Using your credit card abroad: What are the charges?

Using your Irish credit card might be a convenient way to spend overseas, but does it offer the best value? If you’re planning a trip abroad and are thinking about using your credit card to pay while you're away, it’s important to first know what fees might apply, and how you can avoid unnecessary charges.

We’re going to walk you through how Irish credit cards tend to work internationally, and the kinds of fees to expect. We’ll also let you know about the Wise debit card, another way for spending abroad that can help you save on foreign currency fees.

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Can you use your Irish credit card abroad?

In most cases, your Irish credit card will work abroad just like it does at home, because cards that are issued on global networks like Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted around the world.

You should be able to use your credit card abroad outside the Eurozone at many places, such as shops, restaurants and to pay for experiences, but the charges would likely be higher than when you’re paying in euros due to the currency conversion.

If your credit card supports contactless payments, you should be able to tap and pay in most countries. Just keep in mind that local spending limits may apply.

ATM withdrawals should also be possible, but keep in mind this is generally an expensive exercise with a credit card due to the cash advance fees and interest. We will explain more about this later on in this article.

Do I need to tell my credit card company that I am going abroad?

Whether or not you need to tell your credit card company about your travel plans depends on your bank or credit card provider.

Most Irish banks have fraud monitoring systems in place that could flag your international transactions as suspicious. When this happens, an automatic block might be placed on the card.

Here’s what AIB and Bank of Ireland recommend to their customers:

• Bank of Ireland: You don’t have to let them know you’re travelling, but ensure they have the right email and phone number of file. That way they can contact you to verify that a genuine cardholder is using the card if there’s any questionable transactions.¹
• AIB: You don’t have to let AIB know about your plans, but if there’s a personal credit card transaction that flags as suspicious they will text you from +353 86 180 3392 and ask you to respond with a ‘1’ or ‘9’.²

What are the Irish credit card fees abroad? 💰

Using your Irish credit card overseas can come with a few fees, including foreign transaction charges and ATM withdrawal fees. These fees vary by bank, so it pays to compare your options before settling on a choice.

Here’s a look at the fees from three major Irish banks when you spend or withdraw cash abroad using a credit card.

When looking at this, keep in mind that ATM withdrawals are usually subject to both the cash advance fee and the international spending fees. Also, independent ATM providers can charge additional fees.

Pay attention to your credit card exchange rates 👀

Something that people often overlook is the exchange rate used to convert your euros to other currencies.

Ideally you want the mid-market exchange rate that providers like Wise uses, and where you’re getting the mid-point between the buy and sell prices on the currency exchange market.

Most credit cards use the Visa or Mastercard rate, which may come with an extra margin that’s passed on to you on top of all the other fees. It’s a good idea to check what rate your card uses, and how it stacks up against the mid-market rate.

Wise card: Spend and withdrawal at the mid-market rate

If you are looking for another way to spend overseas, the Wise debit card might be what you are looking for. It's connected to the Wise multi-currency account, which means you can hold +40 currencies on it, and also spend with your card from these balances.

If you already have the currency you're spending in your account, there are no fees for spending. | Using your Wise card abroad and don't have enough money in the local currency? No problem. Thanks to the Smart Conversion technology, money will be automatically deducted from the currency where the exchange rate is the best. |
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Have a look on the costs of using your Wise card abroad:

* Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Should I use a credit or debit card abroad?

Credit cards have their use but when paying abroad you should always check and compare the fees of your bank or provider to see if there is any difference between credit or debit card use.

However, pay attention to the cash advance rate, which is the interest rate charged by your provider when you take cash using your credit card. Bank of Ireland⁵, for example, does not offer an interest-free period (number of days for which you will not be charged interest) for cash advances, and will charge interest from the date the cash advance transaction is made.

If you’re looking for a smarter way to spend internationally, the Wise card could be another option. It’s a debit card connected to a multi-currency account, and you can hold and spend in 40+ currencies using the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees.

When paying by credit card abroad, in what currency should you pay? 🤔

If you’re offered the choice to pay in euros or the local currency, always opt for local currency.

Why? Paying in euros means you will probably get a Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), where the merchant or ATM is applying their own exchange rate. This is often less favourable than what your card provider would give you.

By choosing to pay in the local currency, your card provider and their network handles the exchange instead.

Sources

Sources last checked on: 22 July 2025