# 2025 Guide to Capital One Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you’re planning overseas travel or regularly shop with non-U.S. merchants, avoiding foreign transaction fees can save you real money. As of 2025, Capital One waives these fees on all of its U.S.-issued consumer credit cards, so your international purchases won’t incur the typical 1–3% surcharge many issuers add. The policy is automatic—no special enrollment needed—and applies whether you’re paying in person abroad or online with a foreign merchant. Below, we break down how Capital One’s approach works, the top cards to consider, and how to use them smartly for international purchases, currency conversion, and travel.
## Overview of Capital One’s Foreign Transaction Fee Policy
A foreign transaction fee is a percentage-based credit card fee (often 1–3%) added when you make purchases outside the U.S. or with a non-U.S. merchant. Capital One explains how these fees work and why they add up, especially on longer trips or larger purchases, in its guide to foreign transaction fees (Capital One). In practice, these are among the most avoidable credit card fees for travelers.
Capital One’s policy stands out: the issuer does not charge foreign transaction fees on any of its personal credit cards, making international purchases simpler and cheaper for cardholders (Capital One). The benefit is universal and automatic—there’s no need to choose specific “travel cards” or activate a waiver, a point also emphasized by independent coverage of Capital One’s $0 foreign fee policy (Ramp). You’ll still see the wholesale exchange rate on your statements, but you won’t pay extra credit card fees for currency conversion.
Sources: Capital One on what no-foreign-fee means; Capital One on foreign transaction fees; Ramp’s overview of Capital One foreign fees
## Key Features of Capital One Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
Capital One’s no-foreign-fee policy comes with a broader set of traveler-friendly features:
- Universal waiver: No Capital One consumer credit card charges foreign transaction fees, including entry-level cash-back and travel options (Capital One; Ramp).
- Rewarding everyday earn rates: Popular cards earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases (Quicksilver) or 2 miles per dollar (Venture), with elevated rewards through Capital One Travel and flexible redemption for statement credits or transfers (CreditCards.com; Forbes Advisor).
- Useful mobile tools: Real-time transaction alerts, spending controls, and the ability to lock a card in the app help when you’re abroad (Capital One Help Center).
- Competitive annual fees: Many cards have no annual fee; premium options add stronger travel perks.
- Travel benefits: Depending on the card, you may see trip delay coverage, rental car protections, and lounge access via major networks offering 1,300+ global locations for premium cards (Bankrate).
Here’s a quick side-by-side of core options:
| Card | Annual Fee | Core Earning | Foreign Transaction Fees | Notable Travel Perks |
|---|---:|---|---|---|
| Quicksilver | $0 | 1.5% cash back on all purchases; 5% on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel | $0 | Travel accident insurance; 24/7 assistance |
| Venture Rewards | $95 | 2x miles on all purchases; 5x on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel | $0 | Trip delay and rental car coverage; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; transfer partners |
| VentureOne | $0 | 1.25x miles on all purchases; 5x on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel | $0 | Core travel protections; flexible redemptions |
| Savor/SavorOne | $95 (Savor) / $0 (SavorOne) | 4% dining & entertainment (Savor); 3% dining, grocery stores, entertainment, streaming (SavorOne) | $0 | Strong dining/entertainment earn globally; intro APR offers on SavorOne often available |
Notes: Welcome bonuses and APRs change—check each card’s pricing and terms before applying.
Sources: Capital One Help Center tools; Bankrate on no-foreign-fee travel benefits; CreditCards.com on Capital One cards; Forbes Advisor on Capital One travel cards
## Popular Capital One Credit Cards Without Foreign Transaction Fees
Capital One offers multiple no-foreign-fee cards that fit different spending styles. Below are the highlights travelers often inquire about.
### Capital One Quicksilver
Quicksilver is a straightforward, no-annual-fee card that earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, plus 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It frequently features a $200 early spend bonus for new cardholders and includes essentials like travel accident insurance and 24/7 support while abroad (CreditCards.com).
### Capital One Venture Rewards
Venture Rewards is a flexible travel card with 2 miles per dollar on everything and 5x miles on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel. It charges a $95 annual fee and supports versatile redemptions, including transfer partners and travel statement credits. Venture also layers in travel protections, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and other trip-friendly benefits (Forbes Advisor).
### Capital One VentureOne
VentureOne is the no-annual-fee sibling in the Venture family, earning 1.25x miles on purchases and 5x via Capital One Travel. It has no foreign transaction fees and keeps redemptions simple while still offering core travel protections—useful for occasional travelers who want miles without an annual fee (Bankrate).
### Capital One Savor
For food, fun, and entertainment—both at home and abroad—the Savor lineup shines. The Savor card typically carries an annual fee with elevated rates on dining and entertainment, while SavorOne has no annual fee and offers 3% on dining, grocery stores, entertainment, and streaming. SavorOne often features an intro 0% APR window and, like all Capital One cards, charges no foreign transaction fees (Experian).
## Travel and International Use Benefits of Capital One Cards
- Real savings: By removing foreign transaction fees, Capital One cards can save travelers roughly 1.5% per international purchase on average compared to issuers that still charge them (WalletHub estimate).
- Lounge access: Premium Capital One cards include access to expansive lounge networks—over 1,300 locations globally—delivering complimentary food, beverages, and quiet spaces to work or relax between flights (Bankrate).
- Built-in protections: Depending on the card, you may have trip delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, rental car insurance, and 24/7 customer support.
- Digital convenience: The Capital One app helps you manage cards on the move—set transaction alerts, lock a misplaced card, and monitor charges in real time (Capital One Help Center).
## The Capital One-Discover Merger and Its Impact on Cardholders
In 2024, Capital One announced plans to acquire Discover Financial Services; if approved by regulators, the combined company would become the largest U.S. card issuer by loans and could accelerate technology improvements, acceptance breadth, and rewards innovation (Reuters coverage). For consumers, the long-run implications may include stronger merchant networks, potential pricing efficiencies, and new reward opportunities—particularly if debit portfolios migrate to Discover’s network. Until integration plans are finalized, your card terms, benefits, and foreign transaction fee policy remain as stated in your current cardmember agreement.
## Tips for Using Capital One Cards Internationally
- Carry backups: Bring a secondary card and some local cash for small merchants or connectivity gaps.
- Use card controls: Enable transaction alerts and know you generally don’t need to set a travel notice with Capital One; the issuer’s systems adapt to travel patterns (Capital One Help Center).
- Know your rates and fees: Review the card’s Schumer Box before departure; if your card goes missing, lock it instantly in the app and request a replacement.
- Avoid dynamic currency conversion: If a merchant offers to charge you in U.S. dollars, decline—paying in local currency usually yields a better exchange rate.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is a foreign transaction fee and how does Capital One handle it?
A foreign transaction fee is a surcharge on purchases made outside the U.S. or with non-U.S. merchants; Capital One waives these fees on all of its consumer credit cards.
### Are there any additional fees when using Capital One cards abroad?
Capital One doesn’t add currency conversion or foreign transaction fees, but individual merchants or ATMs overseas may levy their own surcharges.
### How can I maximize rewards when using Capital One cards internationally?
Use the card that matches your spending (e.g., 2x miles or dining cash back), book hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel when it boosts rewards, and redeem miles for travel or transfers for strong value.
### What security features protect Capital One cardholders when traveling?
You get real-time alerts, the ability to lock your card in the app, and robust fraud monitoring to help prevent unauthorized charges.
### Should I notify Capital One before traveling internationally?
Typically no—Capital One doesn’t require travel notices—but enabling alerts and ensuring your contact info is current helps avoid declines while abroad.