Travel Tips Travelling to India

Can I use Monzo in India?

Gert Svaiko

25.03.24 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

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Planning a trip to India? Perhaps you’re heading off on holiday, or visiting friends and family there.

Before you travel, you’ll need to find a way to spend in Indian rupees during your overseas trip.

One option is Monzo, a British online bank. But the question is - does Monzo work in India? Find the factual details you need to know in this guide.

Does Monzo work in India?

Yes, Monzo does work in India. It is a bank based in the UK. Despite being a UK-based operation, Monzo allows personal customers to use their accounts and debit cards in other countries, including India.

Personal customers can use Monzo for holiday spending, and it is not necessary to tell the bank in advance that you will be going abroad.¹

Can I use my Monzo card in India?

You can use your Monzo debit card in India wherever the Mastercard symbol is displayed. This includes locations such as restaurants, shops, supermarkets, and transport hubs.

You can also withdraw cash at Indian ATMs using your Monzo debit card. This is an option if you require Indian rupees for locations where cards are not accepted. However, if you are travelling outside of the EEA, you will be limited to withdrawals of £200 per 30 days, after which a fee applies.¹

Are Indian rupees supported for spending, and how does currency conversion work?

Indian rupees are supported for spending with your Monzo debit card.

When you spend in India, your pounds are automatically converted to Indian rupees (INR) by Mastercard. Monzo uses Mastercard’s exchange rate and does not add mark-ups or hidden charges on top.¹

When using a UK debit card to spend or take out cash abroad, it is recommended to always pay or withdraw cash in the local currency.

If you choose to pay in GBP instead, the vendor or ATM operator may use their own exchange rate for the currency conversion, which may be less favourable than the Mastercard rate.

Fees for using Monzo in India¹

Monzo does not charge foreign transaction fees when you spend in another country using your UK debit card. This includes transactions made in India.

However, there are limits regarding ATM withdrawals.

You can withdraw up to £200 a month while in India without paying Monzo fees. This limit applies to ATM withdrawals in any country outside the EEA. If you exceed this limit, a 3% fee applies.

It is also important to be aware of any fees that may be charged by the specific ATM operator.

Can I open a Monzo account in India?

No, you cannot open a Monzo account while living in India. As Monzo is a British bank, it only offers its accounts to UK residents who live in the UK permanently.¹

And that’s it, the factual overview of using your Monzo card in India.

Monzo is an option for UK residents looking for a mobile-based bank account. You can also take advantage of its partnership with Wise to send money overseas directly from the Monzo app.

Sources used:

Monzo - Travel

Sources last checked on date: 12-Feb-2024

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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