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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: December 23, 2021 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Meredith Hoffman is a personal finance writer covering credit card news and advice at Bankrate. She is originally from Columbia, S.C., and received her bachelor's degree from the Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington. Before joining Bankrate in October 2019, Meredith worked as the news editor of Wilmington’s local newspaper, The Seahawk. Barri has written in the personal finance vertical—including credit cards—for more than 20 years. She currently identifies and reports on news and top trends in the credit card industry and authors in-depth interview pieces with industry experts. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. If you’re living or planning to move abroad, you may be wondering what credit card is best to use in your new destination. There are many important factors to consider, including foreign transaction fees and rewards structures that will give you the best bang for your buck throughout your travels. Plus, it’s important to understand the financial norms of the country or countries that you plan to travel to. While credit cards are widely used in the United States, that is not always the case in other countries. Here’s our take on using credit cards as an expat and the best cards available today. Best credit cards for expats
The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card may have a hefty annual fee at $550 a year, but it comes with a laundry list of rewards that makes it more than worth it for any expat. New cardholders can earn an impressive 60,000 points if they spend $4,000 in the first three months. Plus, travelers can earn 10X points on hotels when they book through immediately after they spend the first $300 on travel purchases annually. Nearly on par with the Chase Sapphire Reserve (but with a lower annual fee of $95) is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This card has earned its spot on the consideration list of any globe-trotter with competitive rewards: 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through and unlimited 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases. Better yet, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Finally, the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card charges no foreign transaction fees. If you’re looking for a good credit card as an expat, but you don’t want the hassle of an annual fee, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card may be just the card for you. This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. It also comes with an introductory 0 percent APR offer on purchases that lasts 18 (16.24 percent to 26.24 percent variable APR after). You’ll also earn 1.5 points on every dollar you spend and new cardholders are eligible for 25,000 bonus points if they spend $1,000 in the first 90 days after opening an account. The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card content was last updated on August 23, 2022. What to consider when using a credit card abroad
Credit card acceptance
If you’re coming from the United States, you’re probably used to the convenience of credit cards being accepted at most retailers. Credit card acceptance varies from country to country. While many bigger businesses may accept credit cards, local merchants or stores off the beaten path may not. Familiarize yourself with the financial landscape of your destination and consider back-up options like prepaid cards or cash if credit cards are not widely accepted where you’re going. Foreign transaction fees
Travelers and expats alike should consider . Potential rewards from credit card purchases could be negated by that typically cost 3 percent of the purchase value. It may not seem like it will break the bank, but every little bit adds up—for example, a $500 purchase with a fee could cost you $515. Informing your issuer
Notify your card issuer that you plan to use your card overseas and for how long. Unexpected overseas transactions may otherwise be flagged as fraud and you may be unable to use your credit card for purchases until you can contact your issuer to sort it out. It’s also a good idea to update your contact details if those are changing with your travel. Travel rewards
As many world travelers know, one major benefit of having a credit card abroad is getting points for flights and hotels. Being rewarded for purchases you already planned on making is beneficial and it can give you points for future trips around the globe. As an expat, it’s worth considering credit cards with great . Sign-up bonus spending requirements
If you’ll be living in a country where most transactions are handled with cash, then it may be difficult to meet the minimum spend requirement to earn a sign-up bonus. For example, if you had the Chase Sapphire Reserve, it may be difficult to earn the bonus offer of 60,000 points because you must spend $4,000 in the first three months of opening the account. The bottom line
In most popular travel destinations, you should have no problem paying with your credit card. If you’re traveling somewhere off the beaten path, however, you may find it harder to use your credit card. Take the time to pick the right card for your travel, make sure you know how you’ll be able to earn or redeem any rewards and be sure to notify your credit card issuer that you’ll be using it abroad. SHARE: Meredith Hoffman is a personal finance writer covering credit card news and advice at Bankrate. She is originally from Columbia, S.C., and received her bachelor's degree from the Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington. Before joining Bankrate in October 2019, Meredith worked as the news editor of Wilmington’s local newspaper, The Seahawk. Barri has written in the personal finance vertical—including credit cards—for more than 20 years. She currently identifies and reports on news and top trends in the credit card industry and authors in-depth interview pieces with industry experts. Related Articles