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Updated March 15, 2019

Which Chase Sapphire Has No Foreign Transaction Fee?

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are great for travel as they both have no foreign transaction fees. But there are some differences you need to know. Read on before you take off.

Chase offers 2 cards in their Sapphire family: Preferred and Reserve. Neither card has a foreign transaction fee. They offer good rewards, great redemption value, and useful travel benefits.

If you travel at least once a year, you should apply for the Preferred card. If you travel several times a year, you must take advantage of the sign-up bonus and $300 annual travel credit with Reserve.

In this article, we'll explain which Chase Sapphire is better for you.

Note: Chase does have a third card in the family - the no-annual-fee Sapphire card. It is no longer available to new applicants, but you can downgrade the Preferred or Reserve to it. However, this card has a 3% foreign transaction fee.

What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee?

Many banks charge a foreign transaction fee (FTF) for purchases made abroad - usually 3% of your purchase. Anytime you use your card abroad, you'll be paying an additional 3%.

This can add up to a lot. If you charge $1,000 on food, shopping, and activities on your trip, that's an extra $30 in fees.

A credit card with no FTF will save you from these unnecessary fees. This is the best option for making purchases abroad.

In comparison, foreign ATMs will incur high ATM fees, while currency exchanges usually have terrible exchange rates.

No Foreign Transaction Fee

Chase Sapphire Foreign Transaction Fee: Chase Sapphire cards are popular choices for travelers as both Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve have $0 foreign transaction fee. Both offer bonus points, extra points for travel and dining, and premium travel benefits.

Sapphire Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fee

Luckily, the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve do not have a FTF. Here are overviews of the Preferred and Reserve cards:

Which One Is Better for You?

If you're more of a casual traveler, start with the Sapphire Preferred. The much smaller annual fee is easier to swallow. The sign-up bonus is very generous for the annual fee.

If you travel often, the Sapphire Reserve will usually come out ahead for you. The 3x points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit and 3x points on dining will allow you to rack up points faster. And the better value on the Ultimate Rewards travel portal means bigger savings. Frequent travelers will also love the luxury perks, like lounge access through Priority Pass Select.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

See our detailed comparison and analysis of the two cards.

Other Chase Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fee

Besides the Sapphire cards, Chase has several other travel cards with no foreign transaction fees. See if one of these may be a better fit for you instead. Here are some of our other favorites:

  • If you fly Southwest: Southwest Credit Card lets you earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This card earns 6,000 anniversary points each year. Earn 3X points on Southwest purchases. You earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. There is no foreign transaction fee. There is a $99 annual fee.

Bottom Line

Either Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve card will make an ideal companion for trips abroad. Neither card has that dreaded foreign transaction fee. So you can feel free to pay for hotels, dine, shop, and go on fun tours… all without worrying about extra foreign transaction fees.

If you're more of a casual traveler, start with the Sapphire Preferred. You get:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

If you travel often, the Sapphire Reserve will usually come out ahead. You get:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.



Foreign Transaction Fee: What to Know Before You Travel Abroad

By Rebecca Lake - Tips for No Foreign Transaction Fee
Before you go on a trip overseas, be sure you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Read on to learn how to save money on international travel.
Don't overpay on travel. Sign up to get our free email course on miles and points.

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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

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