Can I use Wise Card in Brazil?

If you’re from the UK and planning a trip to Brazil - or elsewhere for that matter - you might have heard of the Wise card as a smart multi-currency debit card you can use in 150+ countries globally for low cost spending and withdrawals.

We’ll cover all you need to know about using a Wise card abroad, including the exchange rate you’ll get, the fees for using a Wise card abroad, and how to get started.

Learn more about Wise

Intro to Wise

Wise was founded as Wise in London in 2011, with a focus on providing low cost international transfers which use the mid-market exchange rate with no fees and low, transparent costs. Over time Wise expanded to offer additional services like personal and business multi-currency accounts and cards, and rebranded as Wise to reflect this broader service offering.

Wise UK customers can get a Wise card linked to a digital multi-currency account which lets you hold 40+ currencies, get paid with local bank details in 9 currencies, and spend in 150+ countries globally. You can also send payments overseas with Wise to 160+ countries - and you can send money to Brazil with Pix Key.

Can you use the Wise card abroad?

Yes. The Wise card is optimised for international use, and can be used in around 150 countries, wherever your card’s network is supported. Wise cards are issued on the Visa® or Mastercard® network for great global coverage - just look out for your card network’s symbol displayed by merchants or on ATMs.

There are a small number of countries where the Wise card can’t be used - around 20 at the time of writing for Wise UK card holders. This is usually as a result of international sanctions or operational issues in these locations. The countries where Wise can’t be used may change from time to time, but you can get the full list of Wise card countries online for reference¹.

Using the Wise card in Brazil

If you’ve planned a trip to Brazil you’ll be wondering specifically if you can use a Wise card there. The good news is that Wise cards can be used for spending and withdrawals in Brazil easily.

How to use the Wise card abroad

You can use your Wise card abroad just as easily as you can at home. There’s no need to inform Wise you plan to travel, and you’ll still be able to tap to pay with contactless whenever it’s supported, and use your Wise card with a wallet like Apple Pay for mobile spending.

If you’re headed to Brazil, it’s good to know that Wise accounts can't hold BRL, but you can still use your Wise card for seamless spending. Just top up your card in pounds - or your preferred currency from the 20 or so supported for loading funds - and your card will automatically make the conversion to BRL at the point of payment. The funds will be exchanged with the mid-market rate, from the currency balance you hold which incurs the lowest fee, so you’ll know you’re always getting the best available deal.

One important detail about using your Wise card in Brazil is that when your payment is processed Brazilian card machines will need you to select if the transaction is Debit or Credit. And while your Wise card is a Debit card, when using it in Brazil you will need to request a Credit payment, this happens due to the way Brazilian payment systems works and you can read more here on our help center. Your payment will be processed as Debit as normal, and the funds will be withdrawal from your account.

Fees and rates for using the Wise card abroad

Let’s take a look at the Wise card fees that apply when you order and use your Wise card in Brazil or elsewhere overseas.

All information correct at the time of writing - 28th July, 2023.

See how much you may save with Wise:

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

Need to send an international payment? Try Wise

If you need to send a payment to Brazil - or any of the other 150 or so countries supported for international payments - check out Wise and send money to Brazil with Pix Key.

Wise international transfers are set up conveniently online or in the Wise app, and deposited to the recipient’s bank account directly. You’ll be able to pay in pounds with your credit or debit card, or by bank transfer or Apple Pay, and your money is converted using the mid-market exchange rate to the currency you need. There are no hidden costs, and all the fees are split out for you to check and compare before you confirm. Depending on where you’re sending money to, the Wise fee might be as low as 0.43% - and your payment could arrive quickly or even instantly. 50% of Wise international money transfers arrive instantly or in seconds, and 90% are there in 24 hours - often much faster than using a bank.

Speed: The speed of transaction claim depends on funds availability, approval by Wise's proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners' banking system, and may not be available for all transactions

If you’re planning a holiday in Brazil - or heading there to live, work or study - it's good to know your Wise card will work just as conveniently there as it does at home. Just add money to Wise in GBP or the currency of your choice from the 20 supported top up currencies, and the card will automatically convert your funds to BRL at the point of payment with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees every time.

Join Wise today

Sources:

Last check date: 28th July, 2023