Best Credit Cards for Overseas Spending
For heavy foreign-currency spend, look for a high overseas earn rate — but remember every card still charges a foreign transaction fee, so the extra miles need to beat that cost.
- Miles
Why it fits: Strong foreign-currency earn rate, geared to overseas spenders.
Annual fee S$261.60 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +First-year annual fee waived (S$261.60 thereafter)
- +~2.4 mpd base on foreign spend, good for overseas use
- +Airport lounge access included
- +Visa option means wider acceptance than Amex variant
Cons
- −S$261.60 annual fee from year two onwards
- −Local rate only ~1.4 mpd, weak for SG spend
- −Standard foreign-currency fee still applies on FX spend
- Miles
Why it fits: Good overseas miles rate with non-expiring miles.
Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +Beginner-friendly all-rounder for general spend + travel
- +Miles never expire, so no rush to redeem
- +Decent ~2.2 mpd on overseas spend for travel
- +Airport lounge access included
Cons
- −S$196.20 annual fee; auto spend-waiver ends Aug 2026
- −Low ~1.3 mpd base rate on local spend
- −Visa-only, no Amex perks for this card
- 3Miles
Citi PremierMiles Card
Citibank
Why it fits: Solid foreign earn and flexible, non-expiring miles.
Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +Citi Miles never expire, so no rush to redeem
- +~2.2 mpd on foreign spend, good for travel
- +Wide transfer-partner list for flexible redemptions
- +Lounge access; first-year fee waived
Cons
- −S$196.20 annual fee from year two onward
- −Low ~1.2 mpd on local spend
- −Not especially beginner-friendly
- 4Miles
Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card
Standard Chartered
Why it fits: Competitive foreign base rate as an all-rounder.
Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000
Pros
- +Up to 3 mpd on selected transport, grocery & food delivery
- +Solid all-rounder: ~1.2 mpd local, ~2 mpd foreign base
- +Points convert to airline miles for flexible redemptions
- +Comes with lounge access
Cons
- −S$196.20 annual fee from year 2 (first year waived)
- −3 mpd capped and limited to selected categories only
- −Low ~1.2 mpd on general local spend
Frequently asked questions
- What's the best card for overseas spending in Singapore?
- One with a high foreign-currency earn rate whose extra rewards beat the foreign transaction fee. Compare the net value for your travel spend, or consider a multi-currency card.
- Can I avoid the foreign transaction fee?
- Standard credit cards almost always charge it. A multi-currency card or account can reduce some conversion costs — and always pay in the local currency abroad, never SGD.