What's the best international credit card for students?

The best international credit card for students is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. It belongs to the VISA network so you can use it extensively outside of the United States, whether you’re traveling or studying abroad. It also features a 0% foreign transaction fee, which means you will not be charged extra for purchases made in another country. And its travel-oriented rewards also make it an attractive international credit card for students. It offers 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. Plus, you earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.… read full answer

The card’s global acceptance should be taken into account. Not all credit cards are accepted everywhere, and cards from some networks are accepted in more countries than others. Mastercard is in the lead, with over 210 countries and territories, followed closely by Visa (over 200) and Discover (200). American Express cards can be used in over 160 countries and territories.

Best international credit cards for students:

• Best for Cash Back & Low APR – Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students$200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent on these categories combined per quarter), and 1% on all other purchases. Introductory purchase APR of 0% for 15 months (13.99% - 23.99% (V), based on creditworthiness, thereafter). 3% foreign transaction fee. $0 annual fee. Accepts students with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history).
• Best for Travel - Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for StudentsOnline offer of 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. 3 points per $1 spent on purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. 0% foreign transaction fee. $0 annual fee. Accepts students with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history).
• Best for Bad Credit - Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card$0 foreign transaction fee. $0 annual fee.
• Best for International Students - Deserve® EDU Mastercard for StudentsNo SSN required – students with a passport, a U.S. bank account along with some other documentation are eligible to apply. 1% cash back on all purchases. $0 foreign transaction fee. $0 annual fee.

It’s also important to note the difference between international credit cards for students and credit cards for international students. They’re basically the same in terms of functionality, but cards for international students aren’t just for U.S. citizens or people with a Social Security number.

Student credit card issuers do have different requirements. Some cards may require an SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Others may accept just a student ID and/or a passport.

If you are a student who has managed to build good credit or better, you’ll have access to more than just student credit cards, so make sure to check out our editors’ picks for the best credit cards for international travel. If, on the other hand, you have bad credit and need help rebuilding it, the best secured credit cards will help you do just that.

The best credit card for study abroad is either Journey Student Rewards from Capital One and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. Capital One Journey combines easy approval, no foreign transaction fees and great rewards, offering at least 1% cash back on all purchases. But BofA’s student travel card is quite enticing, too, offering a 25,000-point initial bonus, 3 points / $1 spent on travel and a few other perks. It doesn’t charge foreign fees, either.… read full answer

If you’re going to spend most of your time in a foreign country in the near future, you definitely want a card that won’t charge you extra on international purchases. But there are actually several options that may be best, depending on your individual needs and wants.

Here are the best credit cards for study abroad:

• Best Overall – Journey Student Rewards from Capital One. $0 annual fee. $0 foreign transaction fees. 1% cash back on all purchases, 1.25% when paying the bill on time. Higher credit line possible after 6 months. Available to students with limited or no credit.
• Best for Travel Rewards – Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. $0 annual fee. 0% foreign transaction fees. 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. 3 points per $1 spent on purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. Available to students with limited or no credit.
• Best for Bonus Rewards – Discover it® Student chrome. $0 annual fee. 0% foreign transaction fees. 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 spent each quarter combined), and 1% back on all other purchases. Double rewards the first year. Available to students with limited or no credit. Bear in mind, however, that Discover is not as widely accepted abroad as Visa or Mastercard. You should be fine using a Discover card in India, Japan or China, for example. But you’ll definitely need a backup in Spain or France.
• Best for Good Credit – Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. $95 annual fee. $0 foreign transaction fees. 60,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. Available to students who’ve already built good credit or parents who wish to make a child an authorized user.

All of these cards are strong contenders to be the best credit card for study abroad. That’s especially true considering they offer a lot more than rewards and low fees. You’ll also receive perks like travel insurance to give you even more peace of mind when you set out for your new home for the semester.

Yes. You have to be a student to get a student credit card most of the time. Most student credit cards require applicants to provide the name of their school, their expected graduation date, or some other proof of enrollment.

The terms and conditions for some student credit cards also state that the card is specifically for currently-enrolled students. It’s illegal to lie on a credit card application, so applicants are legally compelled to be honest about their college enrollment status.… read full answer

Even if a student credit card application doesn’t ask you about your enrollment status, student cards are meant for students. If you don’t qualify as a currently-enrolled student, there are plenty of alternatives for people just starting to build their credit. You can get a secured credit card or a starter credit card, for example, without needing to be a student.