Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards of June 2025
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
+ 2 more+ 2 more
Most credit cards tack an extra charge on purchases made outside the U.S. If you're planning to travel abroad, you'll want a card without foreign transaction fees, like one of the options below. Foreign transaction fees are usually 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, with 3% being common. That might not seem like a big deal, but if you spent, say, $3,000 at a hotel, you could be looking at an additional $90 charge.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Show More
Most credit cards tack an extra charge on purchases made outside the U.S. If you're planning to travel abroad, you'll want a card without foreign transaction fees, like one of the options below. Foreign transaction fees are usually 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, with 3% being common. That might not seem like a big deal, but if you spent, say, $3,000 at a hotel, you could be looking at an additional $90 charge.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Most credit cards tack an extra charge on purchases made outside the U.S. If you're planning to travel abroad, you'll want a card without foreign transaction fees, like one of the options below. Foreign transaction fees are usually 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, with 3% being common. That might not seem like a big deal, but if you spent, say, $3,000 at a hotel, you could be looking at an additional $90 charge.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Most credit cards tack an extra charge on purchases made outside the U.S. If you're planning to travel abroad, you'll want a card without foreign transaction fees, like one of the options below. Foreign transaction fees are usually 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, with 3% being common. That might not seem like a big deal, but if you spent, say, $3,000 at a hotel, you could be looking at an additional $90 charge.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Show SummaryHide Summary
NerdWallet's Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards of June 2025
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Bonus travel rewards
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simple travel rewards
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for Simple rewards + no annual fee
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Flat-rate cash back
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Bonus category cash back
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for College students
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Average credit
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best for Business travel
Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Bonus category cash back | $0 | 1%-8% | $200 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Wells Fargo Autograph® CardApply Nowon Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website | Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee | $0 | 1x-3x | 20,000 points | Apply Nowon Wells Fargo's website on Wells Fargo's website |
 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple travel rewards | $95 | 2x-5x | 75,000 miles | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit cardApply Nowon Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website | Best for Simple rewards + no annual fee | $0 | 1.5x-3x | 25,000 points | Apply Nowon Bank of America's website on Bank of America's website |
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Bonus travel rewards | $95 | 1x-5x | 60,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Flat-rate cash back | $0 | 1.5%-5% | $200 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for College students | $0 | 1.5%-5% | $100 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Business travel | $95 | 1x-3x | 90,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
 Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Average credit | $39 | 1.5%-5% | N/A | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Our pick for: Bonus category cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- 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 and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an irresistible (and hard-to-find) combination: high rates on dining AND at grocery stores.
You'll earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 3% back on dining, grocery stores, eligible streaming services and entertainment. All other purchases earn 1% back. There's also a generous sign-up bonus, not to mention an intro APR offer. That's a lot of value packed into a card with a $0 annual fee.
If your spending is more concentrated in one food category over the other — dining out or cooking at home — you might do better with a card that specializes in one of those areas.
Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories.
The card earns unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The bonus offer is outstanding for a $0-annual-fee card, and you even get a introductory APR period.
The card doesn't have the perks of a dedicated airline or hotel card. You can transfer points to airline and hotel programs, but the options are limited.
Our pick for: Simple travel rewards
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Enjoy 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, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Loaded with value, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent companion for travelers who value flexibility with their rewards.
This card earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed for statement credit against travel expenses at a rate of 1 cent apiece. Just book travel however you want, then use miles to pay for it. Plus, when you redeem miles, you get 5% of those miles back as a bonus. There's a fantastic sign-up offer: Enjoy 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.
You won't get the perks that often come with branded travel cards, like free checked bags and priority boarding with an airline card or a free night's stay each year with a hotel card.
Our pick for: Simple rewards + no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- 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 unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
NerdWallet's take
For travelers on a budget, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers excellent value. For those with large balances in affiliated Bank of America® savings and investment accounts, it’s even better.
This card gives you many of the perks of a travel card without the price tag: It has an annual fee of $0. You get 3 points per $1 spent on travel booked through Bank of America and 1.5 points on everything else. You can redeem points at a value of 1 cent apiece for credit against any travel purchase. This card also happens to have one of the broadest definitions of “travel” in the industry — not just flights, hotels and other routine expenses, but also the cost of visiting an amusement park, an aquarium or a fortuneteller. If you maintain high balances in affiliated accounts, you can earn 25% to 75% more through the Preferred Rewards program. Plus, there's a sign-up bonus: 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..
If you don’t have a Bank of America® account, you can earn a higher rewards rate with other cards — and if you spend enough, could come out ahead even after paying an annual fee.
Our pick for: Bonus travel rewards
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is best in class for travelers looking for an outsize sign-up bonus and opportunities to transfer their points to leading loyalty programs.
What really sets this card apart is its big sign-up bonus and rewards transfer options. The bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. When using the card, you’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase; 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per $1 spent on travel not booked through Chase; and 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Points are generally worth 1 cent, but they’re worth 25% more when used to book travel through Chase. They can also be transferred at 1:1 rate to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
A big chunk of this card’s value rests in its sign-up bonus; other travel cards have better long-term rewards. Also, this card doesn’t offer the perks — free checked bags, priority boarding — of airline-specific cards.
Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
If you’re a frugal type, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a simple way to earn more on every dollar spent, at home and abroad.
The best cash back cards make rewards easy to earn and easy to redeem, and this card does that better than most. You earn a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and there’s no minimum redemption amount. That’s music to a frugal traveler’s ears. The annual fee is $0. This card also comes a solid bonus offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Unlike many travel rewards cards, which let you stretch your value by redeeming points or miles selectively, this card's rate is what it is: 1.5% on purchases.
Our pick for: College students
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Studying abroad? Adding the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card to your wallet before the big trip could help you save on fees. And the simple, straightforward rewards make it worth using at home, too.
The card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and the annual fee is $0.
The ongoing APR is 19.24%-29.24% Variable APR, so carrying a balance on it could get expensive in a hurry.
Our pick for: Business travel
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
If your business needs a good travel card, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers great rewards in common spending categories, and the sign-up bonus is outstanding.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card delivers outstanding value from the get-go with a big sign-up bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, telecommunications, shipping and advertising on social media and search engines, on up to $150,000 in combined spending each year. All other spending earns 1 point per dollar. Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when used to book travel through Chase; they can also be transferred on a 1:1 basis to travel partners such as United, Southwest, Marriott and Hyatt.
As with most credit cards with generous rewards, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has an annual fee: $95. There’s a limit to how much spending earns 3 points per dollar; it’s a high limit, but it’s still a limit.
Our pick for: Average credit
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
If you don’t carry a balance and your credit is “meh,” the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card may be your best bet for rewards with no foreign transaction fee.
This card pays 1.5% cash back on all purchases — the same as on the regular Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card for excellent credit. That makes it one of the most valuable cards available for those with average credit. Plus, you can redeem cash back in any amount.
There's an annual fee of $39. To earn enough rewards to make up for the fee, you’d have to spend $2,600 a year. For some, that’s a tall order. The card also lacks a sign-up bonus. The ongoing APR is 29.74% Variable APR, so it’s not a good pick for carrying a balance.
How to choose a card with no foreign transaction fee
A foreign transaction fee is a surcharge that a credit card issuer adds to purchases made outside the United States. These fees are typically around 3% of the purchase amount. Using a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee can save you money when traveling. Here’s what to consider when weighing your options in no-foreign-transaction-fee cards.
Key factors to consider
Acceptance outside the U.S.
Annual fee
General rewards and benefits
How I chose a card with no foreign transaction fee
Traveling is a priority for me, but saving money while traveling is my golden ticket. So when I was shopping for a travel card, I looked for ones with no fees — no foreign transaction fees and no annual fees — and this narrowed down my search. I also value simplicity and opt for cards that won’t be a hassle when I'm traveling. For me, this means carrying a card that earns a high flat rate for all my spending so I don't have to juggle multiple cards or keep track of many rewards categories. My ideal travel card is one that’s cheap to carry and that can stay “top of wallet,” whether I’m abroad or stationary.
Funto Omojola
Writer, credit cards
How to save money with your credit card overseas
Avoid using credit cards at ATMs
Avoid dynamic currency conversion
Know your card’s travel protections
Top credit card issuers' foreign transaction fee
Most major U.S. credit card issuers charge foreign transaction fees on at least some of their cards, although they usually do not charge them on their most popular travel rewards cards. A couple of issuers don’t charge foreign transaction fees on any cards.
Foreign transaction fees typically add about 3% to the cost of an international purchase. This fee usually shows up as a separate line item on your credit card statement. Here’s a look at each major issuer’s standard fees on cards that do charge a foreign transaction fee.
The standard foreign transaction fee for American Express is 2.7%. AmEx cards that do not charge a foreign transaction fee include The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card.
The standard foreign transaction fee for Bank of America® is 3%. Cards that do not charge such fees include the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card.
The standard foreign transaction fee for Barclays cards is 3%.
Capital One's U.S.-issued credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees. That applies to Capital One's full lineup of cards, including travel cards, cash back cards, small-business cards and cards designed for those building credit.
The standard foreign transaction fee for Chase credit cards is 3%. Chase cards that don't charge this fee include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The standard foreign transaction fee for Citi credit cards is 3%. Examples of cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees include the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®.
None of Discover's credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee. However, Discover's acceptance outside the U.S. is limited; if Discover is your go-to card, it's best to bring a Visa or Mastercard as a backup when traveling internationally.
The standard foreign transaction fee for U.S. Bank is 3%. But some U.S. Bank cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, including the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card.
The standard foreign transaction fee for Wells Fargo credit cards is 3%. However, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card do not charge the fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much are foreign transaction fees?
The typical credit card foreign transaction fee is about 3%. So if you went to London with a card that had a 3% fee and used it to buy something that cost $140, you'd be charged a foreign transaction fee of $4.20. This fee typically shows up as a separate line item on your credit card statement. Keep in mind that many issuers don’t charge foreign transaction fees on their designated travel rewards credit cards — and some don't charge them on any cards.
When do I pay a foreign transaction fee?
When a foreign transaction fee applies to a purchase, you won't see it until you receive your credit card statement. That's because the fee is charged by the credit card company, not by the merchant. If you charge a $1,000 hotel stay in another country, your receipt from the hotel will just say $1,000 (or the equivalent amount in the foreign currency); when your statement arrives, the charge for the purchase will total $1,030.
Are foreign transaction fees affected by exchange rates?
Foreign transaction fees are independent of exchange rates. Currency exchange rates tell you how much a unit of foreign currency is worth in dollars. If you buy something in France for 100 euros, for example, the cost in dollars might be $103 or $105 or $107.38 or something else, based on the current exchange rate. Your credit card's payment network — Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express — converts foreign purchases to dollar amounts according to the current exchange rate. The foreign transaction fee is then applied to the converted dollar amount.
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation include annual fees, rewards rates and redemption options, introductory and ongoing interest rates, bonus offers for new cardholders, international acceptance of the card's payment network, and other noteworthy features such as travel perks. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
About the author
Funto Omojola
Lead Writer & Content StrategistAbout the reviewer
Caitlin Mims
Editor & Content StrategistAbout the editor
