Chase Card International Fees

Chase offers both credit and debit cards which can be broadly used for international spending. In fact, there are specific travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards which offer travel based rewards alongside no foreign transaction fees. However, other fees and charges are likely to apply, which means using your regular Chase card when you’re abroad may not always be the best option.

Read on for all you need to know about using a Chase card for foreign currency spending, including fees, limits and exchange rates. We’ll also provide some alternatives like Wise and Revolut that offer debit card options with low transaction fees and better exchange rates.

• Can I use my Chase card internationally
• Chase foreign transaction fees
• Chase international ATM fees
• Chase card exchange rates
• Chase card alternatives
• Chase card foreign transaction limits
• How to avoid foreign transaction fees

Can I use my Chase card internationally?

Chase debit cards are usually on the Visa network. Chase credit cards come on both Visa and Mastercard networks. The good news is that both Visa and Mastercard are broadly accepted around the world. All you’ll need to do is look for the network logo on any ATM, or by the checkout in stores you want to spend in.

That said, spending with your normal Chase card when you’re overseas or shopping online in a foreign currency may not be your cheapest option. Depending on the card you have you may find there are extra foreign transaction fees, which push up your overall costs significantly.

This guide walks through all you need to know, and also looks at some smart ways to limit the international fees you’ll pay.

How does Chase compare on international fees?

Before we get into the details of Chase international card fees, let’s look at how Chase compares generally on international transactions with your card or checking account. We’ll compare Chase to another major US bank – Wells Fargo – and a couple of specialist alternatives, Wise and Revolut.

*Credit cards featured are the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card – card terms change over time, and other credit cards are available from these banks, which may have varied terms

Chase categorizes its credit cards by customer need – including some designated as travel credit cards. Among there a couple offer specific perks on foreign transaction fees – including the Chase Sapphire Preferred card which we’ve profiled here. However, it’s worth knowing that many Chase cards – even those called travel cards – do have a 3% extra fee when you spend internationally.

If you’re happy to use a debit card for international spending instead, alternatives like Wise and Revolut can often offer better rates and lower overall fees. More on these alternative options a little later.

Chase Credit and Debit Card Foreign Transaction Fees

Foreign transaction fees apply whenever you spend or withdraw in a foreign currency. That means you’ll pay foreign transaction fees even when you’re at home in the US, if you happen to be shopping online with international retailers. Here are the Chase foreign transaction fees for debit cards, and the Chase travel credit card we profiled earlier:

It’s worth knowing that this is only one of the fees which may apply when you transact internationally with Chase. We’ll look at a few more common costs next.

Chase International ATM Fees

International ATM fees can apply when you use any ATM outside the US to withdraw, make a transfer or inquiry. As well as any fee Chase charges, you’ll also pay the foreign transaction fee where it applies, and may face an additional charge from the ATM operator.

Here’s a reminder of the total costs of ATM withdrawals from the providers we looked at earlier, as a comparison:

Wells Fargo – Credit cards – 10 USD or 5% cash advance fee applies; Debit cards – 5 USD

Wise – 2 withdrawals up to 100 USD in value – free; 2% + 1.5 USD after that

Revolut – Free to 1,200 USD/month; 2% after that

Chase Card Exchange Rates

If you use a Chase debit card for overseas spending, the exchange rate you get to convert your dollars to the currency you need will be based on the network’s rate plus the 3% Chase foreign transaction fee. With credit cards you may pay the same – or if you choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards you may find the foreign transaction fee is waived.

The network exchange rate is usually pretty fair – but you won’t be able to check the rate that’s applied until after you’ve made your purchase. That’s because the rate that applies is the one that’s live when the transaction is processed – that can be a day or two after the physical purchase took place.

The other place extra fees can creep into the exchange rates used when transacting internationally is if you run into dynamic currency conversion (DCC). This is where you’re offered the choice of paying in dollars or the local currency. If you pay in dollars, the exchange rate used will be set by the merchant rather than the card network – and can be far worse than the rate you’ll get from Chase.

Avoid DCC by asking to pay in the local currency wherever you are – this will help you avoid surprise costs and poor exchange rates.

Chase Card Alternatives

Credit and debit cards from Chase are safe and convenient to use internationally – but they can also be pretty expensive compared to alternatives. Here’s a reminder of some of the costs involved with Chase and if you choose a card from a different provider for your overseas spending.

Chase travel credit cards waive the foreign transaction fee and can also offer rewards on travel spending. However, they come with annual fees of 95 USD to 550 USD, which may mean the rewards aren’t worth the initial outlay.

Chase debit cards don’t usually have a specific annual fee – but do have the tricky 3% foreign transaction fee every time you spend in different currencies. Weigh up the pros and cons of Chase cards, against some alternatives. Here’s a bit more about the providers we picked out earlier:

Wells Fargo Cards

• Best for: Credit cards with no annual fee
• Foreign Fees & Exchange Rates: 3% foreign transaction fee, usually no annual fee to pay
• Is it safe to use internationally? Yes. Wells Fargo is a large international bank which is fully regulated and licensed

If you’re in the market for a card from a large US bank, Wells Fargo may be worth a look for credit cards and international debit cards which don’t normally have any annual fees to worry about. However, you’ll usually have to pay a foreign transaction fee which can push up your costs overall.

Wise Debit Card

• Best for: Low cost currency conversion, and a digital account to hold 50+ currencies with no ongoing fees
• Foreign Fees & Exchange Rates: Currency conversion from 0.41% with the mid-market exchange rate
• Is it safe to use internationally? Yes. Wise is fully regulated, and you can freeze and manage your card in the Wise app, with instant transaction notifications so you’re always in control

Wise Multi-currency Accounts can hold 50+ currencies and come with a linked debit card for easy international spending. Currency conversion starts from 0.41%, with the mid-market exchange rate – and your card can automatically switch your account balance to the currency you need with the lowest possible fee. Easy.

Revolut Debit Card

• Best for: Choice of account plans with high fee free international ATM withdrawals
•  Foreign Fees & Exchange Rates: No ATM fees to 1,200 USD/month, plus currency conversion at the mid-market rate to your plan limits
•  Is it safe to use internationally? Yes. Revolut cards can be managed in the app and Revolut is licensed in a range of countries

Revolut offers both free and fee paying accounts – with good international options even with the free standard plan. All Revolut accounts can hold 25 currencies, withdraw internationally up to 1,200 USD/month for free, and get mid-market rate currency conversion up to limits according to the specific account plan. Higher tier accounts have even more perks like travel insurance and airport lounge access.

Chase Card Foreign Transaction Limits

Chase debit cards have limits for both ATM withdrawals and transactions, which are usually set by the day. The limits which apply to your account can be viewed – and in some cases changed – in your online banking service. Chase credit cards will also have a limit – but this will depend a lot on the terms and conditions of the specific card you were offered.

If you’re making an ATM withdrawal the ATM operator may also apply limits – which can be lower than those your own bank uses.

How to avoid foreign transaction fees

Spending and making cash withdrawals in foreign currencies often comes with costs. However, it’s best to know what to expect in advance – you may even be able to avoid or limit some fees.

Here are a few tips to avoid foreign transaction fees::

• Common international fees include ATM withdrawal and inquiry fees, and foreign transaction fees – look out for them in your account fee schedule
• Some Chase credit cards waive the foreign transaction fee – but they also have a higher annual cost than other cards. Weigh up what works best for you, or pick a different provider
• Avoid using a credit card for cash withdrawals so you don’t have to pay a cash advance fee
• Extra fees can be imposed by ATM operators – keep an eye on the screen before you confirm your withdrawal
• Always pay in the local currency to avoid the high costs associated with DCC
• Check your network’s exchange rate – available online – so you can see what to expect
• Use a card from a specialist service like Wise and Revolut to get more transparent fees and a better exchange rate

Conclusion

Chase offers debit cards which can be used internationally with a 3% foreign transaction fee and charges when you make ATM withdrawals overseas. You can also get a Chase credit card which is designed for travelers which has some nice perks like higher rewards on travel spend and no foreign transaction fee. However, the annual fee for these cards can be as high as 550 USD.

Alternative providers like Wise and Revolut have options for debit cards which have no annual or ongoing fees, and may be able to offer better exchange rates and lower overall costs when you transact internationally.

Chase Foreign Transaction Fees FAQ

Can I use my Chase card internationally?

Yes. Chase cards are usually on the Visa network and can be used internationally anywhere you see the Visa symbol. Read our detailed article to learn more about the foreign transaction fees with Chase cards.

How to let Chase know you are traveling?

You do not need to inform Chase of your travel plans. However it’s a smart idea to make sure your contact details are up to date so the bank can get in touch if there are any suspicious transactions on your account.

Does the Chase debit card have foreign transaction fees?

Yes. There’s a 3% foreign transaction fee when you spend with a Chase debit card in a currency other than USD.

How do I avoid international ATM fees?

To avoid international ATM fees with Chase you’d need to find a Chase ATM wherever in the world you are. You can do this with the ATM locator on the Chase website – or try a card from a specialist provider like Wise or Revolut, which offers some fee free international withdrawals, instead.

How do I know if I have to pay foreign transaction fees?

Check your card or account terms and conditions to spot any foreign transaction fees that will apply to your account.

By Seyma Mektepli Updated December 15th, 2022