Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Have Foreign Transaction Fees? Here’s What You Need to Know

• Written by Aja McClanahan
  

  Aja McClanahan

  Credit card travel rewards, budget travel, real estate, getting out of debt and investing

  Aja McClanahan is a seasoned writer and passionate storyteller covering personal finance, real estate and location-independent lifestyles. Her insights have been featured in top-tier outlets like Money.com, CreditCards.com, Inc., Business Insider, and MSN Money. Aja's inspiring personal journey of overcoming debt and building wealth through real estate has captured the attention of platforms such as NerdWallet, U.S. News & World Report, and MarketWatch, among others. She's also the author of the impactful book How a Mother Should Talk About Money With Her Daughter. When she’s not helping readers take control of their financial futures, Aja enjoys living between Florida and Puerto Rico and exploring new travel experiences.

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• Edited by Jasmin Baron
  

  Jasmin Baron

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is CardCritics’ senior SEO editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Last Updated Aug 29, 2025

If you’ve got plans to travel abroad with your favorite travel credit card, you may be taking an extra budget item with you unawares: foreign transaction fees. These fees can quickly add up and significantly increase the cost of your trip. For travelers who frequently use credit cards, these fees can impact everything from dining at local restaurants to shopping for souvenirs.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card stands out as a popular choice for globetrotters. It comes with attractive perks, travel-focused features and doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

What Are Foreign Transaction Fees, and Why Do They Matter?

Foreign transaction fees are charges that credit card companies apply when making purchases in a different currency or in a foreign country. These fees cover converting one currency to another and processing the transaction. Whenever you buy something overseas or even shop online from an international retailer, your bank or credit card issuer often adds this fee to your total bill.

Many credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee up to 3% of the purchase amount. For instance, if you spend $100, you could pay up to an extra $3 in fees. While this might not seem like much at first, this adds up over multiple transactions, so choosing a card without foreign transaction fees can help you save money while swiping abroad.

Sapphire Preferred Card’s Policy on Foreign Transaction Fees

The Sapphire Preferred Card does not charge any foreign transaction fees. This means when you use the card to make purchases overseas, you won’t be charged an extra fee on top of the cost of the transaction, which could save you tons of money.

If you’re a frequent traveler, being able to move about abroad without the stress of hidden fees means that the Sapphire Preferred Card could be a great travel companion.

How the Sapphire Preferred Card Stands Out Among Travel Credit Cards

Since the Sapphire Preferred Card has no foreign transaction fees, plus many other perks, it can stand out against other rewards credit cards that charge this fee on international transactions.

Credit Card	Foreign Transaction Fee
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card	3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®	3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars.

Beyond the no foreign transaction fees feature, the Sapphire Preferred Card offers other card perks and benefits that frequent travelers will appreciate. For instance, cardholders can earn rewards points on everyday purchases, with an earnings boost for travel and dining spending.

These rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotels and other travel-related expenses. Plus, you can redeem points for other things like cash back, gift cards or purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, often with increased value when redeemed for travel bookings. There are also travel protections like trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection and rental car collision damage waivers with this particular Chase card.

Even though the card has an annual fee, it’s pretty easy to justify the expense with the perks, credits ongoing rewards the card offers.

Benefits of Using the Sapphire Preferred Card Abroad

Although the Sapphire Preferred Card comes with a $95 annual fee, there are many benefits for travelers.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

One of the biggest advantages of using the Sapphire Preferred Card while traveling internationally is not worrying about foreign transaction fees. As a Sapphire Preferred Card holder, you can save a significant amount of money since other credit cards charge up to 3% on every purchase made in a foreign currency.

Maximizing Points Earned

First, you can earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Then, you can earn 3x points by using the card for dining purchases and 2x points on all your other travel expenses abroad since these purchases often qualify for bonus categories for this card.

Welcome Bonus

At present, the Sapphire Preferred Card offers new cardholders a 75,000-point bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months. When redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, these points are worth up to 75% more, making this bonus worth up to $1,312 in travel with the new Points Boost feature.

Anniversary Bonus

Plus, Sapphire Preferred Card holders will get a 10% anniversary points bonus. Each account anniversary year, you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total spend in points from purchases made with your credit card during the previous account anniversary year (at a rate of 1 point for each dollar spent.)  For example, if you spend $50,000 dollars in a given year, you’d get 5,000 bonus points on your account anniversary.

Security Features

The Sapphire Preferred Card also has helpful security features to protect cardholders during international trips. For instance, features like fraud alerts and zero-liability protection mean you’re not responsible for unauthorized transactions.

Additionally, the card is equipped with chip technology, making it widely accepted and secure for use in many countries.

How to Use the Sapphire Preferred Card When Traveling Internationally

Before traveling internationally, make sure to notify Chase about your travel plans. This helps prevent unnecessary fraud alerts or declined transactions. Prior notice alerts your issuer that your card is being used in a different location. Setting up a travel notice is quick and easy through the Chase app or website.

When using the Sapphire Preferred Card abroad, try to use it for purchases in places that accept credit cards, like restaurants, shops and hotels, to take full advantage of its travel rewards. Remember, you’ll get 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, 2x on all other travel and 1x on all other purchases, so spend accordingly. Also, avoid withdrawing cash with the card unless absolutely necessary, as it may come with fees and interest charges.

Also, you should know that the Sapphire Preferred Card automatically handles currency conversion for you, converting foreign transactions into U.S. dollars without charging foreign transaction fees.

Sapphire Preferred Card’s Global Acceptance

Because the Sapphire Preferred Card is a Visa card, it’s accepted in millions of locations worldwide.

However, you should still check beforehand if your destination has specific limitations.

It’s always a good idea to have backup payment options in case of issues with your card. Consider carrying a secondary credit card, some local currency or a widely accepted payment app to your travel destination.

International money transfer apps like PayPal, Remitly or Revolut are all options to consider depending on where you’re traveling, many of which also allow you to use a credit card to fund certain transactions.

Are There Any Hidden Fees or Costs Associated with Using the Sapphire Preferred Card Abroad?

When using your Sapphire Preferred Card abroad, be aware of potential hidden costs. Some ATMs may charge a fee for using a foreign card, and your bank might add an additional charge, so it’s important to check the terms with your bank before traveling.

Another cost to consider is the foreign currency conversion rate. While the Sapphire Preferred Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, the exchange rate you receive may include a small markup. Make sure to understand how these rates are calculated to avoid surprises.

What to Do If You’re Charged Foreign Transaction Fees Despite Using the Sapphire Preferred Card

If you notice foreign transaction fees on your account while using the Sapphire Preferred Card, start by carefully reviewing your billing statement to confirm the charges. Double-check if the transactions were made in another currency or involved specific merchants that may have caused additional fees.

To dispute the charge, contact Chase’s customer service team by calling the number on the back of your card or sending a secure message through your online banking app. Explain the situation and provide any supporting information like receipts or transaction details. It’s important to address the issue as soon as possible to avoid further complications.

Though Chase doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees with this card, other fees may come into play if the purchase goes through certain third-party processors or if the transaction is linked to cash advanced, ATM withdrawal costs or third-party money transfer services. Understanding your card’s terms can help you avoid surprises, so aim to stay informed about how your credit card works with overseas purchases.

The Bottom Line

Consider your travel habits and overall spending when shopping for a travel credit card. If you travel internationally frequently or make a decent amount of purchases in other currencies, a card with no foreign transaction fees could make a big difference. Analyze how often you travel, where you spend your money and how rewards align with your goals to choose the best card for your needs.

The Sapphire Preferred Card offers great benefits for international travelers, making it a strong contender for frequent jet setters. With no foreign transaction fees, plus plenty of other card perks, benefits and rewards-earning potential, it’s a great mid-level travel credit card for intermediate travel enthusiasts looking to get a lot of value without spending a lot on a cumbersome annual fee.

The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.