Personal Finance Tips

BookMyForex Card Review: Features, Charges, and Is It the Right Travel Card for You?

Yadana Chaw

08.12.25

Read time 5 minutes

The Wise Travel card lets you hold 40+ currencies and spend at the interbank exchange rate with no forex markups or hidden fees - now available to order for free (Limited time offer, while stocks last).

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When preparing for international travel, securing a good forex card is the easiest way to save money. While many prepaid cards exist, the challenge is finding one that suits your needs.

We'll review the BookMyForex card variants, their features, and fees in our guide. We'll also introduce you to the Wise Travel card, which allows you to hold 40+ currencies in on card and spend without any forex markups or hidden fees.

Table of contents
What is a BookMyForex Card? BookMyForex Card vs Wise Travel card: Features and benefits Charges How to apply for a BookMyForex Card Summary: Is the BookMyForex Card good for travelling? Meet the Wise Travel card: 40+ currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

What is a BookMyForex Card?

The BookMyForex card is a prepaid forex card that is issued in partnership with Yes Bank.¹ Whether you are a student, tourist, or business traveller, BookMyForex offers two forex card variants, tailored to the purpose of your travel.²

Variant	Main features
Single Currency Forex Card	Tailored for students Load in USD only Supports spending in 180+ currencies at Visa exchange rates
Multi-Currency Forex Card	Tailored for tourists and business travellers Load up to 14 currencies Dedicated app for card management

Is BookMyForex Card safe?

BookMyForex is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a foreign exchange service provider. The RBI regulates the forex transactions conducted through the BookMyForex card and transactions are subject to FEMA regulations. The card offers security features like Chip and PIN and multi-factor authentication.³

BookMyForex Card: Features and benefits

Let’s check out the BookMyForex card benefits and features, side-by-side with the Wise Travel card, a multi-currency card that lets you hold 40+ currencies with no forex markups.

	BookMyForex Single Currency Forex Card⁴	BookMyForex Multi-currency Forex Card⁵	Wise Travel card
Currencies supported for loading	USD	14 currencies, including USD and EUR	40+ currencies, including USD, EUR, and AED
Loading methods	Online through app/website	Online through app/website	Bank transfers via RTGS, NEFT, and IMPS
Digital cards	Not available	Available to generate in the app	Available to use instantly
Other Features	ISIC and IYTC cards issued to students	Same-day card delivery in select cities	24/7 customer support

➡️ Learn more about the Wise card

BookMyForex Card’s exchange rate

It’s important to take a close look at BookMyForex card exchange rates to fully understand how they work. While BookMyForex cards are promoted as offering zero markup on interbank rates, this typically applies only to select currencies, in select cities, and for orders above 1.5 lakh.

In many cases, the VISA exchange rate—or a rate set by BookMyForex—is used for currency conversion instead of the interbank rate. Since the VISA rate includes a markup, this creates a hidden cost. To understand the true cost of a transaction, you will need to compare the rate you receive with the interbank rate (the rate you see on Google), which you can see below.

Wise, on the other hand, always uses the interbank rate for every conversion. This means there are no hidden costs you need to look for.

BookMyForex Card: Charges

You may also encounter an unexpected fee when ordering a BookMyForex card. Although BookMyForex states that there is no card issuance fee, a one time service charge of 150–300 INR is applied when ordering a card.

Below is an overview of how BookMyForex’s main charges stack up against the Wise Travel card. One benefit both cards share is that neither charges annual or monthly maintenance fees.

	BookMyForex Single Currency Card⁶	BookMyForex Multi-Currency Card⁷	Wise Travel card
Service charge	Orders from 0 to 14,999 INR: 300 INR Orders from 15,000 to 49,999 INR: 250 INR Orders above 50,000 INR: 150 INR	Orders from 0 to 14,999 INR: 300 INR Orders from 15,000 to 49,999 INR: 250 INR Orders above 50,000 INR: 150 INR	No service charge
ATM withdrawal fee	No fee Foreign banks and ATMs may charge their own fees	Different fees for different currencies. For example: USD withdrawals: USD 2 fee GBP withdrawals: GBP 1.5 fee EUR withdrawals: EUR 1.5 fee AED withdrawals: AED 7 fee Foreign banks and ATMs may charge their own fees	Unlimited free ATM withdrawals up to USD 200 per month. For withdrawals above USD 200, USD 1.40 per withdrawal + 3.25% of the withdrawal amount Foreign banks and ATMs may charge their own fees
Balance Enquiry Fee	No fee	Different fees for different currencies For example: 1 USD 1 GBP 1 EUR 4 AED	No fee
Card Issuance fee	No fee	No fee	Free (Limited time launch offer, while stocks last)
Card Annual Maintenance Fee	No fee	No fee	No fee
Cross-Currency Fee (for currency you don’t hold)	No fee for USD. For other currencies, a margin is built into the Visa network rate.	3.5% of the transaction value	Small transparent variable fee applies - from 1.16%
Cash Disbursement fee	Not applicable	2% of the transaction amount	No fee
Inactivity Fee	Not applicable	No fee	No fee
Card Replacement Fee	250 INR	250 INR	Free (Limited time launch offer)

How to apply for a BookMyForex Card

You can apply for the BookMyForex cards online on their official website.⁹

Visit the BookMyForex website and click on the “Buy Card” option
Select your location and currency.
Enter the foreign currency amount to receive the Indian rupee (INR) equivalent.
Complete the application by entering details, such as travel destination, dates, and purpose of travel.
Upload the requisite documents, such as your passport, visa, air ticket, and PAN card.
Choose your delivery address.
Complete the payment, including the 150–300 INR service charge.

BookMyForex offers same-day doorstep delivery in select cities. However, delivery is not available in all locations, so please check availability in advance. Do note that when ordering a BookMyForex Single Currency Card online, the Multi-Currency Card is often selected by default. Double-check the order is correct before completing payment.

How to use the BookMyForex Card

You can use the BookMyForex card just like you would your international credit or debit cards.

Use it for online purchases on e-commerce websites.
Use it for in-store purchases at all merchant establishments that accept Visa cards.
Withdraw cash in foreign currency from all ATMs that accept Visa cards.

Summary: Is the BookMyForex Card good for travelling?

Check out our pros and cons list below to help you decide if the BookMyForex card is suited for you.

Pros	Cons
Load up to 14 currencies on the Multi-Currency variant Same-day delivery available in select cities Mobile app for card management	The Single-Currency variant is restricted to USD only The Multi-Currency variant charges a high 3.5% cross-currency fee for unsupported currencies Potential hidden fees depending on your top-up amount Mandatory ATM withdrawal fees Exchange rates often include a hidden markup Service charges apply to every card order

While BookMyForex cards are decent options for international travel, your experience will depend heavily on the variant you choose; the Multi-Currency Card offers the convenience of holding up to 14 currencies, but you must be wary of the 3.5% cross-currency fee triggered when spending in a currency that hasn't been pre-loaded, as well as fixed ATM charges that make frequent cash access expensive. Meanwhile, the Single-Currency Card may suffice for those traveling exclusively to the US, provided you account for the hidden costs embedded in exchange rate markups and the charges applied during every top-up. If you're looking for a more transparent and flexible, the Wise Travel card may be a better alternative. It supports currencies at the interbank rate and offers unlimited free ATM withdrawals, up to $200 USD equivalent monthly.

Meet the Wise Travel card: currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

With no hidden markups, the Wise Travel card is a smart way to spend abroad. You'll always get the real interbank exchange rate for conversions across 40+ currencies. Wise's transparent, low pricing, plus no foreign transaction fees or forex markups, usually means you are getting the best value for your money.

The fully digital account opening and vKYC process allows you to sign up from the comfort of your home, and there are no annual or monthly fees either. Simply order your card, show proof of your travels, load your funds, and you're all set. Plus - card orders are currently free to Indian addresses (limited time launch offer, while stocks last)! A physical Wise card enables you to make secure chip and PIN payments and get some free ATM withdrawals while you're overseas. You can also instantly freeze or unfreeze your card in the app anytime for peace of mind.

Wherever your travels take you, the Wise Travel card is the only forex card you'll need to make spending internationally simpler and cheaper.

🚀 Get a free Wise Travel card

Sources

*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.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.