Best Australian Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees

A common mistake some people make is thinking that using their everyday credit card overseas will be the same as using it at home. Foreign purchases often mean extra fees which can make your transaction more costly.

If you’re looking for a no foreign transaction fee credit card in Australia, there are several competitive options. Below, we’ll compare the top cards so you can decide what’s right for you. You can also learn more about the Wise card, an easy way to stretch your dollars when paying in foreign currencies.

Table of contents

What is a credit card international transaction fee? A debit card alternative: Meet the Wise card with zero foreign transaction fees Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees in Australia Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard Westpac Lite Card HSBC Low Rate Credit Card Coles Rewards Mastercard BankWest Zero Platinum Mastercard Summary: Which is the best credit card with no foreign transaction fees for travel?

What is a credit card international transaction fee?

An international transaction fee (also known as a foreign transaction fee) is a fee charged by the relative Australian bank or credit card issuer for any transaction made from or in a country outside Australia. This includes:

• In-person purchases while traveling abroad
• Online shopping from overseas merchants
• ATM withdrawals from foreign terminals

An international transaction fee is usually an added percentage on every purchase you make abroad. These fees often go unnoticed until you check your statement, where you’ll find they’ve quietly chipped away at your overall budget.

No international transaction fee credit card: Overview

Here below is a list of credit cards in Australia that come with zero foreign transaction fees. The table features them in no particular order.

Card	Maintenance fees	Cash advance fee (ATM)	Perks
Westpac Lite card¹	$9 per month	Not available	Westpac cashback offers
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard²	$0 for first year, $96 thereafter	Greater of 3.5% or $4 AUD	N/A
HSBC Low Rate Credit Card³	$99 AUD per year	Greater of 3% or $4 AUD	Complimentary travel insurance
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard⁶	$0	Greater of 3% or $4 AUD	N/A
Wise card (Debit alternative)	$0	N/A	N/A

A debit card alternative: Meet the Wise card with zero foreign transaction fees

The Wise debit card is a great option if you’re looking for a way to spend your money overseas without any foreign transaction fees or any cash advance fees that often come with credit cards. The Wise Debit card is attached to a Wise multi-currency account and lets you hold and convert 40+ currencies at mid-market rate.

Main features and uses of this card account

The Wise debit card comes with:

• No monthly or annual fees
• Both physical and digital cards available
• Spend in 160+ countries
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases
• Can be used to withdraw at ATMs in 160+ countries – except the ones listed here
• All currency conversions using the mid-market rate
• Ability to freeze or cancel your card in-app or online

Wise Debit card fees

Here are some of the fees associated with ordering a physical Wise Debit card

• One-time 10 AUD ordering fee
• 2 fee free ATM withdrawals per month up to 350 AUD, $1.50 fee on three or more withdrawals per month plus 1.75% of amount

Pros	Cons
No overseas transaction fees Linked with multi-currency account No monthly or annual fees No or Low ATM fees worldwide (keep in mind that additional charges may levied by the ATM provider)	All funds are own personal funds No rewards

🚀 Get a Wise card

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Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees in Australia

If you are in the market for a new credit card to use while travelling, we’ve collected the top no-foreign-fee credit cards in Australia.

Below we’ll be discussing the following cards in more detail:

1. Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
2. Westpac Lite card
3. HSBC Low Rate Credit Card
4. Bankwest Zero Mastercard

Let’s get started, shall we?

Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard

The Latitude 28 Degrees Global Platinum Mastercard is provided by Latitude, an Australian digital payments and finance business.⁸

Main features and uses of this card account

The main features of this card include²:

• Minimum $6000 credit limit
• No international transaction or currency conversion fees
• Interest free period on purchases for 55 days
• Free global WIFI at over 1 million hotspots with Boingo
• Access to special offers from Mastercard
• A flight delay pass on select air lounges when flights are delayed
• Four ways to pay off your balance
• Can be added to major digital wallet providers including ApplePay, GooglePay and SamsungPay

Holders of this card are able to decrease or increase their available credit limits to meet your travel needs.⁹

Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard fees

Although you avoid international transaction fees with this card, you may be subject to some other fees including²:

• Payment handling fees
• A minimum cash advance fee of $4 or 3.5% of the purchase, whichever is greater
• $2.50 fee for requesting paper statement
• Late payment fee of $35
• 21.99% p.a. Interest rate on purchases

Pros	Cons
No monthly fee No international transaction fees Easy and quick online application Many potential offers from Latitude and Mastercard	High purchase rate on unpaid balances High cash advance interest rate and fee

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Westpac Lite Card

The Westpac Lite Card is issued by Westpac Bank Australia and can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.¹⁰ To apply for this card, applicants must apply to Westpac and meet certain eligibility requirements.¹

Main features and uses of this card account

The main features of the Westpac Lite Card are¹:

• Low purchase rate on unpaid balances
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases online or abroad
• A 45 day interest free period on purchases
• Cash back rewards through Westpac Lounge and Westpac Extras
• Fraud protection and a money back guarantee
• Can use the card before it’s delivered through major digital wallets

Unlike other Westpac credit cards, cash advances are not available for this credit card.

Westpac Lite Card fees

This card has no foreign transaction fees or late payment fees. There are a few fees you will need to pay including¹:

• $9 Monthly card fee or $108 annual card fee
• 9.90% variable purchase interest rate

There is a minimum credit limit of $1000 and a maximum credit card limit of $20,000 available for this credit card.

Pros	Cons
No overseas transaction fees Cash back reward offers Money back guarantees and fraud protections	High annual maintenance fee Cash advance option not available

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HSBC Low Rate Credit Card

The HSBC Low Rate Credit card is offered by HSBC Australia and Visa. This card can be applied for online, by phone or in a HSBC branch in Australia.³

Main features and uses of this card account

Some of the main features you will get with this card include³:

• No overseas transaction fees
• Complimentary domestic travel insurance when card is used on purchase
• Access to mobile payment modalities Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Introductory balance transfer rate offer of 0% for 20 months (new customers only)
• No fee for additional card holders
• Up to 55 days interest free period on purchases

HSBC Low Rate Credit Card fees

This card comes with no foreign exchange fees on overseas purchases. There are other fees though for using this card including³:

• An annual fee of $99
• A purchase interest rate of 12.99%
• A cash advance fee of 3% or $4, whichever is higher
• An interest rate of 25.99% p.a. on cash advances.
• A minimum credit limit of $1000.

Pros	Cons
No overseas transaction fees Can have additional card holders with no fee Three ways to apply	Annual card fee High cash advance interest rate and fee High purchase rate

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BankWest Zero Platinum Mastercard

The Bankwest Zero Mastercard is a credit card issued through Bankwest, which is a division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank). It comes in two available options, the BankWest Zero Classic and the BankWest Zero Platinum Mastercard. No foreign transaction fees are only available with the Platinum version.⁶

Main features and uses of this card account

The main features of the BankWest Zero Platinum card include⁶:

• No annual fees
• Interest free period up to 55 days on purchases
• Access an easy instalment payment plan on owed balances
• Minimum credit limit of $6000
• Complimentary travel insurance on overseas trips

BankWest Zero Platinum Mastercard fees

Here are some of the fees that may be incurred using this credit card.⁶

• Cash advance fee and interest rate of 21.99%
• Purchase rate of 14.99%
• $25 late payment fee

Pros	Cons
No annual fees Interest free period on purchases Complimentary overseas travel insurance Instalment plans available	No reward programs or cashback High interest rates on missed payments and cash advances

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Summary: Which is the best credit card with no foreign transaction fees for travel?

Choosing the right card depends on your personal spending habits and whether you prioritise rewards or cost-efficiency.

If your goal is to minimise maintenance costs, the Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard² and Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard⁶ remain top choices. Both offer $0 annual fees and waive international transaction fees, making them highly cost-effective for overseas spending. To earn points or cashback while you travel with your credit card, consider the Westpac Lite Card¹. This cards offer a balance of low ongoing costs and access to established reward programs. For those already banking with HSBC, it may be faster and more convenient to apply for their no international transaction fee credit cards like the HSBC Low Rate.

For those who want to avoid interest rates and credit card "cash advance" traps, the Wise Debit Card is an excellent companion. With no annual fees, access to the mid-market exchange rate, and some fee-free ATM withdrawals, it is the perfect tool to bring alongside your credit card to manage your daily travel spending without hidden markups.

🚀 Get your Wise card today

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This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you.

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* Wise Interest is a custody and nominee service offered through Wise Australia Investments Pty Ltd (ACN 659 961 083) (AFSL: 545411). Franklin Templeton is the issuer and manager of the Franklin Government Cash Fund. Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed. Terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the Wise Australia Interest Legal page for Wise Australia Investment's Financial Services Guide and the fund's Product Disclosure Statement to see if this product is right for you.

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Sources:

1. Westpac Lite card details
2. Latitude features, fees and information
3. HSBC low rate credit card information
4. BankWest Zero Mastercard information
5. Latitude about
6. Latitude FAQ’s
7. Westpaccredit card terms