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Guide: How to Save on Foreign Currency Transactions

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Guide: How to Save on Foreign Currency Transactions
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To withdraw cash abroad without fees, pay for purchases with a no foreign transaction fee credit card and take out cash with a prepaid card that reimburses ATM fees. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card covers the first part, the Wealthsimple prepaid card the second.

This guide breaks down the three fees on an ATM withdrawal abroad, then applies them to two countries where cash is still common: Vietnam and Indonesia.

The Three Fees on a Withdrawal Abroad

Knowing the three fees on a withdrawal abroad lets you avoid the costliest ones. Here they are:

  • The foreign transaction fee: 2.5% of the converted amount on most Canadian cards, credit and debit alike.
  • Your issuer's fee: a flat amount per withdrawal outside Canada.
  • The local ATM fee: charged by the bank that operates the machine, shown on screen.

The 2.5% rate is spelled out in issuers' own documents, such as the CIBC summary of rates and fees and the Scotiabank credit card fees page.

What each card adds to an ATM withdrawal abroad
Card used at the ATMForeign transaction feeYour issuer's feeLocal ATM fee
Wealthsimple prepaid card0%$0Reimbursed by Wealthsimple
Wise cardVaries by currency, shown before the conversionFree up to CAD 100 withdrawn per month, then CAD 2.69 + 2.69%You pay it
Tangerine debit card2.50%$0 within the Global ATM Alliance, $3 elsewhereYou pay it outside the Alliance
Scotiabank debit card2.5%International ATM access fee, waived on select accountsYou pay it outside the Alliance
Scotiabank no foreign transaction fee credit card, as a cash advance0%$7.50 at an ATM outside Canada, plus interest from the day you withdrawYou pay it

Sources: Wise card fees, Wealthsimple ATM fees, Tangerine fee schedule, Global ATM Alliance and Scotiabank credit card fees.

Withdraw Cash Abroad With a Prepaid Card

A prepaid card with no foreign transaction fee gives you the cheapest cash abroad. You load it in Canadian dollars and withdraw straight in the local currency, at the network rate.

The Wealthsimple prepaid card charges no foreign transaction fee and no withdrawal fee. Wealthsimple also reimburses the ATM owner's fee, anywhere in the world, with no limit on the number or the amount.

Its limits are $3,000 per day and $10,000 per week. The Visa card works in Vietnam and Indonesia; it is blocked in a short list of countries, including Cuba, Iran and Russia.

Wealthsimple Prepaid Card

WealthsimpleCash Back
Annual fee
$0
Our valuation
$25
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$25Total$25Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
$25
Apply Now

on Wealthsimple's website

With the Wealthsimple prepaid card, you can access your available funds in your Wealthsimple chequing account. Wealthsimple is gradually replacing its Mastercard with a Visa Platinum Prepaid card.

With this welcome offer, you can get $25 cash back as a new Wealthsimple client. To do this, you simply need to open an account and then deposit at least $1 within 30 days.

You can invest your money in an investment account or a cryptocurrency of your choice. Also, you earn interest on your Wealthsimple Cash account balance! Wealthsimple Generation clients can earn an interest rate of up to 2.25%.

In addition, there are no foreign transaction fees for any purchase made in a currency other than the Canadian dollar and no annual fees.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Value

1st Year Value$295

The Wise card converts your balance at the market rate, with a conversion fee specific to each currency, shown in the app before the transaction.

Withdrawals are free up to CAD 100 per calendar month. Beyond that, Wise charges CAD 2.69 plus 2.69% per withdrawal, and the local ATM fee is added on top. The card works in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
No current welcome offer
Apply Now

on Wise's website

With the Wise Card, a no-annual-fee card, you can hold and exchange over 40 currencies directly in your Wise account.

With the Wise Card, you can spend freely in over 150 countries and withdraw cash from 2.3 million ATMs. Your ATM withdrawals are free up to CAD 100 per calendar month.

You can also take advantage of currency conversions at market exchange rates, with transparent, low fees. These fees will be much lower than those your credit card charges (generally 2.5% of the transaction).

You can manage your account easily with the Wise application. Moreover, you can manage your card with complete peace of mind by freezing and thawing it instantly. The automatic currency conversion feature ensures that you always pay the lowest possible fees when using currencies not held on your account.

Keep an eye on your currency balances within the app and receive instant notifications for added security. As a debit card, the Wise Card helps you manage your budget without accumulating debt or incurring credit charges. Opt for the Wise Card and optimize your finances on a daily basis or when you travel abroad!

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Conversion fees

0%

Paying by Card With No Foreign Transaction Fee

A no foreign transaction fee credit card saves you $25 on every $1,000 you spend abroad. The amount is converted at the network rate, without the usual 2.5%, and every purchase still earns points.

At the payment terminal, always choose the local currency. Accept Canadian dollars and the merchant sets the rate, with its own margin on top.

In Greece recently, I saw a 10% conversion fee when paying in Canadian dollars. In euros, with my Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card, that fee dropped to 0%.

Withdrawing Cash in Vietnam and Indonesia

In Vietnam and Indonesia, the right card and the right ATM save you up to 10% in fees on a small withdrawal. The large banks publish what they charge foreign cards, and a prepaid card that reimburses ATM fees wipes that fee out.

Street vendor selling fruit and vegetables from a bicycle in Hanoi, Vietnam
Street vendor in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vietnam: a percentage with a minimum

In Vietnam, one large withdrawal costs proportionally less than several small ones. Agribank charges 4% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum of VND 70,000, before tax, on a Visa or Mastercard issued abroad. Its fee schedule has applied since October 15, 2025.

The math, with that minimum:

  • A VND 1,000,000 withdrawal: 4% would be VND 40,000, so the VND 70,000 minimum applies, or 7% of the amount.
  • A VND 2,000,000 withdrawal: VND 80,000, or 4%.

Source: Agribank card fee schedule.

Indonesia: a flat fee and the banknotes

In Indonesia, an ATM that dispenses large banknotes cuts the cost of a withdrawal by five. Bank Mandiri charges IDR 50,000 per withdrawal on a foreign Visa or Mastercard, as of February 22, 2026. The amount appears before you confirm, and you can cancel. Source: Bank Mandiri access fee notice.

The maximum per withdrawal depends on the banknotes loaded in the machine:

  • IDR 500,000 with IDR 20,000 notes;
  • IDR 1,250,000 with IDR 50,000 notes;
  • IDR 2,500,000 with IDR 100,000 notes.

On an IDR 2,500,000 withdrawal, that fee works out to 2%, versus 10% on IDR 500,000. Source: Bank Mandiri ATM FAQ.

An IDR 2,500,000 withdrawal at a Bank Mandiri ATM
CardATM feeConversionIssuer's fee
Wealthsimple prepaid cardReimbursed0%$0
Wise cardYou pay itWise's rupiah feeDepends on your withdrawals that month
Scotiabank debit card, outside the AllianceYou pay it2.5%International ATM access fee

Planning a trip to Vietnam: our Vietnam travel guide.

Planning a trip to Bali: our Bali travel guide.

Withdrawing With a Credit Card in an Emergency

A credit card gets you out of a jam when you need cash right away. The withdrawal then counts as a cash advance: Scotiabank charges $7.50 at an ATM outside Canada, and 22.99% interest runs from the day you withdraw.

In an emergency, pay the amount back as soon as you can to keep interest down.

No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Four Scotiabank cards spare you the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on every purchase abroad: the Passport Visa Infinite+ Card, the Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card, the Gold American Express Card and the Platinum American Express Card.

The Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Card also charges no foreign transaction fees, and pays 2% cash back on purchases.

Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
CardAnnual feeWelcome offerNet gain in the first yearLounge access
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ Card$150Up to 35,000 Scene+ points$100, or $200 with $40,000 spent6 per year
Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Card$240, or $0 with your paycheque on direct deposit or $100,000 in assetsNone; 2% cash back on purchases2% of your purchases minus the fee: pays off from $12,000 a year, from the first dollar with no feeNone
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card$120Up to 50,000 Scene+ points$380None
Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card$399Up to 100,000 Scene+ points$40110 per year
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card$599Up to 80,000 Scene+ points$110 per cardholder

Net gain: bonus earned in the first year, at $10 per 1,000 Scene+ points, minus the annual fee, before points on everyday purchases. The Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card pays for itself mainly through its lounge access, not its bonus. Wealthsimple's invitation-only 1% Visa Infinite version charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee unless the no-FX-fee option is chosen at sign-up.

These offers apply to accounts opened by November 1, 2026. Click a card name for its full conditions.

Our credit card selection
Credit cardAnnual feeWelcome offer
Annual fee$150Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
Annual fee$240Welcome offer
Up to $500
Apply Now
Annual fee$120Welcome offer
Up to 50,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
Annual fee$399Welcome offer
Up to 100,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
Annual fee$599Welcome offer
Up to 80,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

The full comparison, with the other issuers, is here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card should I use to withdraw cash in Vietnam?

A prepaid card with no foreign transaction fee that reimburses ATM fees, such as the Wealthsimple prepaid card. At Agribank, those fees reach 4% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum of VND 70,000.

How much does an ATM withdrawal cost in Bali?

At Bank Mandiri, the machine charges IDR 50,000 per withdrawal on a foreign card. The conversion fee and your issuer's fee come on top, unless your card waives them.

Should I accept conversion into Canadian dollars at the ATM?

No. Choose the local currency. In Canadian dollars, the ATM operator sets the rate and adds its margin, and Visa says you may decline that conversion.

Can I withdraw cash with a no foreign transaction fee credit card?

Yes, but the withdrawal is still a cash advance, with fees and interest from the day you withdraw. Keep this option for emergencies.

Do Scotiabank and Tangerine debit cards cost less abroad?

Withdrawal fees are waived within the Global ATM Alliance, on select Scotiabank accounts and at Tangerine. The 2.5% foreign transaction fee still applies in every case.

Which credit cards have no foreign transaction fees in Canada?

The four Scotiabank cards and the Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Card shown in the table above, plus other cards listed in our comparison of no foreign transaction fee cards.

Learn More

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

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