Does Chase Sapphire have foreign transaction fees? No. Chase currently says both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve charge no foreign transaction fees when you make purchases outside the United States.
That makes overseas spending simpler, but it does not mean every foreign purchase is free from extra costs. Currency conversion, merchant surcharges, and dynamic currency conversion can still affect the final dollar amount.
Table of Contents
Does Chase Sapphire Have Foreign Transaction Fees?
Chase currently lists no foreign transaction fee for both major personal Sapphire cards. That means Chase does not add the common percentage-based foreign purchase fee when you use either card internationally.
The current Sapphire lineup includes the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve. Preferred currently has a $95 annual fee, while Reserve currently carries a $795 annual fee, but both provide the same basic no-foreign-transaction-fee feature.
Chase Sapphire Foreign Transaction Fees at a Glance
| Card | Foreign transaction fee | Current annual fee | Designed mainly for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $0 | $95 | Travel rewards with a lower annual fee |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $0 | $795 | Premium travel benefits and credits |
Your exact account terms can differ if you have an older or discontinued Sapphire product. Check the pricing section of your current card agreement if your card does not specifically say Preferred or Reserve.
What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee?
A foreign transaction fee is a charge that some credit card issuers add when you make certain international purchases. These fees are commonly calculated as a percentage of the transaction.
Chase explains that foreign transaction fees on cards that charge them commonly run around 1% to 3%. Both current Sapphire personal cards waive this type of fee.
For example, another card with a 3% foreign transaction fee could add $30 to $1,000 in qualifying international spending. Your Sapphire Preferred or Reserve would not generally add that specific Chase fee.
Does No Foreign Transaction Fee Mean No Currency Conversion?
No. A foreign transaction fee and a currency conversion are two different things.
If you buy something priced in euros, pesos, pounds, yen, or another currency, the payment network generally converts that amount into U.S. dollars. The exchange rate determines how many dollars appear on your account.
The converted dollar amount can therefore move slightly between the day you buy something and the day the transaction is processed. That difference does not automatically mean Chase charged you a foreign transaction fee.
Pro Tip: Compare your foreign receipt with the posted transaction before assuming a fee was added. A different dollar total may simply reflect currency conversion.
Should You Pay in U.S. Dollars or Local Currency?
A hotel, restaurant, ATM, or store overseas may ask whether you want to pay in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency. This is commonly known as dynamic currency conversion.
When you accept dynamic currency conversion, the merchant or payment provider generally performs the conversion for you. The exchange rate may include a markup.
Chase explains that dynamic currency conversion happens when a foreign purchase is converted into your home currency at the point of sale.
Because your Sapphire card already has no foreign transaction fee, you should generally compare the offered conversion carefully before accepting it. A merchant’s conversion cost is separate from a Chase foreign transaction fee.
Can a Merchant Charge You an Extra Card Fee Abroad?
Yes, depending on the merchant and local rules. A business may sometimes add a card surcharge or other payment-processing fee.
That charge comes from the merchant, not necessarily from Chase. Your no-foreign-transaction-fee benefit does not require Chase to reimburse a restaurant, hotel, or retailer surcharge.
Travelers on Reddit have reported situations where overseas merchants added their own fee for using a foreign card even though Sapphire itself charged no foreign transaction fee. These are individual reports and merchant practices vary significantly by country.
Does Chase Sapphire Preferred Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?
No. Chase explicitly states that Chase Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees for purchases made outside the United States.
Chase even uses international spending examples when describing the benefit. This makes the card different from some other Chase cards that may charge a foreign transaction fee.
You should still check the currency you are being charged in and any merchant surcharge before approving a transaction.
Does Chase Sapphire Reserve Charge Foreign Transaction Fees?
No. Chase currently states that Sapphire Reserve has no foreign transaction fees and can be used on a widely accepted global payment network.
Reserve also includes travel-related benefits beyond the fee waiver. However, those benefits have separate eligibility requirements and should not be confused with the foreign transaction fee policy.
The current Sapphire Reserve annual fee is $795. That fee is separate from international transaction costs.
Do Online Foreign Purchases Count?
A purchase does not always need to happen while you are physically overseas to involve foreign processing. An international website or merchant may process the payment outside the United States or charge you in another currency.
With Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, Chase currently does not impose a foreign transaction fee on qualifying international purchases. The merchant can still charge its own shipping, taxes, currency conversion, or service fees.
Check the checkout currency before submitting an online foreign purchase. The displayed U.S. dollar price may already include a merchant conversion.
What If Your Foreign Purchase Amount Looks Wrong?
Start by checking the original receipt and the currency used for the purchase. Confirm whether you selected local currency or U.S. dollars.
Then compare the posted charge with the amount shown while the transaction was pending. Exchange-rate movements can sometimes change the final amount slightly.
If you see a clearly separate fee that you do not understand, contact Chase using the number on the back of your card. Save the merchant receipt until the issue is resolved.
Common Mistakes: Do not automatically assume every extra foreign charge came from Chase. Merchant surcharges, hotel holds, tips, taxes, and dynamic currency conversion may all change the final amount.
What Happens With Foreign Refunds?
A refund from an overseas merchant may not equal the exact U.S. dollar amount of your original purchase. The refund can be converted using an exchange rate available when the credit is processed.
If the currency has moved since your original purchase, you may receive slightly more or less in dollar terms. That difference is generally separate from Chase’s no-foreign-transaction-fee policy.
Keep the refund receipt until the credit fully posts to your Sapphire account.
Is Chase Sapphire Accepted Internationally?
Chase describes Sapphire Reserve as operating on one of the most widely accepted global networks. Sapphire cards are commonly used for international travel, but no card is accepted everywhere.
Some small merchants may accept only cash, local cards, or a different card network. It can generally help to carry a backup payment method while traveling.
Fraud controls may also stop an unusual overseas transaction. Check your Chase app if a legitimate purchase is unexpectedly declined.
What Do Consumers Say About Using Chase Abroad?
Reddit discussions commonly describe Sapphire Preferred and Reserve as cards without foreign transaction fees. Travelers also frequently discuss paying in local currency rather than accepting a merchant’s U.S. dollar conversion.
BBB complaints and Trustpilot reviews include consumer complaints about Chase customer service, travel bookings, benefits, security restrictions, and billing issues. These sources contain individual experiences and do not show that Chase is charging foreign transaction fees on Sapphire cards contrary to its published terms.
Trustpilot’s Chase credit card profile is based on a relatively small review pool compared with Chase’s customer base. You should generally treat review sites as complaint signals rather than evidence of how your specific transaction will be handled.
Check Your Exact Sapphire Card Before Traveling
Most people asking about Sapphire mean Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve. Both currently have no foreign transaction fee.
However, older Chase customers may still hold legacy Sapphire products obtained years ago or through product changes. Reddit users occasionally report confusion about older cards that simply say “Sapphire.”
If that describes your card, open your latest cardmember agreement or contact Chase before relying on the fee policy abroad.
FAQs: Does Chase Sapphire Have Foreign Transaction Fees
Q. Does Chase Sapphire Preferred charge a foreign transaction fee?
A. No. Chase currently states that Sapphire Preferred charges no foreign transaction fees for purchases made outside the United States.
Q. Does Chase Sapphire Reserve have foreign transaction fees?
A. No. Chase currently lists no foreign transaction fee for Sapphire Reserve. Merchant charges and currency conversion can still affect what you ultimately pay.
Q. Should you choose local currency when using Chase Sapphire abroad?
A. You should generally review both options before accepting a merchant’s U.S. dollar conversion. Paying in local currency avoids letting the merchant set a dynamic currency conversion rate.
Q. Can you still see extra charges when Chase Sapphire has no foreign transaction fee?
A. Yes. A merchant surcharge, hotel authorization, tax, service charge, tip, or currency conversion can affect the total even when Chase itself charges no foreign transaction fee.
Conclusion
Does Chase Sapphire have foreign transaction fees? For the current Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards, the answer is no. Chase specifically lists no foreign transaction fees on both products.
You should still watch the currency choice and any merchant-added charges when traveling. Check your exact card terms before a trip, especially if you have an older Sapphire product rather than Preferred or Reserve.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Chase, merchant, card-network, exchange-rate, and credit card policies can change, so verify account-specific questions with Chase before making international purchases.
Meet the Author
