Foreign transaction fees add 1-3% to every purchase you make outside the United States. On a two-week trip where you spend $3,000, a 3% fee costs you $90 that earns no rewards, buys nothing, and exists purely as a surcharge for using your card internationally. Cards that waive this fee save that money on every swipe.
Of the 65 credit cards in our database, 64 charge no foreign transaction fee. The only exception is the Citi Custom Cash, which carries a 3% FTF. Here is every card worth considering, organized by how you plan to use it.
What Are Foreign Transaction Fees
A foreign transaction fee is a percentage-based surcharge applied to purchases processed in a foreign currency or by a merchant bank outside the United States. The fee typically ranges from 1% to 3% of the transaction amount, and it appears as a separate line item on your statement. Most cards that charge this fee set it at 3%.
The fee applies in two situations: when you physically use your card abroad (restaurants, hotels, transit, shops), and when you make an online purchase from a merchant whose payment processor is based outside the U.S. That second scenario catches people off guard. Booking a hotel directly through a European chain's website or buying from an international retailer can trigger the fee even when you are sitting at home.
Cards that waive this fee typically state "no foreign transaction fee" in their terms. Every card listed below has been verified to charge $0 on international purchases.
Premium Travel Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fee
These cards charge higher annual fees but deliver the most value for frequent international travelers. Every card listed offers no foreign transaction fees plus premium travel benefits.
Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum charges a $695 annual fee and delivers over $1,400 in annual credits including a $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, and $200 Uber credit. For international travel specifically, the card provides Centurion Lounge access worldwide, Priority Pass Select membership to 1,300+ airport lounges, and 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines. No foreign transaction fee on any purchase in any currency.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve charges a $550 annual fee and includes a $300 annual travel credit that applies automatically to any travel purchase. The card earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining and travel worldwide, includes Priority Pass Select lounge access, and provides primary rental car insurance that covers you internationally. Chase waives foreign transaction fees on all Sapphire products.
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X charges a $395 annual fee and includes a $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel plus 10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary (worth $100). The card earns 2x miles on all purchases with no category restrictions and provides access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass Select. No foreign transaction fees. Capital One also does not charge FTF on any of its consumer cards.
Mid-Tier Travel Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fee
These cards balance a moderate annual fee with strong travel rewards and no international surcharges.
Amex Gold
The Amex Gold charges a $250 annual fee and earns 4x Membership Rewards on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. The card includes a $120 dining credit ($10/month at participating restaurants) and a $120 Uber Cash credit ($10/month). If you dine internationally, the 4x earning rate with no FTF makes this one of the best mid-tier cards to carry abroad.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred charges a $95 annual fee and earns 3x points on dining, 2x on travel, and 3x on online grocery delivery. Points transfer 1:1 to Chase airline and hotel partners. No foreign transaction fee. At $95/year with travel and dining multipliers plus no FTF, this is the most accessible card on this list for occasional international travelers.
Capital One Venture
The Capital One Venture charges a $95 annual fee and earns 2x miles on every purchase with no category restrictions. Miles transfer to 15+ airline partners. No foreign transaction fee. The flat 2x earning rate means you never have to think about categories while traveling.
No Annual Fee Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fee
You do not need a premium card to avoid foreign transaction fees. These cards charge no annual fee and no international surcharge.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
No annual fee. Earns 1.5% cashback on all purchases, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. No foreign transaction fee. If you have a Sapphire card, Freedom Unlimited points pool into your Sapphire account for transfer to airline partners.
Capital One SavorOne
No annual fee. Earns 3% cashback on dining, entertainment, popular streaming, and grocery stores. No foreign transaction fee. Capital One waives FTF on all of its cards, making every Capital One product automatically safe for international use.
Cards That Charge Foreign Transaction Fees
In our database of 65 cards, only one charges a foreign transaction fee:
Citi Custom Cash — 3% FTF. This card earns 5% cashback on your highest spending category each billing cycle (up to $500), but the 3% international fee makes it a poor choice for travel. Leave this one at home when you go abroad.
How to Choose the Right No-FTF Card
If you travel internationally more than once per year, a premium card like the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve pays for itself through lounge access, travel credits, and elevated earning rates. Compare them side by side in our Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison.
If you travel once a year or less, a mid-tier card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold offers strong rewards without the $500+ annual fee. See our Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison for a detailed breakdown.
If you want zero annual fee and zero FTF, the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Capital One SavorOne both work. No annual cost, no international surcharge, and solid everyday earning rates.
Use our Card Advisor to find which no-FTF card earns the most on your actual spending categories. It takes 60 seconds and works without an account.
Track Your Travel Card Benefits
Premium travel cards come with statement credits that reset monthly, quarterly, and annually. The $200 airline fee credit on the Amex Platinum and the $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve both require tracking to capture their full value. Our Benefit Tracker shows every credit across all your cards, sorted by expiry date, so nothing resets unused.