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Understanding Chase Credit Cards and International Travel

Chase offers several credit cards that can be useful when traveling outside the United States. Before you travel, it helps to understand which cards offer features that may reduce costs while you're abroad. This guide provides information about how these cards work internationally and what features to look for.

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Many Chase cards come with different international features. Some cards charge foreign transaction fees—typically 1% to 3% of every purchase made outside the U.S.—while other Chase cards do not charge these fees. Understanding which card you have and what fees apply can save you money during your trip. For example, if you spend $2,000 on a Chase card with a 3% foreign transaction fee, you would pay $60 in fees alone. If you use a card with no foreign transaction fee, you keep that $60.

Chase cards also vary in their rewards structures. Some cards earn higher cash back or points on travel purchases, including flights, hotels, and dining. Others earn a flat rate on all purchases. When traveling internationally, knowing your card's rewards rate helps you understand the actual value you're receiving on each purchase.

International travel also involves currency conversion. When you use your credit card in another country, the merchant's bank converts the local currency to U.S. dollars. The exchange rate used depends on your card's network—either Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. These networks set their own exchange rates daily, and these rates are generally competitive with market rates.

Practical Takeaway: Before traveling, review your Chase card's features by visiting Chase.com or calling the number on the back of your card. Write down whether your card charges foreign transaction fees, what the rewards rate is for travel purchases, and which payment network it uses (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex). This information will guide your card choice while traveling.

Foreign Transaction Fees and How to Avoid Them

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that some credit card companies add when you use your card outside the United States. This fee typically appears as a percentage of the transaction amount and is added to your bill. Chase charges foreign transaction fees on most of its standard credit cards, but some premium Chase cards do not charge these fees.

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For cardholders without a no-fee card, these charges add up quickly. A typical foreign transaction fee is 3%. If you charge $100 in euros at a café in Paris, your card company converts that to dollars and adds 3% to the transaction. Your actual charge might be approximately $103 after conversion and the fee. On a two-week trip where you make 40 purchases averaging $50 each, you could pay around $60 in foreign transaction fees alone.

Chase cards that currently do not charge foreign transaction fees include certain premium travel credit cards and some business cards. These cards often have annual fees ranging from $95 to $550, so the value depends on your spending patterns and how much you travel. A $95 annual fee makes sense if you're saving more than $95 per year in foreign transaction fees.

You can also avoid foreign transaction fees by using cash from ATMs in the countries you visit. However, this requires understanding ATM fees. Many Chase checking and savings accounts offer ATM fee reimbursement in the U.S., but overseas ATM fees are typically not reimbursed. A typical overseas ATM withdrawal might cost $2 to $5 in fees from the local bank, plus any fee from Chase or your bank.

Another approach involves using digital payment systems like PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay when traveling. Some merchants accept these payments, and the fees may differ from standard credit card fees. However, these systems still involve currency conversion, so fees may still apply.

Practical Takeaway: If you travel internationally once or twice per year and spend under $2,000 per trip, the 3% foreign transaction fee might cost you $60 to $180 annually—less than the annual fee on a premium card. However, if you travel frequently or spend heavily abroad, paying for a card with no foreign transaction fees could save you money over time. Calculate your own spending to decide which approach works for your situation.

Using Your Chase Card at International ATMs

Withdrawing cash from ATMs while traveling is often necessary, even if you plan to use your credit card for most purchases. ATMs offer access to local currency instantly, and you get the mid-market exchange rate rather than a merchant's conversion rate. However, using your Chase credit card at international ATMs involves understanding different types of fees and how cash advances work.

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First, understand that using a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM is called a cash advance, not a regular transaction. Cash advances are treated differently than purchases. They typically have higher interest rates—often 25% to 30% annually—and fees are charged immediately, not after a grace period. Most Chase credit cards charge a cash advance fee of 5% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum fee of $10. If you withdraw $200, you might pay a $10 fee. If you withdraw $1,000, you pay $50.

Additionally, ATMs charge their own fees. Many international ATMs charge $2 to $5 per withdrawal. Some ATMs offer "dynamic currency conversion," which means the ATM itself converts your currency and charges an additional fee, typically 2% to 3%. You should always decline dynamic currency conversion and allow your card to handle the conversion instead.

A better option for cash access while traveling is to use a debit card instead of a credit card at ATMs. If you have a Chase checking account with their debit card, you may access fee-free ATMs within the Chase network, and overseas ATM fees are sometimes lower with debit cards. However, check with Chase about international debit card fees before you travel, as policies vary by account type.

Some travelers also use the strategy of withdrawing cash once in larger amounts rather than multiple small withdrawals. If you withdraw $500 once instead of $100 five times, you pay fewer ATM fees overall. However, this approach requires secure cash handling and may not be suitable for all destinations.

Practical Takeaway: Before traveling, contact Chase to understand the cash advance fee and interest rate on your specific card. Consider whether you truly need cash or can use your credit card for most purchases. If you do need cash, use a debit card at ATMs when possible, withdraw larger amounts fewer times, and always decline dynamic currency conversion at the ATM. Keep your receipt to verify the exchange rate used.

Travel Protections and Benefits Included With Chase Cards

Many Chase credit cards include travel protections that provide coverage for unexpected events while you're away from home. These benefits are built into the card at no additional cost and can provide significant value during international travel. Understanding what protection your card offers helps you plan for potential problems.

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Travel accident insurance covers injuries or death resulting from travel on a common carrier—an airplane, train, or bus. This insurance typically covers you and immediate family members traveling with you. The coverage amount varies by card, but ranges from $100,000 to $500,000. This protection is automatic and requires no registration.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you if you need to cancel or cut short a trip due to specific covered reasons, such as illness, injury, or death of a family member. Coverage typically reimburses prepaid trip costs up to $5,000 to $10,000 per person. To use this benefit, you must have purchased your trip with the Chase card.

Lost luggage reimbursement covers the cost of replacing lost or damaged baggage and personal belongings when traveling on a common carrier. Coverage limits typically range from $2,500 to $5,000 per person. If an airline loses your bag and doesn't compensate you fully, your Chase card's travel insurance may cover the difference.

Emergency medical and dental coverage reimburses reasonable expenses for emergency medical or dental treatment needed while traveling more than 100 miles from home. Coverage is typically $500 to $2,500 and applies when treatment is necessary due to an unexpected illness or injury. This coverage complements your regular health insurance and covers costs your health plan might not cover internationally.

Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage pays for emergency evacuation by air ambulance or other transportation if you become seriously ill or injured while traveling more than 100 miles from home. Coverage typically ranges from $100,000 to $500,000.

Travel delay reimbursement covers meals and lodging if a common carrier on which you