The Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees [2023]

We think the Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent choice for international travelers. It has a $0 annual fee with 0% foreign transaction fees and provides a simple rewards rate that’s easy to use.

For more options, check out the 11 best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Key takeaways

• Most travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
• Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees typically save you about 3% on purchases you make abroad. If you spend $1,000 on your card while on an international trip, that’s potentially $30 saved.
• Some other card benefits and details to consider include welcome bonus offers, rewards rates, travel redemption opportunities, airport lounge access, travel credits, elite status, low or high annual fees, and transfer partners.

The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

• Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card(Rates and fees)
  
• Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  
• American Express^® Gold Card
  
• Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card
  
• Citi Premier^® Card
  
• Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
  

• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Comparison of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Card	Welcome offer	Rewards rate	Annual fee
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card	Earn 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
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card	Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months (that’s a $300 cash redemption value; limited time offer)	Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1X points on other purchases	$0
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases	$95
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	$95
American Express® Gold Card	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership	Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases	$250 (Terms apply)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card	Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Earn 3X points 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; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases	$95
Citi Premier® Card	Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024	Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases	$95
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening	Earn 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); and 1% cash back on all other purchases	$0
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)	$0
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months	Earn 2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $99 per year thereafter
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card	Earn 3 Free Night Awards (up to a 150,000 Total Point Value) after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening (each night valued up to 50,000 points)	Earn up to 17X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; 3X points at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year; and 2X points on all other purchases	$0

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Simple rewards rate Intro APR offers on purchases and qualifying balance transfers	No bonus categories

The Bank of America Travel Rewards makes sense if you want a simple travel credit card with 0% foreign transaction fees.

Welcome offer: Earn 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.

Rewards rate: Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.

Why we like it: The Bank of America Travel Rewards card has a $0 annual fee and a simple rewards rate that works for all your eligible purchases.

What we don’t like: There aren’t any bonus categories, which means you earn the same rewards rate regardless of the type of purchase.

Other benefits include:

• 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)
• 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)

Learn more in our Bank of America Travel Rewards review.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Elevated earning potential on everyday categories	No intro APR offer on qualifying balance transfers

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card makes sense if your everyday expenses align with its bonus categories.

Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months (that’s a $300 cash redemption value; limited time offer).

Rewards rate: Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1X points on other purchases.

Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Autograph has a $0 annual fee and provides excellent earning rates on many types of common expenses.

What we don’t like: There’s no introductory APR offer on qualifying balance transfers. In addition, the Wells Fargo Autograph might not be the best fit if you don’t frequently spend in its bonus categories.

Other benefits include:

• Cell phone protection
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable)

Learn more in our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Pros	Cons
Up to $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Ultimate Rewards 25% bonus to travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards Earns flexible points that can be transferred to over a dozen Chase travel partners	$95 annual fee

The Chase Sapphire Preferred makes sense if you want a travel credit card that earns valuable rewards and provides multiple travel benefits.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides excellent everyday earning categories to help boost your travel rewards balance. You can also take advantage of a 25% bonus to travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards and up to $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

What we don’t like: You have to pay a $95 annual fee as a cardholder. This isn't a terribly high annual fee compared to certain premium travel cards.

Other benefits include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Baggage delay insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance services
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Transfer partners, such as United, Virgin Atlantic, and World of Hyatt

Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

If you want even more luxury travel benefits from a Chase credit card, then make sure to check out the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. You can enjoy even higher rewards rates and perks like Priority Pass lounge access and up to a $300 annual travel credit.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Pros	Cons
Simple earning rate Up to $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Earns flexible points that can be transferred to over a dozen Capital One travel partners	$95 annual fee

The Capital One Venture Rewards makes sense if you want a travel credit card with multiple travel benefits and a simple rewards rate.

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Why we like it: The simple rewards rate makes it easy to earn miles on everyday purchases. And you can take advantage of an up to $100 statement credit toward the application fee on a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership.

What we don’t like: The annual fee is $95 per year for cardmembers.

Other benefits include:

• Two complimentary lounge visits per year to Capital One or Plaza Premium Lounges

Learn more in our Capital One Venture Card review.

American Express^® Gold Card

Pros	Cons
Up to $120 annual Uber Cash Up to $120 annual dining credit Earns flexible points that can be transferred to over a dozen American Express travel partners (Select benefits require enrollment.)	$250 annual fee (Terms apply)

The American Express Gold Card® makes sense for dining purchases and using Uber for rideshares or Uber Eats orders.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Rewards rate: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: You can take advantage of multiple dining out and/or travel-related benefits, including:

• Up to $120 Uber Cash: Automatically receive $10 in Uber Cash each month (up to $120 per year) after adding your card to your Uber account. Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders.
• Up to $120 dining credit: Enroll in this benefit to earn up to $10 in statement credits each month (up to $120 per year) when you use your card to pay at participating partners, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Grubhub, and select Shake Shack locations.

What we don’t like: You have to pay a $250 annual fee.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Learn more in our Amex Gold review.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Pros	Cons
Elevated earning potential on everyday business categories Earns flexible points that can be transferred to over a dozen Chase travel partners Add employee cards at no extra cost	$95 annual fee

The Ink Business Preferred makes sense if you’re a small business owner whose business expenses align with the card’s bonus categories.

Welcome offer: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 3X points 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; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases.

Why we like it: The Ink Business Preferred provides excellent earning potential on common business expenses and the rewards you earn are worth 25% more toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

What we don’t like: There’s a $95 annual fee for cardmembers.

Other benefits include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection

Learn more in our Ink Business Preferred review.

Citi Premier^® Card

Pros	Cons
Earns flexible rewards that can be transferred to over a dozen Citi travel partners Elevated earning potential on common purchases	$95 annual fee

The Citi Premier^® Card(Rates and fees) makes sense if your everyday expenses align with its bonus categories.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Rewards rate: Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Why we like it: The Citi Premier provides excellent earning opportunities on many different types of common expenses. That makes it easy to rack up rewards on purchases you’re already planning to make.

What we don’t like: Cardholders have to pay a $95 annual fee.

Other benefits include:

• Enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 (excluding taxes and fees) or more booked through thankyou.com, once per calendar year

Learn more in our Citi Premier Card review.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Pros	Cons
$0 annual fee Elevated rewards rates on everyday categories Intro APR offers	Minimal travel benefits

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards makes sense if you want to earn elevated cashback rewards rates on everyday purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Why we like it: The Capital One SavorOne has a $0 annual fee and provides excellent earning potential on loads of different bonus categories that could align with your everyday expenses.

What we don’t like: Apart from some travel-related bonus categories and not having to pay foreign transaction fees, there aren’t many additional travel benefits.

Other benefits include:

• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable))
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)); 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time; No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR)

Learn more in our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards review.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Pros	Cons
Simple rewards rate $0 annual fee	Limited bonus categories

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards makes sense if you want a simple cash back card for everyday earning.

Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Why we like it: With a $0 annual fee and a straightforward rewards rate, you don’t necessarily need to carry more cards in your wallet if you don’t want to.

What we don’t like: There aren’t many spending categories to take advantage of if you want to earn more rewards with specific purchases.

Learn more in our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards review.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Pros	Cons
First checked bag is free on Delta flights Save 15% when booking award travel on Delta airfare using delta.com and the Fly Delta app	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $99 per year thereafter annual fee (Terms apply)

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card makes sense if you’re a frequent Delta traveler.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like it: If you frequently fly Delta, it’s hard to overstate how important a free checked bag on Delta flights could be for you. Depending on how often you fly, that benefit alone could easily help you offset the annual cost.

What we don’t like: There’s a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $99 per year thereafter annual fee.

Other benefits include:

• Receive 20% back (in the form of a statement credit) on eligible in-flight purchases made with your card
• Receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding on Delta flights

Learn more in our Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card review.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Pros	Cons
Free anniversary night award 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year Automatic Silver Elite status	$95 annual fee

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless makes sense if you frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties on your travels.

Welcome offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards (up to a 150,000 Total Point Value) after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening (each night valued up to 50,000 points).

Rewards rate: Earn up to 17X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy; 3X points at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year; and 2X points on all other purchases.

Why we like it: If you stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless provides you with plenty of hotel benefits. That includes automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year, and a free anniversary night award that’s valid for redemption levels of up to 35,000 points.

What we don’t like: You have to pay a $95 annual fee for card membership.

Other benefits include:

• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Purchase protection

Learn more in our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card review.

What are foreign transaction fees?

A foreign transaction fee is what your credit card issuer charges for foreign currency purchases made through their network.

To process these foreign transactions, your credit card company might charge you a percentage of the purchase, usually between 1 to 3%. While this may not seem like much, it can quickly add up, considering it applies every time you use your card internationally.

This fee isn’t only reserved for physical purchases abroad either. Any card purchases you make online from a retailer in a foreign country could be subject to a foreign transaction fee.

What to look for in a card with no foreign transaction fees

No foreign transaction fee credit cards won’t do you much good if you can’t use them, so check to make sure your credit card is widely accepted by the foreign merchants wherever you’re heading. Credit cards using the Visa or Mastercard networks are probably your best bet in this regard, as they have the highest number of merchants in their networks when compared to Discover and Amex.

If you’re considering a card that comes with travel rewards as part of a rewards program, there are some additional factors you may want to look for:

A sign-up bonus with a minimum spending threshold you can meet

A sign-up bonus or welcome bonus is a huge opportunity for cardholders to jumpstart progress toward free or discounted travel. You typically earn a welcome or sign-up bonus by spending a certain amount of money within a certain time period after account opening. Since you often have to spend a fair amount within the first few months, consider your normal day-to-day spending and see if it aligns with the requirement of the card you're considering.

Bonus categories

To continue earning rewards points, you want a credit card that can reward you for the things you’re likely already spending your money on, such as groceries, restaurants, gas, and entertainment.

If you frequently travel abroad, having a travel rewards credit card that earns you points or miles for every purchase would ensure you’re reaping all the benefits and that you’re not missing out on any points. Make sure you pick a card that has a rewards rate that makes sense for your spending and travel goals.

Special travel perks

Whether it’s travel insurance, airport lounge access, concierge service, or an annual travel credit, many credit cards offer great perks that can make your life easier. Being able to jump in the TSA PreCheck line could make a major difference if you travel frequently.

Plus, some hotel credit cards may offer you a free night certificate (for virtually free hotel stays) on your anniversary year or an airline credit card might award you with bonus miles. Compare all the benefits while you’re shopping around to make sure they align with what you need the most.

Redemption options

Earning rewards, whether it's from a travel or cash back credit card, is great. But make sure the rewards card you apply for has redemption options you actually want to use. 

For example, redeeming rewards for gift cards is a common option, but you can typically receive more value for travel redemptions on a travel credit card.

Credit requirements

In general, rewards cards with top-tier benefits require a good or excellent credit score. That's at least a 670 on the FICO scoring model but could be higher depending on the credit card offer and card issuer.

Other benefits

Other perks and benefits to keep an eye out for include:

• No-annual-fee cards, or credit cards that don't have an annual fee
• Intro APR offers on purchases (watch out for variable APR rates after the intro APR offer period ends)
• Intro APR offers on balance transfers (watch out for balance transfer fees)
• Low interest rates (though we don't recommend carrying a balance)

How to avoid credit card fees when traveling abroad

Consider these additional tips for avoiding credit card fees when traveling abroad:

• Avoid ATMs that charge fees: Most ATMs will let you know whether a transaction will incur a fee. Avoid ATMs that charge fees for simple transactions or use a debit card such as the Charles Schwab card that reimburses international ATM fees.
• Know about dynamic currency conversion: Dynamic currency conversion is an option available on ATMs and from certain retailers that allows you to pay in your home currency rather than the local currency. It’s basically a rip-off and should be avoided whenever possible because the exchange rate is typically not in your favor.
• Exchange currency: Having local currency on hand could help you avoid using certain ATM or conversion fees. It’s not recommended to carry large amounts of cash, but it could be helpful if a certain merchant (common with many food vendors) doesn’t accept credit cards. You could check with your bank before ever leaving on your trip to see if it offers good rates on currency exchanges.
• Get VAT refunds: VAT, or value-added tax, is a common tax on goods sold in Europe. Visitors to Europe can often receive a VAT refund if they follow certain steps. This could include getting a refund from a store right when you purchase an item or filling out forms at stores where you purchased items. Then you would bring the forms and new items to customs to receive approval for a refund. You can then visit a third-party service such as Global Blue at the airport to receive your refund minus a fee. Note that not all stores provide VAT refund forms and not all items are eligible for VAT refunds.

FAQs

Bottom line

If you’re planning on traveling abroad, it’s a good time to compare credit cards and consider the many benefits a card has to offer when it comes to all the purchases you’ll be making.

While some of these cards charge annual fees, these can be offset by the lack of foreign transaction fees and by taking advantage of other card perks. Many of these credit cards can help you get to where you’re going using travel rewards and will reward you for your spending while you’re there.

The best rewards credit card for you depends entirely on your goals and spending habits, but using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees is a simple way to save money while traveling abroad.

Methodology

To select the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, we compared cards from multiple issuers that can be used internationally without fees. We assessed features like welcome offers, rewards rates, travel perks, and annual fees to identify the best credit cards for frequent travelers. We did not include all cards available.