Updated November 2019
Save up to 10% or earn 5 Miles for every dollar spent on your overseas traveling expenses. Compare and apply for the best credit cards for overseas spending with low foreign currency transaction fee and minimum spend requirements.
Get S$200 Cash or Grab Codes!
8% Cashback
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$888
Min. Spend per month
3%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | $96.30 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 1% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 25 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $42,000 |
| Card Association | MasterCard, Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave, MasterCard PayPass, Samsung Pay, Citi Pay |
Get S$200 Cash or Grab Codes!
S$1 = 2 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
3%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | Complimentary |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 1% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 25 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $42,000 |
| Card Association | Visa, American Express |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave, Samsung Pay, Citi Pay |
S$1 = 2.4 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
3.25%
Foreign Transaction Fee
S$1 = 2.4 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
3.25%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 25.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $257 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | 128.4 |
| Fee Waiver | 1 year fee waiver, free first 2 supplementary cards |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 21 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $40,000 |
| Card Association | MasterCard, Visa, American Express |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | MasterCard PayPass, Visa payWave, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, Mighty Pay |
10%
Cash Back on hotels and flights in Foreign Currency
S$800
Min. spend per month
2%
Foreign Transaction Fee
10%
Cash Back on hotels and flights in Foreign Currency
S$800
Min. spend per month
2%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 25.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $0 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | Free |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 23 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $60,000 |
| Card Association | Mastercard |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Mastercard PayPass |
Up to 10%
Cash Back on Cruises
S$800
Min. spend per month
2%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 25.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $0 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | Free |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 23 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $60,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa PayWave |
S$1 = 4 Miles
on Overseas spend
S$0
Min. spend per month
3%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.88% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | S$96.30 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 23 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $45,000 |
| Card Association | Mastercard |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay |
S$1 = 3 Miles
on Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Scoot and KrisShop
S$500
Min spend per annum on Singapore Airlines Group
3.25%
Foreign Currency Transaction Fee
S$1 = 3 Miles
on Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Scoot and KrisShop
S$500
Min spend per annum on Singapore Airlines Group
3.25%
Foreign Currency Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 25.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | 96.30 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 21 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $40,000 |
| Card Association | Mastercard |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Mastercard Contactless, UOB Mighty Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay |
S$1 = 3 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
3%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 28.88% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $203 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | S$101.65 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 23 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $60,000 |
| Card Association | MasterCard |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | MasterCard PayPass |
S$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
Free ATM withdrawal fee
Up to S$700 per month
150+
Supported Currencies
S$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
Free ATM withdrawal fee
Up to S$700 per month
150+
Supported Currencies
| Annual Interest Rate | 0.00% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $99 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | N/A |
| Fee Waiver | N/A |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | N/A |
| Interest Free Period | N/A |
| Singaporean | $0 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $0 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave |
S$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
Free ATM withdrawal fee
Up to S$350 per month
150+
Supported Currencies
S$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
Free ATM withdrawal fee
Up to S$350 per month
150+
Supported Currencies
| Annual Interest Rate | 0.00% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $0 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | N/A |
| Fee Waiver | N/A |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | N/A |
| Interest Free Period | N/A |
| Singaporean | $0 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $0 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave |
Up to S$200 Cash + Cashback!
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | 0.0 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 1% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $60,000 |
| Card Association | MasterCard |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | MasterCard PayPass, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay |
S$1 = 2 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
2.50%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.80% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | S$96.30 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3.00% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 20 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $45,000 |
| Card Association | Visa, American Express |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa Contactless, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay |
S$1 = 2 Miles
on Overseas Spend
S$0
Min. spend per month
3.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $696 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | $107 |
| Fee Waiver | Not Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 1% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 22 days |
| Singaporean | $80,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $80,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave, SC EasyBill |
S$1 = 10X Points
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
3.50%
Foreign Transaction Fee
S$1 = 10X Points
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
3.50%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | N/A |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 1% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $60,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa Paywave, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay |
S$1 = 3 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$2,000
Min. Spend per month
3.50%
Foreign Transaction Fee
S$1 = 3 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$2,000
Min. Spend per month
3.50%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 26.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $589 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | 0.0 |
| Fee Waiver | Not Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 1% of S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 22 days |
| Singaporean | $150,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $150,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave |
S$1 = 2.25 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
2.80%
Foreign Transaction Fee
S$1 = 2.25 Miles
Overseas Spending Rewards
S$0
Min. Spend per month
2.80%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 25.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $650 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | 0.0 |
| Fee Waiver | Not Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 20 days |
| Singaporean | $120,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $120,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave, Apple Pay |
10% Cashback
Overseas Dining Spending
S$800
Min. Spend per month
3%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 28.88% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $203 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | S$101.65 |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 23 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $60,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave |
8% Cashback
on Overseas Spend
S$600
Min. Spend per month
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
| Annual Interest Rate | 25.90% |
|---|---|
| Principle Annual Fee | $193 |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | N/A |
| Fee Waiver | Available |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | 3% or S$50, whichever is higher |
| Interest Free Period | 21 days |
| Singaporean | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $40,000 |
| Card Association | Visa |
|---|---|
| Wireless Payment | Visa payWave, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay, Mighty Pay |
Frequent travellers who usually shop while on a business trip or holiday get higher rewards on overseas spending as long as they use the right credit card. Of course, not all credit cards are created equal. So some fare better than others, depending on the spending category. It’s also worth taking note that banks do charge a foreign currency transaction fee.
If you’re the type who goes all out while travelling, the OCBC 90°N Card or UOB Visa Signature Card are worth considering. With the OCBC 90°N Card, you can earn up to 4 miles per $1 spent overseas. What’s good about this is there’s no minimum spend and no cap. So if you’ve a Michelin-starred restaurant reservation or European trip planned before 29 Feb 2020, you can take advantage of OCBC’s bonus miles promotion. The UOB Visa Signature Card is even more competitive. With this card, you earn 4 miles per $1 spent on foreign currency whenever you use your card. While it’s a fixed feature of the card, you must hit the $1,000 minimum monthly spending to enjoy the bonus miles.
Unlike the usual 1.4 or 2 miles per $1 spent offered by bank other banks, UOB PRVI Miles offers a slightly better deal – 2.4 miles per $1 spent overseas. Not bad for a permanent bonus miles feature. The downside? The UOB miles you accumulate are bound to expire within 2 years.
If you like taking weekend trips to nearby cities like JB, Batam or KL, you can choose between UOB YOLO or Maybank Friends & Family Card for boatloads of cashback and rebates. With UOB YOLO, a weekend trip overseas means 8% cashback on weekend dining, entertainment and Grab rides. Unfortunately, if your trip is scheduled on a weekday, you’ll only get 3% rebate. For serial JB hoarders out there, the Maybank Family & Friends Card might be the perfect card for you. If you spend at least $500 a month, you’ll get 5% rebate on dining, grocery, petrol and taxi rides in Malaysia and Singapore. If you spend at least $800, you’ll get 8% rebate.
Banks enforce stringent security measures to curb unauthorised overseas credit card charges. To use your card overseas, you simply need to activate overseas use for your credit card. So if you’ll be travelling abroad, make sure that you’ve enabled this function to be able to use your credit card. You can activate your credit card for foreign travel via SMS, online banking or mobile banking. Some banks allow ATM or personal activation too. While activating your card for overseas usage, you need to set the dates when you plan to use it abroad. It will then be deactivated automatically.
The concept of credit card overseas rebate is simple – use your credit card overseas and earn a small percentage of the amount your paid for in return. Of course, you can’t expect banks to be generous in giving cashback on your foreign currency transactions. Usually, banks only give 2% to 8% cashback tops. Sometimes they also require you to hit the minimum spend requirement to enjoy overseas rebate.
Foreign transaction fee often comes as a surprise to most overseas credit card users. Why? Because this fee is usually hiding in the terms and conditions section of credit card providers. So if you’re still scratching your head and wondering what this fee is all about, here’s a quick lowdown. Whenever you purchase something and make a foreign currency charge using your Singapore-issued credit card, you’ll be subject to a foreign transaction fee. Very rarely will you encounter banks that charge 0%. The usual foreign transaction fee is 2.5% to 3.25%.
There are 6 ways to enable your POSB Everyday credit card for overseas travel. You can activate it via SMS banking, virtual assistant, digibank mobile, digibank online, DBS Lifestyle app or ATM.
Of course, you can use your credit card for foreign travel as long as you enable overseas use. Take note that if you charge a different currency, the foreign exchange rate will be a spot rate and you may incur a foreign transaction fee.
OTP is not needed for credit card use overseas. You’ll only be asked for an OTP while you’re activating your credit card for foreign travel.
Banks usually follow the foreign exchange rate of the credit card network (VISA, Mastercard). You can check their website for real-time currency conversion. As for the overseas transaction fee, you can check the terms and conditions section of your credit card provider.