Lowest foreign-transaction-fee cards for travel
Compare cards by their overseas processing charge, network acceptance and fixed cost — the fee that quietly decides the travel ranking.
For: People who spend abroad and want to minimise currency-conversion cost. · Verified: 2026-07-30
Official-fact comparison
| Criterion | JCB Card W | Amazon Mastercard | Rakuten Card | Epos Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network | JCB. | Mastercard. | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express; available designs and combinations vary. | Visa. |
| Overseas processing charge | JCB applies its designated overseas processing charge (published around 1.60%) on foreign-currency use; verify the current rate. | Foreign-currency use incurs the designated overseas processing charge (published around 1.63%), lower than typical SMBC Mastercard products; verify the current rate. | A designated overseas transaction handling charge applies to foreign-currency transactions; check the current fee table before use. | A designated overseas transaction handling charge applies; verify the current rate. |
| Primary-card fee | No annual fee; new applications are limited to ages 18–39 and the fee remains free thereafter. | No annual fee. | No annual fee for the standard primary card. | No annual fee for the standard card. |
| Base earning rule | Enhanced base accrual relative to ordinary JCB cards; exclusions and rounding rules apply. | Around 1% on general spend, 2% on Amazon for Prime members and 1.5% at designated convenience stores; exclusions apply. | Generally 1 point per ¥100 of eligible card use; exclusions and different rates apply. | Generally 1 point per ¥200 of eligible use; exclusions and different rates apply. |
Methodology and limitations
We compare only current, official-issuer facts stored in each card record. Campaign awards are excluded from base rewards, and an unverified feature is shown as not confirmed rather than inferred.
This is a feature comparison, not a ranking of approval likelihood. Issuers make their own screening decisions. Fees, rewards and terms can change, so check the linked official sources before applying.
Safety check before applying
Does “first card” mean easier approval?
No. Inclusion is based on features and issuer-stated eligibility; we do not assess approval likelihood.
Are campaign rewards included in the base reward?
No. Awards with a period, enrollment or spending condition are kept separate from enduring terms.