To the point
Discover the best cards to accompany your kid on a school trip, to give them independence and enable them to pay for their expenses abroad.
School Trip - Which Credit Card to Give to Your Child?
When your child is on their own for a school trip or a competition away from home, the question of payment can be a challenge. Whether it’s for purchasing souvenirs, meals, or an unforeseen expense, we want to provide them with a secure payment method.
It is important to note that lending your personal credit card to your child violates the terms of use of financial institutions. This practice carries significant risks: in the event of theft or fraudulent use, the bank will refuse any reimbursement since you have knowingly violated your credit card agreement.
Here are the options available to you to make your child a bit more independent while travelling.
School Trip - How to Choose the Best Card for Your Child?
When choosing your credit or prepaid card, consider the following:
- Fees: Compare monthly fees, ATM withdrawal fees and foreign currency conversion fees (usually 2.5%, with some cards at 0%);
- Flexibility: Ensure that the card accepts multiple currencies;
- Mobile application: Track expenses in real time;
- Easy reloading of a prepaid card: In case of emergency or “Mom, I’d really like to have this souvenir like my friends”, you want to be able to put money back into the account quickly.
School Trip - The Option of an Additional Credit Card
Your teenager can have a copy of your credit card as an authorized user. It’s one of the best options!
Depending on their age and the financial institution, you can request an additional card. Read our article to find out at what age your teenager might be able to have one.
This way, any purchases he makes will end up in your credit card account and you will pay your account afterwards, as usual.
Do you have a card in your wallet with no foreign currency conversion fees? If so, it might be a good idea to get an extra one for your child, too, to avoid the 2.5% fee for all out-of-country transactions.
For my oldest, this is what I chose as an option. He has the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, which is accepted everywhere abroad and has no conversion fees. Plus, the first additional card is free.
Featured
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No Foreign Transaction Fee
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Access to VIP Lounges
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Visa Infinite Benefits
School Trip - Prepaid Cards
Mydoh
Mydoh offers a rechargeable prepaid Visa card for a child, without being linked to a bank account. And if you want, you can even personalize the card for $6.99 with any image you choose.
There are no hidden fees, and the parent only deposits the necessary amount on the Mydoh card, accessible instantly. Additionally, there is no card number visible on the physical card. So, if it is lost, this minimizes the risk of fraudulent use.
Mydoh offers both a digital and physical card. Abroad, the foreign currency conversion fee is 2.5%. Its only drawback is that there is no option to withdraw cash from an ATM.
Featured
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
Up to 55,000 Avion Points
Ends Jun 11, 2025
First year value : $1,151
Best of April 2025
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Transfer your points to airline partners
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Premium Insurance
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Visa Infinite Benefits
Vanilla Prepaid Card
Vanilla Visa or Mastercard prepaid cards may be another option. However, it is forbidden to purchase such a prepaid card with an American Express credit card, as mentioned in the conditions.
There is an activation fee on purchase, and foreign currency conversion charges are 2.5%. Also, beware of fraud with this type of card. Before making your purchase, make sure that the packaging has not been opened, as tampering occasionally occurs.
Beware: Canada Post's Cash Passport Prepaid Card
Many schools suggest the Canada Post Cash Passport card, but we don’t recommend it.
It costs $15 to buy, you have to pay a $3 fee every time you load money into it, the foreign currency conversion fee is high (3.25%), you pay an additional 1.5% if you use it in Canada and on top of that, there’s a $20 fee if you want to withdraw the money left in it.
Let’s just say that it seems to exist mainly to remind us how much better other options are. It’s better to explore other solutions that offer more benefits and less costs.
Bottom Line
Before departure, take the time to educate your child about responsible practices that will allow them to fully enjoy the benefits of their card while avoiding excesses. We particularly recommend using an additional card, as this will help you accumulate points to use for a future trip with your child!
Have a good trip!
Featured
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No Foreign Transaction Fee
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Access to VIP Lounges
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Visa Infinite Benefits
