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 pretty much anywhere internationally, whether you’re traveling or studying abroad, and it features a $0 foreign transaction fee.

The card’s 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 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.

Best International Credit Cards for Students

Foreign Fee: $0    

Annual Fee: $0

Initial Bonus: 25,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days

Ongoing Rewards: 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases

Min. Credit Required: Excellent

Foreign Fee: $0

Annual Fee: $0

Initial Bonus: $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases, along with 1% back on all other purchases (except for 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats)

Min. Credit Required: Limited History

Foreign Fee: 3%

Annual Fee: $0

Initial Bonus: $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days

Ongoing Rewards: 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

Min. Credit Required: Excellent

Foreign Fee: $0

Annual Fee: $0

Initial Bonus: $50 for spending $100 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases (except for 10% back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats)

Min. Credit Required: Limited History

Foreign Fee: $0

Annual Fee: $0

Ongoing Rewards: 4 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and food delivery), 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores (including grocery delivery) as well as with streaming services, EV charging stations and gas stations, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Min. Credit Required: Bad

Foreign Fee: $0

Annual Fee: $95

Initial Bonus: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases

Min. Credit Required: Good

When choosing a credit card for international use, it’s very important to consider its global acceptance. Not all credit cards are accepted everywhere, and cards from some networks are accepted in more countries than others. Mastercard and Visa are in the lead, accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, followed by Discover and then American Express cards.

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.

What You Should Know Before Applying for a Student Credit Card

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.