How to use Wise card abroad for Australians

If you’re an Australian citizen or resident who frequently travels abroad for work or pleasure, you’ll know just how vital it is to find an inexpensive and easy money solution while abroad.

Whether for a long weekend in New Zealand, a winter escape to Hawaii or a lifetime trip through Asia or Europe, the Wise card can help you effortlessly access your money and make it go further.

Read on for all you need to know about using a Wise card abroad, including features, fees and how to order.

💸 Hold over 40 currencies in your account and spend at the mid-market exchange rate with the Wise card while abroad.

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Wise Account

What is the Wise card in Australia?

The Wise card in Australia is a debit card that can be used to withdraw funds and make payments in-person or online in Australia or while travelling.

Linked to a Wise Account, you can top up your funds as needed and track your spending using the Wise app for easier budgeting and spending no matter where you are. Payments can be made using either a physical card or digital wallet and unlike traditional debit cards, there are no ongoing account-keeping fees or penalties.

Giving you the option to convert and keep multiple currencies on the card simultaneously, it also provides access to fast currency exchanges with minimal upfront fees and optimal exchange rates. This ensures easy access to your money and can help your funds go further when abroad.

How to order the Wise card in Australia

Ordering a Wise card in Australia is quick and straightforward with just a few steps involved.

1. Set up a Wise account

Sign up via Wise online to open an account and transfer your first balance. Once topped up with AUD you’ll then have the option to convert into other currencies.

Please note that while setting up your account online takes just a few minutes, reviewing your application may take a few days due to verification. You’ll be notified once this process is completed.

2. Order your Wise card

When logged into your Wise account, navigate to the ‘Card’ tab and click ‘Order Card’. You’ll be asked to pay AUD$10 for the card and once verification is complete, your card will be shipped to your nominated address.

While waiting for your card to arrive, you can start using your account for online purchases or contactless payments via a digital card if desired.

3. Activate your Wise card

In Australia, activating your new Wise card is simple, just make a Chip and PIN payment and your card will be activated and ready to use.

How does the Wise card work and how do you use it when you’re abroad?

Allowing you to easily spend and withdraw funds while overseas, you can use your Wise card at ATMs, for EFTPOS transactions, online payments and for contactless payments where this facility is enabled.

Ensuring you can shop with ease just like a local, the Wise card also automatically draws funds from the relevant currency balance stored on your card or can be converted on the spot if needed. Just make sure to select payment in the local currency and let Wise handle the conversion for you.

What is Dynamic Currency Conversion – DCC?

DCC refers to a process in which the value of a card transaction is converted at the point of sale or ATM from the local currency into the currency linked to the card’s country of issue.

For example, you’ll be shown what the charge is in AUD at the time you make the purchase and it will be charged in AUD to your card.

While this can be convenient, DCC has the potential to see you paying more overall. This is because the foreign ATM provider or bank will set the exchange rate for your transaction, often with a markup or extra fee attached.

Conversely, if you opt to have your card issuer do the currency conversion for you using their known rates and fees, it may work out cheaper. To avoid DCC when using your Wise card simply ask or select to be billed in the local currency, this will ensure Wise handles the conversion for you.

Where can you use the Wise Australia card?

The Wise Australia card can be used in more than 150 countries globally, however, it's important to note that there are some countries where it won’t work, these are:

Afghanistan Burundi Central African Republic Chad Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Cuba Eritrea Iran Iraq Libya North Korea Russia	Somalia Sudan South Sudan Syria Venezuela Yemen Belarus Crimea Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR) Kherson Palestinian Territories Zaporizhzhia

This list may change, so we recommend checking thisguide for the most up-to-date information prior to travel.

Wise card fees for AU residents

Here are the most important Wise card fees – you can get a more detailed rundown on the Wise Australia pricing page.

Service	Wise Card Australia fees¹
Order a Wise card	AUD$10
Wise digital card	No fee
Monthly/Annual fee	No fee
Spend a currency you hold in your balance	No fee
Currency conversion when spending a currency you don’t hold or when converting between currencies	From 0.33% (varies by currency). Conversion fee is a percentage of the transaction amount and varies by currency. For example, converting from*: AUD to NDZ is 0.34% AUD to EUR is 0.35% AUD to USD is 0.37% AUD to GBP is 0.39% You can test our currency calculator to see the latest amount for your desired currency
International ATM withdrawals	2 withdrawals to the value of AUD$350/month free. 1.75% of transaction amount + AUD$1.50 per transaction thereafter Note: Third-party ATM service providers may charge their own fee
Replace a lost or damaged Wise card	AUD$10
Replace an expiring Wise card	No fee

* Fee percentage as seen on 25 June 2024

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Wise card exchange rates

Offering transparent currency conversions, Wise utilises the mid-market exchange rate.

The mid-market exchange rate is the midpoint between the bid (buying) and ask (selling) prices of two currencies in the foreign exchange market. It reflects the value of one currency relative to another at a given moment, without any added profit margins, fees, or markups.

As noted above, to ensure the mid-market exchange rate is applied when using your Wise card you’ll have to select to pay or withdraw in the local currency.

What if you spend money in a currency that you don’t have in your Wise Account?

You can use your Wise multi-currency account to convert your balance to the currencies you need ahead of time, however, if you need to spend in a currency you don’t have, the Smart Conversion technology will automatically convert sourcing from a currency balance that’ll have the lowest conversion fee.

Wise Australia card spending limits

Just like most debit and credit cards, some spending limits apply to your Wise Australia card. Below are the Wise card spending limits for Australia.

Monthly spending limit	Monthly ATM withdrawal limit
AUD$52,500	AUD$7000

How to raise or lower your card payment type spending limits

To make changes to your Wise card’s specific payment type spending limits (contactless, swipe etc), you can use the Wise app or log in online.

Within either platform, simply select ‘Limits’ from the landing page and follow the prompts. Once saved these changes immediately apply.

Opting to reduce your payment limits can help to prevent high-sum fraudulent transactions from occurring if the card is stolen or skimming technology is used to steal its details.

Withdrawing cash from an ATM with the Wise AU card

You can make two freeATM withdrawals up to the value of AUD$350 with your Wise card, in Australia or abroad, each month. Fees of 1.75% of the transaction amount + AUD$1.50 per transaction applied thereafter.

It should be noted that while Wise does not charge any ATM fees in addition to what is listed above, third-party ATM providers may charge their own fees on each transaction.

Is it safe to use the Wise card on your travels?

Yes. Safety is super important at Wise. In Australia, it is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL number 513764).

To comply with global regulations, and keep customers and their money safe, all deposits are safeguarded at leading banks – and Wise has 24/7 automatic and manual anti-fraud measures in place to identify and prevent suspicious activity.

Here’s a quick look at what you can expect:

• 2-factor authentication on all Wise accounts
• Instant transaction notifications in the Wise app
• Instantly freeze or unfreeze your card if lost or misplaced
• Digital cards available for added security
• 24/7 anti-fraud measures in place

How to freeze or replace your Wise card when abroad

Whether due to loss, theft or simply a desire to increase your account safety when not in use, you can easily freeze and unfreeze your card as needed.

Using the Wise app or website you just click or tap on ‘Card’ and select ‘Freeze Card’. To reverse, simply do the same process and select or tap ‘Unfreeze Card’.

How to contact Wise

To speak with Wise about your account or using your Wise card you can contact them online or visit their help desk for answers to frequently asked questions.

The Wise Account and Debit Card

If you’re looking for a flexible account that is great for daily spending in Australia and overseas, the Wise Account is worth a look.

The Wise Account can be opened for free and allows you to hold money in over 40 currencies and send money to 160+ countries. You can also order local account details for 10 world currencies including AUD.

You can also use the Wise Debit card to spend money in 150+ countries without markups and hidden transaction fees. The mid-market rate is used when switching between currencies, helping to keep costs low when sending money internationally. It’s the rate you see on a Google conversion search.

Join over 16 million customers currently enjoying Wise. It’ll only take a few minutes to register and see what’s inside.

Register your Wise account
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Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

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Sources:

1. Wise Australia card pricing

Sources checked on: 25 June 2024