No foreign transaction fee credit cards

Compare credit cards that don't charge the typical 2-3% foreign transaction fee when shopping overseas or transacting with overseas online retailers.

By   |   Verified by David Boyd   |   Updated 27 Sep 2024

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Comparing no foreign transaction fee credit cards

Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard

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Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

14.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Annual fee waived.
  • 0% p.a. interest for 28 months on transferred balances (with a 3% balance transfer fee). Returns to 14.99% p.a. thereafter.
  • No charges for foreign transactions.
  • Offer valid for new customers within a specified timeframe. Additional fees and terms and conditions apply.

Pros

  • No annual fee to pay — ever.
  • Very long interest-free balance transfer offer.
  • No fees on purchases in a foreign currency.

Cons

  • There is a 3% fee on balance transfers.
  • You can't earn rewards points.
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard

Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

12 months at 0% p.a.

Annual fee

$69.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Experience 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% BT fee, then 12.99% p.a.).
  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases (reverting to 12.99% p.a.).
  • Benefit from up to 55 interest-free days.
  • Offer exclusively for new customers within a specified period. Additional charges, along with terms and conditions, apply.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 12 months.
  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees. Plus, complimentary overseas travel insurance for you and your family.

Cons

  • There is no rewards program on this card.
  • There is a 2% BT fee.
Cape Mastercard Interest-Free Days Business Credit Card

On website

Cape Mastercard Interest-Free Days Business Credit Card

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

0% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

From $383.88 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Enjoy 30 days of interest-free credit on all purchases.
  • No fee for the first month.
  • Access generous credit limits of up to $500,000.
  • Benefit from 0% foreign transaction fees on international spending.

Pros

  • Add unlimited cardholders at no extra cost.
  • Seamlessly integrate with Xero for streamlined accounting.
  • Quick and easy application process.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to airport lounges worldwide.

Cons

  • Enjoy 30 days APR-free; thereafter, a standard 2.99% fee applies to revolving balances.
NAB StraightUp Credit Card

NAB StraightUp Credit Card

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

0% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Get the newest credit card from NAB - simple, cheap and most of all no interest charges!
  • No Use, No Pay. If you don't use your NAB StraightUp credit card during the whole statement period, the monthly fee will be reversed. No surprise charges!
  • Use your card to pay foreign currency and enjoy no foreign transaction fees!
  • Predictable fixed minimum payments based on your credit limit, giving you certainty of what to pay each month.

Pros

  • Charges a monthly fee based on your selected credit limit.
  • The monthly fee will be reversed if you do not have any outstanding balance or purchase.
  • No interest charges or other fees, including foreign currency fees and late payment fees.

Cons

  • No rewards program for this card.
  • No balance transfers or cash advances.
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard®

Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard®

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

27.49% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • $0 yearly fee.
  • No foreign transaction fees for purchases during travel or online shopping.
  • You and four friends can access airport lounges, drinks, and Wi-Fi if your flight is delayed.

Pros

  • The $0 annual fee.
  • No currency conversion fee or foreign transaction fee.
  • Get 6% off your stay with Booking.com.
  • Enjoy up to 55 days interest-free on purchases.

Cons

  • A high purchase interest rate of 27.49% p.a.
  • Cash advance rate is 29.99% p.a.
  • There is no rewards program on this card.

Coles Rewards Mastercard

Apply by 5 November 2024

Coles Rewards Mastercard

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

20.74% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$99.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Receive 50,000 Flybuys bonus points upon spending $3,000 or more on eligible purchases within 90 days of approval. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Earn 2 points per $1 on eligible spend—this is in addition to the regular Flybuys Points earned from other partners.
  • Pay $0 in international transaction fees for purchases made online or overseas.

Pros

  • Get 50,000 Flybuys bonus points when you meet the criteria.
  • Collect 2 points per $1 on eligible spend – that’s on top of the usual flybuys points from other partners.
  • Access to the Coles concierge service.

Cons

  • The annual fee of $99 p.a.
  • No international travel insurance.
Bendigo Ready Credit Card

Bendigo Ready Credit Card

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

19.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$0.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • $0 annual fee every year.
  • $0 international transaction fees.
  • Up to 55 days interest-free.

Pros

  • No additional cardholder fee.
  • Get up to 90 consecutive days of international travel insurance.
  • Compatible with Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay,

Cons

  • You can't earn credit card rewards.
HSBC Low Rate Credit Card

HSBC Low Rate Credit Card

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

12.99% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$99.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers with a 2% fee.
  • A low ongoing 12.99% p.a. purchase rate.
  • No overseas transaction fees and complimentary domestic travel insurance.

Pros

  • 0% p.a. for 12 months on balances transferred.
  • Low ongoing rate on purchases at just 12.99% p.a.
  • Enjoy complimentary domestic travel insurance.

Cons

  • Balance transfers revert to the high cash advance rate.
  • 25.99% p.a. charged on cash advances.
  • There is a 2% balance transfer fee.
  • No rewards program.
humm90 Platinum Mastercard

humm90 Platinum Mastercard

Foreign exchange fee

N/A

Purchase rate

25.8% p.a. ongoing

Annual fee

$99.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Offers 110 interest-free days on purchases.
  • Turn any purchase over $250 into an interest-free installment plan and pay over 9, 12 or 15 months, saving on interest.
  • Compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Pros

  • Get 110 interest-free days on purchases.
  • humm90/WRAP enables you to convert purchases of $250 into interest-free instalments that you can repay over 9, 12, or 15 months.
  • Up to 60 months of interest-free finance at humm partners.
  • No foreign exchange fees.

Cons

  • The $99 p.a. annual fee.
  • After 110 interest-free days, interest will be charged at 25.80% p.a. ongoing.
  • You do not earn reward points on this card.

Learn about no foreign transaction fee credit cards

Find out how to save money and avoid unnecessary fees on overseas purchases.

  • FAQs

What is the foreign transaction fee?

It depends. If you are shopping from a UK online store while in Australia, then you will be charged a foreign transaction fee unless you are using a credit card with no foreign transaction fee. If you are on an overseas holiday and use a credit card that does have a foreign transaction fee, then you will be charged for any foreign transactions made while abroad. So, it really depends on the card you have.

It’s important to note that if you are purchasing something overseas or buying from an overseas e-commerce store, you may still be charged a foreign exchange fee.

Is the foreign transaction fee the same thing as the foreign exchange fee?

No. These are two separate fees. Not all banks charge both.

  • The foreign transaction fee is levied on transactions that originate overseas.
  • The foreign exchange fee applies to transactions that are billed in a foreign currency, e.g. GBP, USD, EUR, etc.

Check what you would be charged for either because it is possible that a no foreign transaction fee card may still charge a foreign currency exchange fee.

Even if a no foreign transaction fee card did charge a foreign exchange fee, it would still be cheaper than a card that levied fees on both.

Does the foreign transaction fee cost more than the foreign exchange fee?

No, it generally doesn’t. Typically foreign transactions are charged a flat fee of 1-3% on the total purchase. The foreign exchange fee is typically in the range of 3%, although this varies from bank to bank.

Are there any other foreign fees?

Yes, unfortunately there are.

  • Overseas ATM Balance Fee: Charged every time you check your credit card’s balance using an ATM while overseas.
  • Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee: Charged every time you withdraw cash from your credit card account from an ATM while overseas.
  • Overseas Cash Advance Fee: Charged every time you withdraw cash from your credit card account while overseas (in addition to the base cash advance rate).
  • Overseas Emergency Card Replacement Fee: Charged if you request a replacement credit card if lost or stolen while overseas.

What would I be charged to withdraw a cash advance from an overseas ATM using my credit card?

This works out to be extremely expensive and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

  • Overseas ATM Fee: Typically around $5 per withdrawal, unless you are using an ATM with which your bank has an alliance with.
  • Cash Advance Rate: The base rate of interest for cash advances would be applied, which is typically around 22%.
  • Overseas Cash Advance Fee: Charged in addition to the base cash advance rate.
  • Foreign Exchange Fee: Because you probably will not be able to withdraw AUD.