Does Capital One have foreign transaction fees?

When you’re visiting another country, using a credit card can be an easy way to cover expenses. But some credit card issuers charge a foreign transaction fee each time you use the card abroad or on foreign websites. These fees can add up fast and increase the cost of international travel.

The good news is not all credit card issuers charge foreign transaction fees. In fact, none of Capital One’s U.S.-issued credit cards have foreign transaction fees. View important rates and disclosures. 

Learn more about how foreign transaction fees work and explore some of Capital One’s rewards credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

What you’ll learn:

• A foreign transaction fee is a surcharge on credit card purchases made abroad.

• There are also currency conversion fees, which are charged by the card or ATM network for exchanging one form of currency for another. 

• Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or currency conversion fees on any of its U.S.-issued credit cards. View important rates and disclosures.

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that may be added to a credit card, debit card or prepaid card transaction that’s made abroad. 

The fee usually ranges from around 1% to 3% of the transaction amount after it’s converted to U.S. dollars. It may be made up of smaller charges by the card network as well as the bank or credit card issuer. So if your card issuer charges a 1% fee and the card network charges 2%, then the total fee is 3%. 

These fees can add up fast, especially if you’re making large purchases or you’re on an extended trip abroad.

When using your card while traveling, you may also run into currency conversion fees, which aren’t the same thing as foreign transaction fees. The card or ATM network charges a currency conversion fee for converting one currency to another. It’s usually around 1% of the purchase amount.

Not only does Capital One not charge foreign transaction fees—it doesn’t charge currency conversion fees either. View important rates and disclosures. But other issuers might.

Capital One offers travel credit cards that are especially well suited for traveling abroad because of the travel rewards and benefits. If a travel card isn’t right for you, Capital One also has cash back rewards cards that may suit you better. And remember, regardless of what kind of Capital One card you have, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees. View important rates and disclosures. 

Here’s a look at some of Capital One’s rewards credit cards:

Venture is a travel rewards credit card that offers 2X miles on every purchase and 5X miles when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

As a new Venture cardholder, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend at least $4,000 on the card within the first three months.¹ You also get a $120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, which can help you speed through the airport.² For all of these travel perks, you pay a $95 annual fee. View important rates and disclosures.

Venture X has a $395 annual fee and comes with the most elevated travel benefits Capital One has to offer. View important rates and disclosures. Cardholders earn 2X miles on every purchase, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

With Venture X, you can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending at least $4,000 within the first three months, plus a 10,000 miles anniversary bonus each year, starting with your first anniversary.¹ Venture X cardholders also receive a $300 annual Capital One Travel Credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, complimentary lounge access, and a $120 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.^2,3

Savor from Capital One offers unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases.² Cardholders also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The card also comes with a one-time $250 cash bonus when you spend at least $500 on the card within three months of account opening. And there’s no annual fee. View important rates and disclosures.

Quicksilver is a rewards credit card that offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Cardholders can also earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within three months of account opening.¹ Quicksilver has no annual fee. View important rates and disclosures.

Using a credit card abroad can help you pay easily and securely. But before you set off on your adventure, consider these tips for using a credit card internationally:

• Use a credit card with trip cancellation insurance. 

• Review your credit card’s travel benefits. 

• Book your trip through a travel booking site, such as Capital One Travel.

• Take at least two credit cards, if possible, in case one is lost, stolen or declined.

None of Capital One’s U.S.-issued credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. View important rates and disclosures. If you’re a frequent traveler or have a trip coming up, consider a travel rewards credit card from Capital One. These cards come with rewards and benefits that can help elevate your experience, whether you’re going abroad or staying in the U.S. 

If you want to explore other types of rewards cards, you can compare more Capital One cards to find one that’s right for you. You can also check for pre-approved card offers before you apply. Pre-approval is quick and won’t hurt your credit scores.