Tom Lipkis, WalletHub Credit Card Consultant
@cindercard
The American Express foreign transaction fees are 2.7% of all international transactions or 0%, depending on the Amex card. There are plenty of American Express cards with no foreign transaction fee. Those cards tend to be the best options for travel.
If you’re unfamiliar with foreign transaction fees, they’re a surcharge for using a credit card with a foreign merchant. Credit cards with foreign fees usually charge 1%-3% of the purchase price. That can really add up, especially since Amex’s 2.7% foreign fee is on the higher end of the spectrum.
Here are the American Express foreign transaction fees:
- American Express cards with foreign transaction fees charge 2.7%.
- Many American Express credit cards have no foreign transaction fees.
- Amex foreign transaction fees apply when you buy things abroad OR shop at foreign merchants online.
- Some of the best American Express cards with 0% foreign fees include the American Express Platinum card and the American Express® Gold Card, as well as the American Express® Green Card and the Amex cards affiliated with Marriott, Hilton and Delta.
If you’re looking for an international credit card, it’s best to get one with no foreign transaction fee, and American Express does have a good selection. But American Express cards aren’t accepted by nearly as many foreign merchants as Visa and Mastercard. So you may find yourself somewhere your Amex won’t work. And that’s why it’s probably better to have a Visa or Mastercard for travel.

2022's Best American Express Credit Cards
Compare CardsRena Wesley, Member
@rena_wesley2
Which card? Some don't have a fee at all, so if you're looking to travel, go for one of those.
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