Featured Review: Credit Cards with no Foreign Transaction Fees

Updated September 26, 2023.

Foreign transaction fees, sometimes called foreign exchange fees, are bad. You probably won't notice them until you got hit. When you make a purchase abroad or even just from a foreign website, you are very likely to be charged a fee around 3%. This review will help you to pick a credit card that comes with $0 foreign transaction fees. But let's first look at how much a credit card issuer normally charges you for your foreign transactions. Amex charges 2.7% on most its cards. MasterCard and Visa both charge 1%; however, the card issuers charge a fee on top of that - Bank of America, Citi, Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, HSBC, Barclays, etc. charge 2% on most of their cards, making the total fees on most Visa/MasterCard 3%. Capital One, PenFed, and Discover (starting November 2011) waive foreign transaction fees on all their cards. Now here is the list of cards that come with waived foreign transaction fees and their annual fees are noted in parentheses. We also highlight the cards with embedded EMV chips, which enhances security and also makes foreign travel easier. Note that majority of the chip cards employ "Chip & Signature" technology, and only a few employ "Chip & PIN" technology which is more widely accepted abroad.

Capital One all cards. For example, Quicksilver Rewards ($0 annual fee), Venture Rewards ($95), and Venture X ($395) are great cards to have. They also come with an embedded EMV chip.
Alliant Credit Union Visa Signature ($0). It also has embedded EMV chip.
Amex Green Card ($150). It also has an embedded EMV chip. Keep in mind that Amex' coverage outside U.S. is much smaller than that of Visa or MasterCard.
Amex Gold Card ($250). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex BUSINESS Gold Card ($295, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Platinum Card ($695). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex BUSINESS Platinum Card ($695). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Centurion Card ($5,000). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold Card ($99, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex BUSINESS Delta SkyMiles Gold Card ($99, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card ($250). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex BUSINESS Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card ($250). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card ($550). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex BUSINESS Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card ($550). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Marriott Bonvoy BUSINESS Card ($125). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card ($250). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card ($650). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Hilton Honors Card ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Card ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card ($450). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Amex Hilton Honors BUSINESS Card ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays Arrival Plus MasterCard ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Barclays American Airlines Aviator BUSINESS MasterCard ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Barclays American Airlines Aviator Red MasterCard ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Barclays American Airlines Aviator Silver MasterCard ($195). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Barclays Hawaiian Airlines WEMC ($89). It also comes with an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Barclays JetBlue World MasterCard ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays JetBlue Plus World Elite MasterCard ($99). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays Luxury Card - MasterCard Titanium Card ($195). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays Luxury Card - MasterCard Black Card ($495). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays Luxury Card - MasterCard Gold Card ($995). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays Uber Visa ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Barclays Wyndham Rewards Visa ($0 or $75). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
BofA Virgin Atlantic Black Card ($90). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
BofA Asiana Visa Signature ($99). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
BofA Travel Rewards Visa Signature ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
BofA Premium Rewards Visa Signature ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
BofA Premium Rewards Elite Visa Infinite ($550). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Chase Aeroplan MasterCard ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Sapphire Reserve / J.P. Morgan Reserve ($550). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Ink Preferred BUSINESS ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Ink Premier BUSINESS ($195). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase United Explorer Visa ($95, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase United Quest Visa ($250). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase United Club Visa ($450). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase British Airways Visa ($95, 1st year free). This was the first Chase card that came out with the foreign transaction fee waiver. It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Aer Lingus Visa ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Iberia Visa ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Visa ($99). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Visa ($149). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase IHG Rewards MasterCard ($0 for Traveler | $99 for Premier). They also have an embedded EMV chip.
Chase IHG Rewards Premier BUSINESS MasterCard ($99). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase World of Hyatt Visa ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase World of Hyatt BUSINESS Visa ($199). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Visa ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful ($250). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Citi Costco Visa ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Citi Premier Card ($95, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Citi Prestige Card ($495). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card ($95, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select BUSINESS Card ($95, 1st year free). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard ($450). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.
Diners Club Card Premier ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as default.
Diners Club Card Elite ($300). It also has an embedded EMV chip with "Chip & PIN" as default.
Discover all cards including 5% cashback Discover it. They also come with an embedded EMV chip.
Elan Fidelity Visa ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
PenFed all cards including Platinum Cashback Rewards Visa ($0 annual fee) and Premium Travel Rewards Amex ($0 annual fee). They also come with an embedded EMV chip.
HSBC Premier World Elite MasterCard ($395). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Synchrony Bank Cathay Pacific Visa Signature ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
U.S. Bank Altitude Go ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve ($400). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
U.S. Bank BUSINESS Leverage ($95). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
U.S. Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex ($85). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
U.S. Bank SKYPASS Visa Signature ($80). It also has an embedded EMV chip.
Wells Fargo Propel Amex ($0). It also has an embedded EMV chip, with "Chip & PIN" as secondary.