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What You Need to Know About Citi Double Cash's Foreign Transaction Fee

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Our Credit Cards Expert

Eric McWhinnie
Check IconFact Checked Eric McWhinnie
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Citi Double Cash® Card foreign transaction fee is 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars. Among credit cards that charge foreign transaction fees, 3% is the most common amount.

It's recommended to avoid unnecessary credit card fees whenever possible. To help with that, this guide will cover when you're charged foreign transaction fees with the Citi Double Cash® Card and how to avoid them.

How the Citi Double Cash foreign transaction fee works

Foreign transaction fees on the Citi Double Cash® Card apply to purchases made outside the United States. You can also incur foreign transaction fees for online purchases with international merchants, even if the purchase itself is being delivered to a U.S. address. The rule is that if a foreign bank is involved in the transaction, there will be a foreign transaction fee.

Transactions in other currencies will first be converted to U.S. dollars. After that, Citi adds the 3% foreign transaction fee. For example, if you buy a souvenir for 10 euros, Mastercard would convert it to U.S. dollars, and then Citi would charge an additional 3% of that amount.

Many international merchants offer a payment option called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This allows you to pay for the purchase in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency. It's better to decline this option.

Even if you accept DCC and pay in U.S. dollars, you'll still incur a foreign transaction fee. DCC doesn't help you avoid that surcharge. It also typically offers poor exchange rates for consumers. You'll likely get a much better rate and pay less overall if you let the payment networks for your credit cards handle the currency conversion.

Ratings Methodology

Citi Double Cash® Card

Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

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Citi Double Cash® Card
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4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Apply Now for Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay

Up to 2% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

20,000 ThankYou® Points

  • This card combines a top-notch balance transfer offer for 18 months with best-in-class unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. There's no introductory APR for purchases, so if you use that long balance transfer offer you'll be charged interest on all new purchases until the full balance is paid off. However, once you conquer that balance transfer, this may become your go-to card thanks to the high cash back rate.

    • High cash back
    • 0% intro APR balance transfer offer
    • No annual fee
    • Free credit score monitoring
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • No 0% intro APR on purchases
    • No sign-up bonus
    • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
    • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
      Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
    • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
    • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
    • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
    • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

How to avoid foreign transaction fees

A 3% fee may not amount to much on a single purchase, but it can add up over the course of a vacation. If you spend $3,000 with the Citi Double Cash® Card while outside the United States, you'd be charged $90 in foreign transaction fees.

To avoid foreign transaction fees, make sure to have at least one credit card that doesn't charge them. Travel credit cards are a great choice. There are also cash back credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

SEE MORE: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

You can still use your Citi Double Cash® Card in the United States. Just switch to your no foreign transaction fee card when abroad or making purchases with international merchants.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best rewards cards for everyday use. It can earn you an unlimited 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay. Since one of its biggest benefits is its cash back, it doesn't make sense to pay a foreign transaction fee that will wipe out all those rewards you earn.

Still have questions?

Here are some other questions we've answered:

FAQs

  • Yes, you can use your Citi Double Cash® Card internationally, but it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.

  • The Citi Double Cash® Card is worth it if you want to earn a high cash back rate on purchases or refinance debt. It has a competitive cash back rate (2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay) and a long balance transfer offer.

  • You don't need to notify Citi when you travel, but it's a good idea to avoid potentially having transactions flagged as fraud. Here's how to set up a travel notice with your Citi card:

    1. Log in to your online Citi account.
    2. Select "Travel Services" under the "Services" menu.
    3. Select "Add a Travel Notice."
    4. Enter your travel dates.
    5. Submit the travel notice.

    You can also set up a travel notice over the phone by calling the number on the back of your Citi credit card.

Our Credit Cards Experts

Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

Eric McWhinnie
Check IconFact Checked Eric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.