No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards (UK): Which Cards Charge 0% Abroad?
Many UK credit cards add a fee, often just under 3%, every time you spend in another currency. That includes holidays and online shopping from overseas sellers. A card with no foreign transaction fee removes that cost. This guide lists the cards on QuidRadar that published a 0% foreign transaction fee on purchases when we checked, and explains what to watch for.
Key takeaways - We found more than 20 cards on QuidRadar with a 0% foreign transaction fee on purchases, including several with no annual or monthly fee. - "No foreign fee" usually means purchases only. Cash withdrawals abroad still tend to cost a fee and interest from day one. - Some cards only waive the fee in Europe, or only when you pay in the local currency. - Always choose the local currency at the till. Dynamic currency conversion can cost more than the fee you've avoided. - Paying in full each month keeps purchases interest-free. Otherwise the card's normal rate applies.
This is general information, not financial advice. Check each issuer's summary box before you travel.
Cards with no foreign transaction fee and no annual fee
These cards published a 0% foreign transaction fee on purchases and showed no annual or monthly fee when we checked on 30 October 2026.
| Card | What the issuer says | Representative APR |
|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard Rewards | No fees abroad | 28.9% variable |
| Lloyds Ultra | No foreign transaction fees | 18.9% variable |
| Nationwide Balance Transfer | No fees from Nationwide abroad | 24.9% variable |
| Nationwide Purchase and Balance Transfer | No fees from Nationwide abroad | 24.9% variable |
| The NatWest Credit Card | 0% on purchases | 12.9% variable |
| NatWest Travel Reward | 0% on purchases | 27.9% variable |
| The Royal Bank Credit Card | 0% on purchases | 12.9% variable |
| Santander Cashback | No fee on purchases and withdrawals in local currency | 24.9% variable |
| Zable+ Credit Card | No transaction fees abroad | 29.9% variable |
| Zable+ Balance Transfer | 0% | See card page |
| Virgin Money Travel | No foreign fees worldwide | 27.9% variable |
| Virgin Atlantic Reward | 0% in Europe | 26.9% variable |
Santander's Cashback card listed £0 monthly fee for its standard version when we checked. Card details change, so open each card page for the latest figures and a link to the issuer.
Fee-free abroad, with a monthly or annual fee
Some cards waive foreign fees but charge for the account. These usually come with other perks:
- Santander All in One: £3 a month, no foreign fee in local currency, plus cashback.
- Santander World Elite Mastercard and Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard: £15 a month each, with travel perks such as airport lounge access.
- Yonder Premium: £17.99 a month, points-based rewards.
- NatWest Reward Black and RBS Reward Black: £84 a year, refunded with the matching current account.
- Virgin Atlantic Reward+: £160 a year, with no foreign fee in Europe.
A fee only makes sense if you'll use the perks. If you just want to avoid currency fees, one of the no-fee cards above is usually enough.
Credit-builder cards with no foreign fee
If you're building your credit history, a few credit-builder cards also published no foreign fee on purchases: Lloyds Bank Credit Builder, Bank of Scotland Credit Builder and Zopa. Their interest rates are higher, so clear the balance in full each month. See Credit builder credit cards UK – compare 17 cards.
The catches to check
Cash withdrawals
A card can charge no foreign fee on purchases but still charge a cash fee and interest from the day you withdraw. Santander's Cashback card is one that also waived the foreign fee on withdrawals in local currency when we checked, but cash interest and fees can still apply. See Credit Card Cash Withdrawals: Fees, Interest and Using ATMs Abroad.
"In Europe" and "in local currency"
Read the wording. The Virgin Atlantic cards above waived the fee in Europe, and Santander's cards specify local currency. Outside those conditions, a fee may apply.
Dynamic currency conversion (DCC)
If a shop, restaurant or cash machine offers to charge you in pounds, say no. HSBC explains that with DCC the exchange rate is set by the retailer or their bank rather than by Visa or Mastercard, and it's usually worse. The Post Office gives the same advice: choose the local currency. A fee-free card can't protect you from a poor DCC rate, because the conversion happens before the payment reaches your card.
Interest
No foreign fee doesn't mean no interest. If you don't pay your statement in full by the due date, the card's standard rate applies to your holiday spending.
Card acceptance
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere abroad. American Express acceptance varies by country. See Is American Express Accepted in the UK? Amex vs Visa and Mastercard.
How much can you save?
On £1,500 of holiday spending, a typical foreign fee of 2.99% would add £44.85. A card with a 0% foreign fee avoids it, as long as you pay in the local currency and clear the bill in full.
Online shopping from overseas
Foreign transaction fees can also apply when you buy from a website that charges in euros or dollars, even if you're in the UK. A no-fee card helps here too. Watch for checkouts that offer to convert the price to pounds: that's DCC again.
Choosing the right card
- Just want to avoid fees? Pick a no-fee card with no annual fee and pay it off in full.
- Want rewards too? Compare rewards and travel cards and Cashback vs Avios vs Points: Which Credit Card Reward Is Worth More?.
- Travel often and use lounges? A fee-paying premium card might make sense. See Which UK Credit Cards Give Airport Lounge Access?.
For a full checklist before you travel, read Using a Credit Card Abroad: Fees, Exchange Rates and How to Save.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK credit cards have no foreign transaction fee?
When we checked on 30 October 2026, cards from Barclaycard, Lloyds Bank, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Virgin Money, Yonder, Zable and Zopa, among others on QuidRadar, published 0% foreign fees on purchases. Terms vary, so check each card.
Do no foreign fee cards also have no fees on cash withdrawals?
Usually not. Most still charge a cash fee and interest from the day you withdraw, even if the foreign fee is waived.
Is there a no foreign fee credit card with no annual fee?
Yes. Several cards we list, including Barclaycard Rewards, Lloyds Ultra and Nationwide's cards, showed no annual fee and no foreign fee on purchases when we checked.
Should I pay in pounds or local currency abroad?
Local currency. Paying in pounds lets the retailer or ATM set the exchange rate, which is usually worse.
Do foreign fees apply to online purchases?
They can, if the seller charges in a foreign currency. A no foreign fee card avoids them.
This is general information, not financial advice. Figures were taken from issuers' websites on 30 October 2026 and can change.
Sources
- Issuer product pages and summary boxes for each card listed, linked from its QuidRadar card page (checked 30 October 2026)
- HSBC UK – Is it better to pay in local currency when abroad?
- Post Office – Avoid dynamic currency conversion
- Citizens Advice – The costs and charges of credit cards