Travel Tips Travelling to France

Can I use Monzo in France?

Gert Svaiko

25.03.24

Read time 2 minutes

Dreaming of a mini break to Paris or a summer holiday to the beautiful Côte d'Azur? If you’re heading to France, you’ll need to find the best and cheapest way to spend in euros during your trip.

The British digital bank Monzo is a good option for spending internationally, especially if you’re already a customer. But the big question is - does Monzo work in France? Read on to find out everything you need to know below.

Monzo is also a trusted partner of Wise Platform. Through our integration, customers of Monzo are able to benefit from the same fast and convenient payments as Wise customers, all from within their existing app.

Learn more about Monzo

Does Monzo work in France?

Yes, you can use Monzo while holidaying in France. While Monzo is a British-based bank, it’s pretty good when it comes to international use. Personal customers can use both their accounts and cards while in France, and elsewhere in Europe.

And as an added bonus, there’s no need to tell Monzo in advance that you’ll be spending abroad.¹

Can I use my Monzo card in France?

Your Monzo debit card will work in France, wherever Mastercard payments are accepted.

You can spend just like you would in the UK. So you can use it to pay for your croissants, Metro tickets, glass of Merlot and anything else you need during your trip.

If you need to withdraw cash, it’s also good to know that Monzo cards can be used for unlimited ATM withdrawals within the European Economic Area (EEA). This of course includes France. But if you’re travelling outside of the EEA, you’ll be limited to withdrawals of £200 per 30 days - after which a fee applies.¹

Are euros supported for spending, and how does currency conversion work?

You can spend in euros using your Monzo debit card. The currency will be converted automatically from GBP to EUR whenever you spend. The card provider - in this case, Mastercard - will do the currency conversion.

The good news here is that Monzo uses Mastercard’s exchange rate without any mark-ups or hidden charges. This should mean that your spending money goes further.¹

One important thing to remember when spending or withdrawing cash abroad using a UK debit card is to always pay or withdraw cash abroad in the local currency.

Some vendors and ATMs will give you the option to pay in your home currency of GBP. However, this means that they’ll use their own exchange rate for the currency conversion. This could end up being expensive for you.

📚 Read more: How to make international payments with Monzo: A guide

Fees for using Monzo in France¹

Monzo doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees when you spend abroad using your debit card.

The same goes for cash withdrawals too. As long as Monzo is your main bank account, you can make fee-free unlimited cash withdrawals within the EEA.

The only thing to bear in mind is if you travel outside of the EEA, you’ll be limited to withdrawals of up to £200 a month before Monzo charges a fee. Above this, there’s a 3% fee to pay. It’s also wise to watch out for ATM operator’s fees.

Can I open a Monzo account in France?

Monzo is a British-based bank, which only offers its accounts to UK residents who live in the UK full-time.¹

So unfortunately, this means you can’t open a Monzo account if you’ve just moved to France or are spending a long time there.

📚 Read more: How to open a Monzo account?

And that’s it - now you know everything you need about using your Monzo card in France.

If you’re looking for a UK bank account and love managing your money on your mobile, Monzo is a great pick. You can also take advantage of its partnership with Wise to send money overseas.

Also, if you need the ability to handle several currencies at once (if you’re living or working between countries, for example), the money services provider Wise can be a good fit. With the Wise multi-currency account, you can send and spend in 40+ currencies and receive money like a local in 8+ currencies, including EUR and USD. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

Sources used:

Monzo - Travel

Sources last checked on date: 12-Feb-2024

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.