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What is the best credit card to use overseas?

A credit card that offers 0% foreign transaction fees, rewards and other travel perks can help you get more bang for your buck when you travel.

Sally McMullen
Sally McMullen

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Amy Bradney-George
Amy Bradney-George

Updated . What changed?

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Many Australian credit cards offer travel benefits – giving you a way to save with no foreign transaction fees and no ATM withdrawal fees. You can also enjoy credit card travel insurance, frequent flyer points or airline lounge passes with some of the more premium cards.

Bankwest Credit Card Offer

Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard

0% p.a. for 26 months on balance transfers
$0 annual fee for the first year

Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply

Bankwest Credit Card Offer

A platinum card offering a 0% introductory balance transfer rate, a $0 first-year annual fee waiver and complimentary insurance covers. Plus, 0% foreign transaction fees.

  • $0 first-year annual fee ($69 p.a. thereafter)
  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 26 months with 2% BT fee
  • Standard interest rate of 10.99% p.a. on purchases | 21.99% p.a. p.a. cash advance rate
  • No foreign transaction fees on overseas purchases
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The type of credit card that you should use will depend on where you're travelling, your spending plans and your financial situation. Use this guide to compare your options and find the right credit card to use overseas.

Compare credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Foreign currency conversion fee Overseas ATM withdrawal fee Purchase rate Annual fee
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
0%
$0
10.99% p.a.
$0 annual fee for the first year ($69 p.a. thereafter)
Get 0% interest on balance transfers for 26 months, a $0 first-year annual fee, complimentary travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
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Coles Rewards Mastercard
Coles Rewards Mastercard
0%
$5
19.99% p.a.
$0 annual fee for the first year ($99 p.a. thereafter)
Enjoy $100 off a Coles Supermarket, a $0 first-year annual fee and a 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 18 months (1.5% fee applies). Ends 31 Jan 2021.
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NAB StraightUp Card
NAB StraightUp Card
0%
N/A
$0
Save with 0% interest charges and 0% foreign transaction fees. Plus, $0 monthly fees when you don't use the card or carry a balance.
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What are some of the best* cards for travel?

Check out the perks you can get when you travel with one of these commonly searched for credit cards.

*The credit card offers on this page are chosen from a range of credit cards available to us and are not representative of all the products available in the market. The use of the terms "best" and "top" are not product ratings and are subject to our disclaimer. There is no perfect order or perfect ranking system for the products we list on our Site, so we provide you with the functionality to self-select, re-order and compare products. The initial display order is influenced by a range of factors including conversion rates, product costs and commercial arrangements, so please don't interpret the listing order as an endorsement or recommendation from us. We're happy to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions, but we'd like you to make your own decisions and compare and assess products based on your own preferences, circumstances and needs.

How to compare credit cards for overseas travel

Look for credit cards that don't charge a fee when you make overseas transactions and offer travel perks that you want to use. Some of the factors to consider include:

Credit card fees

To understand how much your card could cost you (and how much you could save), consider the following fees when comparing which cards to use outside Australia:

  • Foreign transaction fees. When you make a purchase using your card (both overseas and online with international merchants), your Australian dollars are converted to the local currency. When this happens, you're usually charged a fee between 2% and 3%. If you want to avoid this fee each time you make a transaction overseas, consider a credit card that doesn't charge a foreign currency conversion fee.
  • Annual fees. While some travel credit cards offer a $0 annual fee, others with more benefits and features may charge a higher annual fee. Make sure that you use these perks to maximise the value of your annual fee.
  • ATM withdrawal fees. If you use your credit card to withdraw cash overseas, you will be charged the cash advance interest rate and fee. Your card may also charge a separate ATM withdrawal fee. To avoid these charges, use a debit card or prepaid travel card to withdraw cash instead.

Complimentary insurance

Using a credit card that offers complimentary international travel insurance can help you save the time and money you'd otherwise spend on standalone cover. The complimentary travel insurance usually covers overseas medical insurance, transit accidents and travel delay. The cover usually extends to your spouse or any dependent children travelling with you. As well as travel insurance, some credit cards offer purchase security insurance and extended warranty so you can shop with peace of mind.

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Bonus points Rewards points per $ spent Complimentary travel insurance Annual fee Minimum annual revenue
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
Finder Award
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
130,000
1
Yes
$295 annual fee for the first year ($395 p.a. thereafter)
Up to 130,000 bonus Qantas Points (100k when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days and 30k after 12 months). Plus, a reduced first year annual fee.
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Citi Rewards Card
Citi Rewards Card
N/A
1
Yes
$49 annual fee for the first year ($149 p.a. thereafter)
Save on interest with 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 30 months with no balance transfer fee. Plus, a $49 first-year annual fee.
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Qantas Premier Platinum
Qantas Premier Platinum
100,000
1
Yes
$199 annual fee for the first year ($299 p.a. thereafter)
Get 100,000 bonus Qantas Points, 75 bonus Status Credits and a 0% p.a. balance transfer rate for 18 months (with a one-time 1% BT fee).
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ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
120,000
1
Yes
$425
Collect 120,000 bonus Qantas Points and $200 back when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, complimentary lounge passes.
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HSBC Platinum Credit Card - Balance Transfer Offer
Finder Award
HSBC Platinum Credit Card - Balance Transfer Offer
N/A
1
Yes
$0 annual fee for the first year ($129 p.a. thereafter)
Enjoy a 26-month balance transfer offer, a first-year annual fee waiver and complimentary travel insurance.
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St.George Amplify Platinum - Qantas
St.George Amplify Platinum - Qantas
70,000
0.5
Yes
$99
Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points, plus enjoy 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 15 months and complimentary insurance covers.
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American Express Explorer Credit Card
American Express Explorer Credit Card
150,000
2
Yes
$395
Get 120,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, 30,000 points in the second year. Ends 27 Jan 2021.
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Frequent flyer rewards

Using a frequent flyer credit card is an easy way to pick up reward points as you spend overseas. Depending on the card, you might be able to redeem these points for flights with a specific airline, accommodation with partner hotels, travel vouchers, cashback on your account or products from a rewards store. If your card is designed for overseas use, you could earn more points per $1 on foreign purchases. Compare frequent flyer credit cards with no foreign transaction fees to earn points without forking out for extra fees.

International acceptance

Credit cards with affiliation to Visa or Mastercard are accepted in most countries around the world, at ATMs and EFTPOS terminals alike. Acceptance of Diners Club and American Express cards is not as widespread, so if either of these are your preferred option, bring a back-up card.

Airport lounge passes and other travel perks

You can escape the chaos of the airport and relax before your flight with a credit card that offers complimentary lounge passes. Some credit cards in Australia offer invitations to Qantas Club, Virgin Australia, American Express and Priority Pass lounges in Australia and around the world. The perks will vary between lounges but you can usually expect complimentary food, beverages and access to high-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable seats and workstations.

Some credit cards also offer cardholders complimentary flights. You may need to meet a spend requirement to access the perk, but it's an easy way to save on travel costs and offset any card fees.

What should I be aware of when using a credit card overseas?

  • Take a few travel money options. Instead of putting all of your eggs in one basket, you should take at least two travel money options with you. This may include a credit card or prepaid travel card, your debit card and some cash. That way you'll have a backup if your card is lost or stolen and can avoid being charged credit card fees withdrawing cash from an ATM.
  • Track your debt. Create a travel budget and use your credit card to spend responsibly. You have to repay everything you put on the card – plus interest if you don't pay your balance in full.
  • Making repayments. If you are sent a credit card statement while you are travelling, you will need to make a payment by the due date as usual. If you have access to a secure Internet connection, you can do this through online or mobile banking. Alternatively, you could call your bank to pay by phone. If you're earning money overseas, this Finder guide looks at ways to make foreign currency repayments.
  • Adding extra funds to your credit card. Some travellers add money to their credit cards accounts before they go overseas. Then they use their card like a type of debit card to pay with their own cash rather than credit, helping them avoid interest charges. Not all credit card accounts let you do this and transaction limits may apply. You should talk to your credit card provider or check your credit card product disclosure statement (PDS) for details on how this type of balance is treated – it's usually referred to as a "positive balance".

What are the pros and cons of using a credit card overseas?

Pros

  • Global acceptance. Most Australian credit cards can be used in hotels, restaurants, stores around, travel agencies and entertainment venues around the world.
  • Travel perks. Credit cards designed for overseas use often come with travel-related benefits such as frequent flyer rewards programs, complimentary insurance and airline lounge passes.
  • Security. A credit card can come in handy when you need to cover unexpected or emergency costs while you're travelling overseas. If your card is lost or stolen, you can report it at any time of the day and get the account locked. Credit card zero liability policies also mean any fraudulent transactions will be refunded.

Cons

  • Fees. Depending on the card you choose, you may be charged a foreign transaction fee or surcharge for using a credit card overseas.
  • Limitations. You'll need to meet eligibility requirements (such as a minimum annual income and credit score criteria) to be approved for a credit card.
  • Risk of debt. While a line of credit can provide you with peace of mind, you may be tempted to overspend. Use your credit card responsibly and stick to a budget that you can repay in full by the end of the statement period to make the most of your card.

There are many types of credit cards to suit Australians travelling overseas. Whether you want to avoid foreign transaction fees, earn points as you spend or take advantage of complimentary travel insurance, make sure to compare your options before you choose the right card for your international trip.

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