Yes, you can use your Chase credit card internationally, but you need to know the fees, currency conversion rules, and which cards charge less

Chase credit cards work in most countries where Visa or Mastercard is accepted — which is nearly everywhere tourists go. The card itself functions the same way: you insert it, tap it, or hand it to a cashier. What changes is what it costs you. Every Chase card charges a foreign transaction fee when you use it outside the United States, and Chase converts your purchase from the local currency into dollars using its own exchange rate, which is not the same as the rate you see online.

The catch is that not all Chase cards charge the same fee, and some charge none at all. A card that costs you 3% on every purchase abroad adds up fast if you are traveling for weeks. A card with no foreign transaction fee saves hundreds on the same trip. Before you leave, you should know which card you are carrying and what it will cost you to use it.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Chase cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States, but some premium cards charge 0%.
  • Chase converts foreign currency to dollars at its own rate, which includes a markup — you cannot avoid this, but you can choose a card that does not add a fee on top of it.
  • You should call Chase before you travel to let them know you will be using your card abroad, or they may block transactions thinking your card was stolen.
  • Using an ATM abroad to withdraw cash usually costs less than paying with a credit card if you are buying small items, because ATM fees are a flat amount rather than a percentage.
  • Some Chase cards earn bonus rewards on international purchases, which can offset the foreign transaction fee if you are using the right card.

Which Chase cards have no foreign transaction fee

Chase offers a small number of cards that do not charge the 3% foreign transaction fee. These are almost always premium cards that cost money to hold each year. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred both have no foreign transaction fee. The Chase Ink Business Preferred and Chase Ink Business Premier also waive the fee for business owners.

If you do not hold one of these cards, your Chase card almost certainly charges 3% on top of the currency conversion. This applies to most of the Chase Freedom cards, the Chase Freedom Flex, and most Chase business cards that are not in the Ink Premier or Ink Preferred line. Check your card's terms by logging into your Chase account online or calling the number on the back of your card.

The fee is charged per transaction, not per trip. If you spend $1,000 abroad on a card with a 3% fee, you pay $30 in foreign transaction fees alone, separate from the currency conversion markup. On a card with no fee, you pay only the currency conversion markup, which you cannot avoid but which is usually smaller than the fee.

How Chase converts currency and what that costs you

When you use your card in another country, Chase does not use the exchange rate you see on Google or XE.com. Instead, Chase uses the Visa or Mastercard exchange rate for that day, then adds its own markup. The markup is usually between 1% and 2%, though Chase does not publish an exact number — it varies by card and by transaction.

Here is a real example: if you buy something for 100 euros and the Visa exchange rate that day is 1.10 dollars per euro, the base cost is $110. Chase then adds its markup — say 1.5% — bringing the total to $111.65. If your card also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, you pay an additional $3.35, for a total of $114.98. The same purchase on a card with no foreign transaction fee would cost you $111.65.

You cannot negotiate or avoid the currency conversion markup. Every card issuer does this. What you can control is whether your card adds a foreign transaction fee on top of it. That is why choosing the right card before you travel matters.

Notifying Chase before you travel

Before you leave the country, call the number on the back of your Chase card and tell them where you are going and when. Chase monitors for fraud by looking for unusual patterns — a purchase in Tokyo followed by a purchase in New York six hours later is a red flag. If you do not tell them you are traveling, they may block your card thinking it was stolen.

You can also set travel notifications through the Chase mobile app. Log in, find your card, and look for a travel or notifications section. You will enter the countries you are visiting and the dates you will be there. This takes two minutes and is more convenient than calling, though calling works just as well.

Setting a travel notification does not change your fees or your exchange rate. It only tells Chase to expect transactions from that location. If you forget to set one and your card gets blocked, call Chase when ready and they can usually unblock it within minutes.

Using ATMs abroad versus paying with your card

If you are deciding whether to withdraw cash from an ATM or pay with your credit card, the math depends on how much you are spending. ATM withdrawals usually charge a flat fee — often $3 to $5 per withdrawal — plus a currency conversion markup similar to what your card charges. Credit card purchases charge a percentage fee (if your card has one) plus the same conversion markup.

For a large purchase — say $200 or more — paying with a card is usually cheaper because the percentage fee is smaller than the flat ATM fee. For small purchases, withdrawing cash and paying in local currency is often cheaper. If you are buying a $15 coffee, a $5 ATM fee makes no sense. If you are renting a car for $800, the ATM fee is negligible compared to the percentage you would pay on a card.

Some Chase cards offer rebates on ATM fees charged by other banks. The Chase Sapphire Reserve reimburses all ATM fees worldwide. If you hold that card, you can withdraw cash from any ATM without worrying about the fee — Chase will credit it back to your account.

What to do if your card is declined abroad

If a merchant's machine rejects your card, try these steps in order. First, ask if they accept Visa or Mastercard — some places only take local cards or specific payment methods. Second, try inserting the card instead of tapping or swiping, or vice versa — different countries use different technology and machines sometimes reject cards that do not match the local standard. Third, try a different amount or a different merchant to see if the problem is your card or their machine.

If multiple merchants reject your card, call Chase when ready using the number on the back of your card. You can also call the Chase customer service number for your country — Chase publishes these on its website for major destinations. Tell them where you are and what happened. They can check whether your card was blocked, whether there is a fraud hold, or whether there is a technical problem. They can often unblock your card while you are on the phone.

Keep a backup payment method — a second credit card, a debit card, or some cash — in case your primary card stops working. Do not keep all your payment methods in the same bag.

Earning rewards on international purchases

Some Chase cards earn bonus rewards on international travel or dining purchases. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining worldwide, including when you are abroad. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on the same categories. These rewards can offset the foreign transaction fee if you are using the right card.

If you are using a card that charges a 3% foreign transaction fee but earns 2 points per dollar, and you can redeem those points at 1.5 cents each through Chase's travel portal, you are earning back 3% in value — breaking even on the fee. On a card with no foreign transaction fee and the same rewards, you come out ahead.

Check your card's rewards structure before you travel. If you are carrying a card that earns 1 point per dollar on everything and charges a 3% fee, you are losing money on every purchase. If you have access to a card with no foreign transaction fee, that is the better choice for your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to tell Chase I am traveling, or will my card work automatically?

Your card will usually work without notifying Chase, but you should tell them anyway. Chase monitors for fraud and may block your card if it sees unusual activity in a new country. Calling or using the app to set a travel notification takes two minutes and prevents this problem.

What is the difference between the exchange rate and the foreign transaction fee?

The exchange rate is how many dollars one unit of foreign currency is worth — Chase uses the Visa or Mastercard rate plus a small markup. The foreign transaction fee is an additional percentage charge that some Chase cards add on top of the conversion. You cannot avoid the conversion, but you can choose a card with no fee.

Can I use my Chase debit card abroad, or should I use a credit card?

You can use either, but credit cards usually offer better fraud protection. If someone uses your debit card fraudulently, the money comes directly from your bank account. If someone uses your credit card fraudulently, you dispute the charge and Chase investigates. Credit cards also earn rewards, while most debit cards do not.

Will my Chase card work in countries that use different payment technology?

Visa and Mastercard work in most countries, but some places use local payment systems or require chip readers instead of tap. If a machine rejects your card, ask the merchant if they accept Visa or Mastercard, or try a different payment method. Carry some cash as a backup.

Should I exchange money before I travel or use ATMs abroad?

Using ATMs abroad is usually cheaper than exchanging money at an airport or bank before you travel. Airport exchanges charge high markups. ATMs charge a flat fee plus conversion, which is usually lower. If your card has no foreign transaction fee and reimburses ATM fees, using ATMs is your cheapest option.