they’re completely free to use. Here’s a quick summary of some of the key costs you’ll want to know about - we’ll look at some of the other common travel card fees a little later, too.
| Bank | Name of the Card | Fees | Exchange Rates | Withdrawal fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Wise Debit Card | 7 GBP to get your card, no monthly or annual fee | Mid-market exchange rate | 2 withdrawals per month, to the value of 200 GBP for free 1.75% + 0.5 GBP after that |
| Revolut | Revolut Debit Card | No fee to get a card, monthly fees of 0 GBP to 12.99 GBP depending on account tier | Mid-market exchange rate to plan limit, fair usage fees of 0.5% - 1% may apply after that Out of hours and exotic currency fees may also apply | Free withdrawals to plan limit, 2% after that |
| Barclaycard | Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card | No fee to get your card, no annual fee, late payment penalties may apply Variable interest, representative 25.9% APR | Visa exchange rate | No Barclays fee, but interest costs may apply |
| Halifax | Clarity Credit Card | No fee to get your card, no annual fee, late payment penalties may apply Variable interest, representative 22.9% APR | Mastercard exchange rate | No Halifax fee, but interest costs accrue from the day you make your withdrawal |
| Santander | All in One Credit Card | No fee to get your card, 3 GBP monthly fee, late payment penalties may apply Variable interest, representative 27.7% APR | Mastercard exchange rate | 3%, minimum 3 GBP per withdrawal, plus any relevant interest |
Travel debit cards tend to have a quite different fee structure to travel credit cards - and different options suit different customer needs. It’s helpful to compare a few different card types as well as different banks and providers, to make sure you’re getting the best fit for your needs. Here’s a quick summary of the fees you’ll pay to use the cards we’ve picked out above:
Wise Debit Card: 7 GBP charge to get your card, with no ongoing fees. Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate, and you’ll get 2 free ATM withdrawals every month with low fees after that
Revolut Debit Card: There’s no fee to get a card, but you might decide to pay a monthly account fee to get more features and free transactions compared with the free account options. All accounts including the free plans have some free ATM withdrawals and currency conversion - but fair usage fees apply once you exhaust your plan limits
Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card: No annual fee card, with no Barclays charge to make cash withdrawals. However, you’ll need to pay a variable interest rate if you don’t clear your bill in time every month, and penalties may apply for late or missed payments
Halifax Clarity Credit Card: No annual fee card with no Halifax ATM charge. However, interest accrues instantly when you make a cash withdrawal which can mean there’s extra to pay when it comes to clearing your bill at the end of the month
Santander All in One Credit Card: 3 GBP/month fee, with a 3% charge when you make cash withdrawals. You’ll also need to check the variable interest rate you’re offered to see what the overall costs may be
Wise Debit Card
Key point: Hold and spend 50+ currencies, with mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees
Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order your Wise card for a one time 7 GBP fee. You can add money in pounds or any of around 20 supported top up currencies, and convert to 50+ different currencies for spending with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%. If you don’t have the currency you need in your account balance, the card can automatically convert for you with the mid-market rate and the lowest possible fee every time. No annual, monthly or ongoing charges.
Foreign transaction fee: No foreign transaction fee
Annual or monthly fee: No annual or monthly fee
Currency conversion: Mid-market exchange rate, with low fees from 0.43%
Benefits and rewards: Hold and exchange 50+ currencies, get paid with local bank details for 9 currencies, spend in 170+ countries
Read a full Wise debit card review here
| Advantages of Wise Debit Card | Disadvantages of Wise Debit Card |
|---|---|
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Revolut Debit Card
Key point: Choose a free Standard plan, or upgrade to an account with monthly fees but more features and free transactions
Revolut accounts can hold and exchange 30+ currencies, and you can either pick a free plan with limited features and free transactions, or upgrade to one of 3 paid plan tiers which have more flexibility. All accounts have some fee free currency conversion, linked physical and virtual cards, and some free ATM withdrawals, but fair usage fees apply when you hit your account plan limits. Out of hours and exotic currency fees may also apply when you convert currencies, which are shown in the Revolut app.
Foreign transaction fee: No foreign transaction fee
Annual or monthly fee: 0 GBP - 12.99 GBP/month depending on the plan you pick
Currency conversion: Mid-market exchange rate to your plan limit, 0.5% - 1% fee after that
Benefits and rewards: Hold and exchange 30+ currencies, and get great saving and budgeting tools too
Read a full Revolut review here
| Advantages of Revolut Debit Card | Disadvantages of Revolut Debit Card |
|---|---|
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Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card
Key point: 0.25% cash back on all spending, plus extras like free Apple subscriptions
The Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, but as with any credit card, you’ll pay interest charges if you don’t clear your bill every month, and penalty costs if you’re late settling up. There’s no ATM fee from Barclaycard, but interest charges may apply, and the ATM operator might have their own fees which they deduct as you withdraw. Variable interest fees, with a representative 25.9% APR stated.
Foreign transaction fee: No foreign transaction fee
Annual or monthly fee: No annual fee
Currency conversion: Visa exchange rate
Benefits and rewards: 0.25% cash back on all spending plus variable exclusive offers and promotional deals
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
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Halifax Clarity Credit Card
Key point: Same interest rate on all spending, with a relatively low APR which can vary based on your credit score
The Halifax Clarity Credit Card has a variable APR which you’ll be able to see when you check your eligibility online, with no annual fee and no Halifax ATM fee. However, interest does start to accrue as soon as you make a cash withdrawal, which can mean you’ll end up paying extra when your bill comes in at the end of the month. Variable interest, representative 22.9% APR.
Foreign transaction fee: No foreign transaction fee
Annual or monthly fee: No annual fee
Currency conversion: Mastercard exchange rate
Benefits and rewards: Cashback for new customers, some travel extras like easy ways to order travel cash
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
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Santander All in One Credit Card
Key point: 0.5% cash back on all spending, with a low fee of 3 GBP a month
Santander’s All in One Credit Card has a monthly fee of 3 GBP, but in return you’ll pay no foreign transaction fee and there’s the opportunity to earn 0.5% cash back on all your everyday spending. Income requirements are pretty low compared to some other cards, at 7,500 GBP/year or more. There’s a relatively high variable interest, set at a representative 27.7% APR.
Foreign transaction fee: No foreign transaction fee
Annual or monthly fee: 3 GBP/month
Currency conversion: Mastercard exchange rate
Benefits and rewards: 0.5% cash back on all spending, offers for new customers may also apply
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
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Other travel card fees
It’s important to read your card’s terms and conditions carefully, to make sure you’re aware of all the potential fees that could apply. Here are a few other travel card fees to watch out for.
| Provider | Fall below fees | Annual fees | Late payment fee | Replacement fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | No fee | No fee | Not applicable | 2.5 GBP |
| Revolut | No fee | No annual fee - monthly charges apply to some account tiers | Not applicable | 5 GBP |
| Barclaycard | No fee | No fee | 12 GBP | No fee |
| Halifax | No fee | No fee | Shown when you apply | No fee |
| Santander | No fee | 3 GBP/month, equivalent 36 GBP/year | 12 GBP | No fee |
Different cards have their own features and fees - but in general, debit cards have fewer overall costs as you won’t need to worry about interest charges and late payment penalties, which can all mount up rapidly. Compare a few cards to find the right one for you.
How to get a card with no foreign transaction fees?
The process you follow to get a no foreign transaction fee card will depend on the provider and card you pick. However, in most cases you can apply online and the card will be sent to you by post in a few days.
As an example, here's how to order a Wise card in the UK:
Open a Wise Account online in just a few minutes
Get verified by adding images of your ID and proof of address
Top up your Wise Account in the currency of your choice
Tap the Cards tab and order your Wise card for a one time 7 GBP fee
Your physical card will arrive in the post - you can also start spending with your digital card right away
Learn more about how to get a Wise card here.
How to use cards internationally
Using a card to pay when you travel or shop online with overseas retailers is convenient and easy. Here are a few things to remember if you’re using your card overseas:
Make sure your card will be accepted by the merchant or ATM - look for your card’s network logo (Visa or Mastercard for example)
Check if your bank or card provider charges foreign transaction fees
Always pay in the local currency to avoid extra fees incurred through dynamic currency conversion
Check if you have to let your bank or card provider know of your travel plans in advance for security reasons
Clear your credit card bill as soon as possible to avoid interest and late payment fees
Conclusion: Best cards for overseas spending [UK]?
UK customers have a good range of travel cards to choose from, including travel debit and credit cards. Whether you’re looking to hold a foreign currency balance and get the mid-market rate when you spend, or trying to earn cash back and rewards on overseas spending, there’s something for you.
Compare a few options, including regular credit cards and alternatives like the Wise debit card for convenient spending with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%, and the Revolut debit card which lets you pick the account tier to suit your spending.
Best cards with no foreign transaction fees - FAQs
To avoid foreign transaction fees you may need to get a specific card for travel use. Options include travel credit cards, and travel debit cards from providers like Wise and Revolut. Credit cards can be handy if you want to spread the costs of your travel and don’t mind paying interest to do so - while debit cards can be flexible with low overall fees.
Many banks offer credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, including the Santander All in One Credit Card and the Halifax Clarity Credit Card for example. Or as an alternative, check out a non-bank provider like Wise or Revolut for a no foreign transaction fee card with low overall fees.
If you’re offered the alternative to pay in your home currency or the local currency wherever you are, always pick the local currency in your location. This avoids extra fees which can be applied when you choose to pay in your home currency instead.
If you’re planning your travel spending you’ll want to check out a few currency exchange options, including specialist travel cards you can use to convert pounds to the currency you need, and to withdraw cash from ATMs in your destination. Travel cards generally present good value - as well as being convenient and safe.
Buying currency in advance of travel gives peace of mind, but you won’t automatically get the best exchange rate if you’re switching pounds for local currency in cash at a money changing service. Another option is to get a no foreign transaction fee travel debit card from a provider like Wise or Revolut and use it to make cash withdrawals on arrival - this can mean you get a better rate compared to switching at home.
Cut down on the fees involved in exchanging currencies by shopping around for a travel account and card with no foreign transaction fees and good exchange rates. Providers like Wise and Revolut can be a good place to start your research.