Before you travel abroad
Read our travellers tips. See how to use your Santander credit and debit cards overseas. understand foreign transaction fees and exchange rates, make international payments and get travel insurance for peace of mind when travelling abroad
If you’re planning on travelling within the EU, you don’t need to let us know that you’ll be going abroad. If you’re planning on travelling outside the EU, you’ll need to let us know. The easiest way to do this is to:
- log on to Online Banking
- choose ‘Account Services’, then
- click ‘Use card abroad’.
Let us know if you're travelling
We will continue to monitor your account for fraud and unusual transactions whilst you’re abroad and we’ll contact you if we detect unusual activity. If you keep your mobile phone with you, you’ll be able to confirm genuine transactions as soon as we contact you.
We recommend you pay for your first purchase abroad by entering your PIN (rather than using contactless). This provides an extra layer of confirmation that your transactions are genuine.
If you’ve forgotten your PIN, you can use the mobile app to view it.
If you need a new PIN, you can request a new one through Online Banking or contact us
If the PIN on your debit or credit card is locked for any reason, for example you entered it incorrectly 3 times or it’s a replacement PIN, you need to unlock it prior to travelling. This needs to be done at a Santander or Link cash machine before you leave the UK as it can’t be unlocked when you are overseas.
If you are travelling outside the EU, let us know so we can place a note on your account to say you are travelling.
The easiest way to let us know when you’re travelling outside the EU is to:
- log on to Online Banking
- choose ‘Account Services’, then
- click ‘Use card abroad’.
Alternatively, you can contact us if you’d like more support. Remember, if you’re calling from outside the UK, please call the number on the back of your Santander card.
If you’ve turned ‘international payments’ off in your card controls, you’ll need to turn these on to use your card abroad. You can do this in Online Banking or the Mobile Banking app.
This depends on which card you hold with us and which type of transaction you make. The two kinds of transactions are:
Making a purchase abroad or online in a currency other than pounds to buy goods or services.
Withdrawing money (foreign currency) and buying traveller's cheques - withdrawing cash abroad (either in a bank or at a cash machine), or buying traveller's cheques or foreign currency when abroad (at another bank, bureau de change or other outlet displaying the Mastercard/Visa sign) in a currency other than pounds.
When you use your card abroad you may be charged a foreign currency conversion fee, unless you have one of the following accounts**:
- Santander Edge® current account,
- Santander Edge® Up current account,
- Santander Edge® Explorer current account,
- Private Current Account (v2)
You also won’t be charged a foreign currency conversion fee with the Zero debit card (which is not available to new customers).
The table below shows the charges on our cards when used abroad
| Foreign currency conversion fee (Making purchases) | Foreign currency conversion fee (Making withdrawals) | |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card (except for Santander Edge, Santander Edge Up, Santander Edge Explorer and Private Current Account (v2)) | 2.95% | 2.95%* |
| Santander Edge, Santander Edge Up and Private Current Account (v2) debit card** | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Santander cash card | n/a | 2.95% |
*We won't charge you when you use your personal debit card to make withdrawals at Santander cash machines abroad. You'll find our cash machines in Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and the USA. Make sure you choose to pay in the local currency to avoid being charged any other fees.
**We won’t charge you for using your Santander Edge, Santander Edge Up, Santander Edge Explorer or Private Current Account (v2) debit card to withdraw cash and make payments abroad. The 0% foreign conversion fee is applied 3 working days after you have opened or transferred to one of these accounts. If you use your debit card outside the UK before then, the standard foreign currency conversion fee of 2.95% will apply. This fee is non-refundable. For more information, take a look at the Fee Information Document for your account. Local banks may charge their own fees when you use one of their cash machines.
Debit Mastercard - Illustrative Cost Examples based on a €100 (Euro) transaction
| Transaction value ^ | Foreign currency conversion fee | Total cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card purchase | €100 £86.70 | 2.95% £2.56 | £89.26 |
| Debit card and cash card cash withdrawal | €100 £86.70 | 2.95% £2.56 | £89.26 |
| Debit card cash withdrawal at Santander cash machine in Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and the USA. | €100 £86.70 | n/a £0 | £86.70 |
| Debit card purchase and cash withdrawal with Santander Edge, Santander Edge Up, Santander Edge Explorer and Private Current Account (v2)^^^ | €100 £86.70 | n/a £0 | £86.70 |
Visa - Illustrative Cost Examples based on a €100 (Euro) transaction
| Transaction value ^^ | Foreign currency conversion fee | Total cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card purchase | €100 £86.82 | 2.95% £2.56 | £89.38 |
| Debit card and cash card cash withdrawal | €100 £86.82 | 2.95% £2.56 | £89.38 |
| Debit card cash withdrawal at Santander cash machine in Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and the USA. | €100 £86.82 | n/a £0 | £86.82 |
For all other cards not shown here, please refer to your Key Facts Document (KFD).
^ Mastercard exchange rate of €1 = £0.867 as at 1 June 2026
^^ Visa exchange rate of €1 = £0.868191 as at 1 June 2026
^^^ The 0% foreign conversion fee is applied 3 working days after you’ve opened or transferred to one of these accounts. If you use your debit card outside the UK before then, the standard foreign currency conversion fee of 2.95% will apply. This fee is non-refundable. For more information, take a look at the Fee Information Document for your account. Local banks may charge their own fees when you use one of their cash machines.
The exchange rates reflect the rate applicable when the payment scheme (Visa or Mastercard) processed the transaction and not the date on which the transaction took place.
Remember to pay using local currency
When you use your card abroad, retailers will often give you the choice of paying in either the local currency or pounds. Always choose to pay using the local currency unless you're sure the exchange rate is more favourable. If you choose pounds, the retailer will handle the conversion and may charge you a fee.
We will convert the foreign currency using the exchange rate set by Visa or Mastercard (subject to card type) on the date the transaction is charged to your account, together with any applicable foreign usage fees as set out in the table above.
The exchange rate used may differ from the rate that applied on the actual date of the transaction as exchange rates vary on a daily basis. The exchange rate used when the transaction is processed and the amount of the transaction in sterling after the application of the exchange rate will be detailed on your statement.
Using your card abroad calculator
You can use our calculator to see daily exchange rates and calculate the total cost of using your Santander debit or cash card abroad. For EEA currencies you’ll also be able to see how this compares to the ECB exchange rate.
- All main adult bank current accounts can benefit from fee-free cash machines withdrawals at Santander branded cash machines in Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and the USA, when using a Santander personal debit card and choosing the local currency.
- Daily cash withdrawal limits apply. Please see the General Terms & Conditions for full details (PDF - 770 KB)
This depends on which credit card you hold with us and which type of transaction you make. The two kinds of transactions are:
Making a purchase abroad or online in a currency other than sterling to buy goods or services.
Withdrawing money (foreign currency) and buying traveller's cheques - withdrawing cash abroad (either in a bank or at a cash machine), or buying traveller's cheques or foreign currency when abroad (at another bank, bureau de change or other outlet displaying the Mastercard/Visa sign) in a currency other than sterling. Please note there is no interest free period on cash withdrawals and interest will be charged from the date of withdrawal.
What are the charges?
When you use your card abroad you may be charged a non-sterling transaction fee or a cash transactions fee, depending on if you’re making a purchase or withdrawing money.
The table below shows the charges on our credit cards when used abroad.
| Non-sterling transaction fee for purchases | Non-sterling transaction fee for cash withdrawals | Cash withdrawal fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards Credit Card | 0% | 0% | 3% (min £3) |
| All in One Credit Card | 0% | 0% | 3% (min £3) |
| Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card | 2.95% | 2.95% | 3% (min £3) |
| Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card | 2.95% | 2.95% | 3% (min £3) |
| Santander World Elite™ MasterCard® | 0% | 0% | 3% (min £3) |
| Santander Edge credit card (no longer on sale) | 0% | 0% | 3% (min £3) |
| 1|2|3 Credit Card (no longer on sale) | 0% | 0% | 3% (min £3) |
Zero Credit Card (no longer on sale) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| All other Santander credit cards | 2.95% | 2.95% | 3% (min £3) |
Illustrative cost examples based on a €100 (Euro) transaction if using the Rewards, Santander Edge, 1I2I3, All in One or Santander World Elite Credit Card
| Transaction value ^ | Non-sterling transaction fee | Non-sterling purchase fee | Non-sterling cash fee | Total cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card purchase | €100 £86.70 | 0.00% £0.00 | n/a £0 | n/a £0 | £86.70 |
| Credit card cash withdrawal | €100 £86.70 | 0.00% £0.00 | n/a £0 | 3% (min £3) £3 | £89.70 |
Illustrative cost examples based on a €100 (Euro) transaction if using the Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card or Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card
| Transaction value^ | Non-sterling transaction fee | Non-sterling purchase fee | Non-sterling cash fee | Total cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card purchase | €100 £86.70 | 2.95% £2.56 | n/a £0 | n/a £0 | £89.26 |
| Credit card cash withdrawal | €100 £86.70 | 2.95% £2.56 | n/a £0 | 3% (min £3) £3 | £92.26 |
For all other cards not shown here, please refer to your Key Facts Document
^Mastercard exchange rate of €1 = £0.867 as at 1 June 2026
The exchange rates reflect the rate applicable when the relevant payment scheme (Mastercard or Visa) processed the transaction and not the date on which the transaction took place.
Remember to pay using local currency
When you use your card abroad, retailers will often give you the choice of paying in either the local currency or pounds. Always choose to pay using the local currency unless you're sure the exchange rate is more favourable. If you choose pounds, the retailer will handle the conversion and may charge you a fee.
We will convert the foreign currency using the exchange rate set by Visa or Mastercard (subject to card type) on the date the transaction is charged to your account, together with any applicable foreign usage fees as set out in the table above.
The exchange rate used may differ from the rate that applied on the actual date of the transaction as exchange rates vary on a daily basis. The exchange rate used when the transaction is processed and the amount of the transaction in sterling after the application of the exchange rate will be detailed on your statement.
Using your card abroad calculator
You can use our calculator to see daily exchange rates and calculate the total cost of using your Santander credit card abroad. For EEA currencies you’ll also be able to see how this compares to the ECB exchange rate.
A daily cash withdrawal limit of £300 applies, unless otherwise advised.
We have two travel insurance options:
Our Santander Edge® Explorer current account
With the Santander Edge Explorer current account, you get worldwide cover for you and your family’s travels – including winter sports, 24/7 remote access to a GP in the UK for you and your family, UK and European breakdown cover, cover for you and your family’s mobile phones, plus, we won’t charge you for using your Santander Edge Explorer debit card outside the UK.
All of this for £17 a month.
Santander Edge Explorer current account travel insurance is provided by Chubb European Group SE, GP access by Teladoc Health UK, breakdown cover by AWP P&C SA and mobile phone insurance administered by Likewize and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited.
If you don’t want to open our Santander Edge Explorer current account and all the other benefits that come with it, we provide our Santander Travel Insurance.
Find out more about Santander Edge Explorer current account
A Santander Travel Insurance policy
Whether you're planning a journey for yourself or with your family, we can provide comprehensive travel insurance to give peace of mind in the event of a health or medical emergency, lost baggage or travel delays.
If you’re a Santander customer, you’ll get a 30% discount if you apply online for the Santander Travel Insurance.
Santander Travel Insurance is provided by Chubb European Group SE.
Find out more about travel insurance
Using Mobile Banking on your phone or device is an easy way to track what you're spending during your trip. Check the latest transactions and balances, transfer money and even report a lost or stolen card.
We recommend connecting to local Wi-Fi hotspots when using Mobile Banking abroad to avoid roaming data charges. Using the app through your mobile's 3G or 4G signal may incur charges, so please check with your mobile provider if your device is set up to use (has 'roaming') in the country you're visiting and what your charges may be.
Our free text and email alerts let you stay up-to-date with what's happening in your accounts while you're away.