Guides

How to choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card

Ryan WilcoxFormer credit card writer
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
— Reviewed by
Lakeisha RobinsonCompliance associate
Compliance associate Lakeisha Robinson has 12 years of compliance experience. She uses her credit card knowledge, passion for travel and general compliance rules to ensure that she and her team share the most accurate and compliant content with TPG readers.
Stephanie StevensCredit cards writer
Stephanie Stevens is an associate writer with TPG's credit cards team. She focuses on creating timely credit cards content for TPG readers.
also contributed to this story

March 19, 2025 • 12 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Quick summary

Foreign transaction fees can add up to 3% to purchases made abroad, but many credit cards now waive these fees.
Selecting a card without foreign transaction fees can help travelers save money on international purchases.
Card acceptance varies by country, so it's important to choose one that's widely accepted at your destination.
Options range from premium travel rewards cards with added perks to practical cash-back cards, catering to different travel needs.

What to consider

Acceptance of cards can differ internationally, with some networks less commonly accepted outside North America.
Welcome offers and ongoing rewards programs vary, so aligning card choice with your spending habits and travel frequency is key.
Foreign transaction fees are charged as a fixed percentage and are not influenced by currency exchange rates.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed comparison of no-foreign-transaction-fee cards, including guidance on matching card features to your travel style and goals.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

If you’re a frequent traveler, you might be familiar with foreign transaction fees — and how they can add up, making every purchase more expensive.

When you make a purchase in a foreign country through an international merchant, your credit card issuer charges these fees, typically up to 3% of the transaction amount.

The good news? Many credit cards waive foreign transaction fees entirely, helping you save money when you travel. In fact, Discover and Capital One don’t charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards.

Here's our guide to finding a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card that works for you.

Comparing the best no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards

Card	Best for	Welcome offer	Earning rates	Annual fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Flat-rate earning	Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus receive a $300 credit to use on hotel and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel in the first cardholder year.	Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day	$95
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see )	Total value	Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.	Earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online groceries Earn 3 points per dollar spent on vacation homes Earn 3 points per dollar spent on gas & EV charging Earn 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases	$95
Bilt Mastercard®*	Renters	N/A	Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining Earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel Earn 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases Earn 1 point per dollar spent on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. (Must use Bilt Mastercard 5 times each statement period to earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases)	$0
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	Entertainment spending	Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases within three months of account opening.

*TPG Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.

**The information for the Bilt Mastercard, the One Key+ Card, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite and the Amex Classic Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

How to choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card

Consider where you’re traveling

Before choosing a credit card, make sure it's widely accepted in the countries you plan to visit. Even the best travel card won't be useful if merchants don't take it.

Woman at the airport — LUKE CHAN/GETTY IMAGES

For example, Visa and Mastercard are generally accepted almost everywhere, while issuers such as Discover and American Express are often limited outside North America. Checking ahead can help you pick the best card for your destination and avoid payment issues while abroad.

Determine your overall goals

When choosing a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card, consider what matters most to you. A generous welcome offer can add significant value, but you might prioritize an ongoing rewards program that aligns with your spending instead.

Think about your primary goal — do you want to maximize travel rewards, earn cash back or focus on paying down a balance? With several no-foreign-transaction-fees cards available, try to narrow down your options by deciding what type of card makes sense for you.

You might opt for a premium travel rewards card, a no-annual-fee cash back card or something in between.

For example, if you're planning a lavish 10-day getaway or have multiple trips lined up for the year, a premium travel rewards card could offer the most value with perks like lounge access and bonus points on travel purchases.

On the other hand, if you're an occasional traveler taking a short trip abroad, a no-annual-fee or cash-back card with no foreign transaction fees might be a more practical choice. Fortunately, plenty of options are available to fit different travel styles and budgets.

woman sits on couch while using laptop — JOHNER IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Compare welcome offers

Once you've identified the type of card that fits your needs, the next step is comparing current welcome offers. A strong welcome bonus can significantly boost a card's value, especially if it comes with a large amount of points, miles or cash back after meeting the minimum spending requirement.

However, a welcome offer isn't everything. You might prioritize a card with a lucrative, long-term rewards program over one with a short-term bonus — keep your goals in mind when making this decision.

To help, TPG has a guide that tracks the welcome offer history on some of the most popular travel cards on the market. It can help you determine the best time to apply for a specific card.

Woman discussing with man over laptop by daughter at kitchen island — MASKOT/GETTY IMAGES

How do I pay foreign transaction fees?

Foreign transaction fees are automatically applied to your credit card statement when you make a purchase in a foreign currency. There's no separate payment process — the fee is bundled into the total charge that appears on your statement.

If your credit card has foreign transaction fees, you will see them listed alongside each international transaction.

Are foreign transaction fees affected by exchange rates?

No, foreign transaction fees are not impacted by exchange rates. These fees are separate charges imposed by your credit card issuer for processing transactions in a foreign currency.

While exchange rates may fluctuate based on market conditions, foreign transaction fees remain a fixed percentage of your purchase amount — typically up to 3%.

Bottom line

There are plenty of no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards on the market. Considering a few basic factors, you can find a card that will give you plenty of value, whether traveling abroad or staying at home.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click .
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click .

Updated 10/21/2026

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

at American Express's secure site.
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Rewards rate

Rewards rate
Rate	Category
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X	Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
3X	Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Recommended credit

Excellent to Good

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.