Traveling internationally? Don’t let foreign transaction fees eat into your vacation budget. Many credit cards charge a 3% fee on purchases made outside the U.S.—but thankfully, there are great options that waive those fees and don’t charge an annual fee.
In this guide, we’re sharing the best credit cards for international travel with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Whether you’re a student, frequent traveler, or just heading abroad once a year, these cards can save you money without compromising rewards.
🏆 Top 5 No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards (with No Foreign Transaction Fees)
1. U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
- Annual Fee: $0
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
- Rewards Highlights:
- 4x points on travel and gas/EV charging
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals (via U.S. Bank Travel Center)
- 2x at grocery stores, dining, and streaming
- 1x on all other purchases
- Bonus Offer: Up to $200 welcome bonus
- Perks:
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
- 4 Priority Pass lounge visits per year
- Trip delay/cancellation protection
✅ Why it’s #1: Comprehensive travel perks and strong rewards—without an annual fee.
2. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
- Annual Fee: $0
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
- Rewards Highlights:
- 3x points on travel, dining, gas, transit, cell phone bills, streaming
- 1x on all other purchases
- Bonus Offer: $200 welcome bonus
✅ Why it stands out: A well-rounded card with travel-friendly categories and a solid signup bonus.
3. Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card
- Annual Fee: $0
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
- Rewards Highlights:
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores, and streaming
- 5% on hotels and rental cars (via Capital One Travel)
- 1% on everything else
- Bonus Offer: $200 welcome bonus
✅ Extra Note: All Capital One cards have no foreign transaction fees. Also available in a student version, which is easier to get approved for.
4. SoFi Credit Card
- Annual Fee: $0
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
- Rewards Highlights:
- Flat 2% cash back on all purchases (when redeemed into SoFi accounts)
- Bonus Offer: Often includes a welcome bonus
✅ Simple & effective: Ideal for those who want consistent rewards with zero category tracking.
5. Amazon Rewards Visa Card
- Annual Fee: $0 (Amazon Prime not required)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
- Rewards Highlights:
- 3% back on Amazon purchases (if not a Prime member)
- 2% back on restaurants, gas stations, drugstores
- 1% back everywhere else
- Prime Member Upgrade: If you have Prime, you’re eligible for the Amazon Prime Visa, which gives 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods.
✅ Pro Tip: Great for Amazon shoppers and internationally accepted as a Visa card.
🔎 More Cards to Consider for International Travel (No Annual Fee, No FX Fees)
Here are other notable options worth exploring based on your personal spending habits or memberships:
| Credit Card | Key Benefit |
|---|---|
| Bilt Mastercard | Earn points on rent payments—a rare perk |
| Costco Anywhere Visa | Strong rewards if you’re a Costco member |
| Navy Federal Cash Rewards | Great for military families, up to 2% cash back |
| FNBO Getaway Card | Underrated travel rewards with no annual fee |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards | Unlimited 1.5x points, better for BofA banking clients |
| Capital One Quicksilver | Solid flat-rate card with no FX fees |
| One Key Visa (Expedia/VRBO) | Earn travel rewards across multiple travel brands |
| Venmo, DoorDash, Instacart Cards | Situationally useful if you use those services often |
| Capital One VentureOne | Travel card label, but lower earning rates than SavorOne |
🛫 Airline & Hotel Cards: Not Always the Best Bet
Many major hotel and airline cards (like United Gateway, Marriott Bonvoy Bold, Delta Blue, Hilton Amex) offer no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, but the rewards tend to be weak. Unless you’re loyal to a specific airline or hotel brand, you’re better off with one of the general travel cards listed above.
⚠️ A Word About Discover and American Express Abroad
While Discover cards have no foreign transaction fees, they are often not accepted internationally—especially in Europe. The same goes for American Express, which may have limited acceptance in some countries.
✅ Bottom line: Bring at least one Visa or Mastercard with you when traveling internationally.
✈️ Final Thoughts
If you’re heading out of the U.S., packing the right credit card can save you big. The cards above offer a powerful mix of no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and valuable rewards—all while keeping your travel budget in check.
💬 Have questions or card recommendations to add? Drop them in the comments!