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Chase Sapphire foreign transaction fee – the only guide you’ll need
Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are travel rewards credit cards from Chase. Both earn points on travel and everyday purchases. If you're planning to use one overseas, you'll want to know what it costs to spend in another currency.
There's no Chase Sapphire foreign transaction fee on purchases you make outside the US. Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® let you pay abroad without an extra percentage added to each transaction.¹²³
However, skipping the foreign transaction fee doesn't make every international purchase free. The exchange rate used to convert your spending and other card fees can still add to what you pay and make spending abroad expensive.
Here's everything you need to know.
We'll also introduce the Wise account, which allows you to send, spend, and receive your money across the globe in over 40 currencies – all at the fair mid-market rate.
What is the Chase Sapphire credit card?
Chase Sapphire is Chase's range of travel rewards credit cards. The range includes two personal cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.¹
Both earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can redeem for travel, cash back, or gift cards, or transfer to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the entry-level Sapphire card, with a 95 USD annual fee. It earns 5x points on Chase Travel℠ purchases and 2x points on all other travel.¹
Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the premium Sapphire card, with a 795 USD annual fee and 195 USD for each authorized user. It allows you to access 5,000+ USD in value the first year as well as earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ purchases and 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly.¹
Welcome offers and APRs change often, so check Chase's site for current terms.
Does Chase Sapphire Preferred® have a foreign transaction fee?
No. Chase states that you won't pay foreign transaction fees when you use the Sapphire Preferred® for purchases made outside the US.²
The fee waiver applies to purchases. Chase treats buying foreign currency or traveler's checks with your card as cash-like transactions, which don't count as purchases and don't earn points.
If you need local cash while traveling, check the card's cash advance terms, since these fees are separate from the foreign transaction fee.
Does Chase Sapphire Reserve® have a foreign transaction fee?
No. The Sapphire Reserve® charges no foreign transaction fees while you spend abroad.³
However, the same rules apply as with the Preferred® card. Purchases abroad avoid the fee, but cash-like transactions such as buying foreign currency or traveler's checks don't count as purchases.
What’s the Chase Sapphire exchange rate?
When you pay in a foreign currency with a Chase Sapphire card, the amount is converted into USD before it appears on your statement.
The rate used for that conversion changes daily, so the same purchase can cost you a slightly different amount in USD depending on when it's processed.
You may also be asked at the register or card machine whether you want to pay in USD or the local currency. It's typically best to choose the local currency.
If you choose USD, the merchant sets the exchange rate, which could be inflated. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and it can add to your costs even on a card with no foreign transaction fee.
Spend abroad like a local with Wise
Speaking of the mid-market exchange rate, Wise Multi-Currency Card is a great debit card option for you to send and spend money internationally.
| 🎯 With Wise you can |
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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.
Chase Sapphire fees to keep in mind
A Chase Sapphire card doesn't have a foreign transaction fee, but other fees can still apply. Here are the main ones to know.
| Fee | Chase Sapphire Preferred®² | Chase Sapphire Reserve®³ |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | 95 USD | 795 USD, plus 195 USD per authorized user |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Purchase APR | 19.49% to 27.74% variable | 19.74% to 28.24% variable |
| Cash advance fee | 10 USD or 5% of each transaction, whichever is greater | 10 USD or 5% of each transaction, whichever is greater |
| Balance transfer fee | 5 USD or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater | 5 USD or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater |
| Late payment fee | Up to 40 USD | Up to 40 USD |
A cash advance is when you use your credit card to get cash, most commonly by withdrawing money from an ATM. Chase treats cash advances separately from purchases, so the no foreign transaction fee benefit doesn't cover them.
Both Sapphire cards charge 10 USD or 5% of each cash advance, whichever is greater. For example, if you withdraw the local equivalent of 100 USD at an ATM in a foreign country, you'd pay a 10 USD fee. If you withdraw the equivalent of 400 USD, the fee rises to 20 USD.
The ATM operator may add its own fee on top, too. Overall, using the ATM can be a pretty expensive way to get money abroad even with the Sapphire cards.
Neither the Chase Sapphire Preferred® nor the Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a foreign transaction fee, which makes both cards a solid option for spending abroad.
However, your costs still depend on the exchange rate used to convert your purchases, whether you accept dynamic currency conversion, and cash advance fees for withdrawals.
If you're looking for a more flexible way to spend abroad, consider using Wise.
| With the Wise account you can have local account details in 10 currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP — all in one place.* |
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*Eligibility is subject to verification of customers' identity.
Sources:
- Chase - No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
- Chase - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Pricing Information
- Chase - Chase Sapphire Reserve® Pricing Information
All sources checked 09.29.2026
*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.
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