Does Discover Have Foreign Transaction Fees?

4 min read

Last Updated: February 14, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Some credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad or through an international merchant.
Discover has no foreign transaction fee.
Discover cardmembers earn cash back rewards on all eligible purchases, including foreign transactions.

Discover^® charges no foreign transaction fee, so you can easily use your card throughout the world.

But there’s more to using credit cards abroad to reap the full benefit of all the services and ease cards offer overseas. Consider these tips for using a Discover^® credit card, or any credit card, abroad.

Where can I use my Discover® Card internationally?

Discover Card is accepted at millions of places around the world,¹ allowing you to use your card when traveling internationally.

Discover Cardmembers can check our guide to international use to travel confidently knowing where your card is accepted. You should look for the Discover and Diners Club acceptance marks when making a purchase.

Find out whether you’ll pay a foreign transaction fee

Some credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee, which is a fee levied by a credit card company for a purchase in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.

Foreign transaction fees may apply when you use your credit card in other countries or shop online from a seller outside the United States. Confirm whether the credit cards you’ll take abroad has such a fee. Some credit card issuers, like Discover, have no foreign transaction fee.

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Check whether there are any other international fees

Some foreign networks also assess their own fees on transactions involving foreign cards. You may want to do a little research to understand if those charges might apply on certain networks abroad.

Let your credit card issuer know you’re traveling internationally

Many creditors and financial institutions monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. Purchases from an unusual location can sometimes signal potential fraud, resulting in a fraud alert that temporarily “freezes” your ability to use your card until you can contact your credit issuer to verify the purchase.

To help avoid an inconvenient disruption, you may want to alert your credit card issuers and financial institutions of your travel plans—including layover locations and final destinations—before you depart. If you intend to use ATMs frequently during your travels, inquire about your bank’s daily limits to confirm you can access enough cash. Also, check if a cash advance interest rate and fee will apply on cash that you withdraw.

Ask for a PIN

Most credit cards have personal identification numbers (PINs). But they may have initially come with your card so long ago you forgot (or you never requested one at all). You can request one at any time, but plan so that the PIN arrives before your trip. Use the PIN as you travel to keep your card secure.

Earn rewards on foreign transactions

Just because you’ve left the country doesn’t mean you have to forego rewards. Many travel credit cards will let you earn rewards in the same way you would at home. Check with your credit card issuer to find out if there are any restrictions on earning rewards on purchases made abroad.

Typically, the best credit card for you allows you to earn rewards that exceed fees. An annual fee, foreign transaction fee, or balance transfer fee may diminish your rewards.

Did you know?

Travel rewards credit cards could help frequent travelers cover flights and other costs with travel rewards. With the Discover it^® Miles Card, you could turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.³

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Discover chip cards and contactless 101

Your card has adapted to international travel over time. Most merchants accept chip and tap-to-pay cards for both security and ease of use.

If you’ve replaced a credit card in the past few years, it’s likely you now have a chip card. Your card may also have contactless tap-to-pay capabilities. It’s fast and easy to pay with your contactless Discover Card. The chips, which you can see on the front of the card, offer more security when used at chip-enabled terminals.

Most chip readers can read magnetic strip cards, though travelers might have to use their PIN attached to the bank account.

Discover® Card monitoring during international travel

Finally, you can continue to monitor your Discover credit card account from overseas by logging into your account online or using the mobile app.

Not only can you use your Discover Card in many countries, but it’s also an excellent choice for overseas travel. By following a few simple tips, you can still use your travel credit card outside the United States without incurring costly foreign transaction fees.

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