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:
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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 (14.24% - 24.24% (V), based on creditworthiness, thereafter). 3% foreign transaction fee. $0 annual fee. Accepts students with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history).
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Best for Travel - Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. Online 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).
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Best for Bad Credit - Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. $0 foreign transaction fee. $0 annual fee.
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Best for International Students - Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students. No 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.
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