Best credit cards to use abroad in 2026: fees by Chilean bank

Updated November 5, 2026. For traveling or buying on international websites, the number that weighs most on a credit card is the foreign purchase fee. In Chile it ranges from 0% to 2.5% of the amount depending on the card, and on debit cards it can reach 1.9%. With the observed dollar at CLP 971 on November 5, spending US$1,000 on a card that charges 2.5% adds about CLP 24,274 in fees alone.

This guide compares the charges issuers publish in their official fee schedules and product pages, checked on November 5, 2026: purchases, cash advances and other charges outside Chile, plus maintenance costs and travel benefits. Subscriptions to foreign services (music, video, apps) also count as international purchases, as Banco de Chile warns in its Student Plan.

The table summarizes, by card, the foreign purchase fee, the charge for cash advances outside Chile and the annual maintenance cost in pesos (November 5, 2026 UF). It can be sorted by column or searched by bank.

Cards with 0% on international purchases include all Banco de Chile cards reviewed, CMR Falabella (its annex reports "US$0.00 + 0.00%" for advances too), Banco Ripley cards ("0% national and international fee" on purchases and advances), abcvisa and Itaú Black and Legend. At Bci, the 2.5% applies to Visa Classic, Gold and Platinum, but not to Signature, Mastercard Black or the BciPlus family, according to its fee schedule.

To size the difference, we calculated how much is paid in fees alone on US$1,000 of purchases outside Chile, at the November 5 observed dollar (CLP 971). With a 0% card the fee cost is zero; at 2.5%, CLP 24,274. Debit cards also charge: CuentaRUT, 1.9% with a minimum of US$0.5 per transaction, according to ChileAtiende, and the debit card of Banco de Chile's Student Plan, 1.92%.

The dollar itself is the other cost. In 2026 the monthly average observed dollar went from CLP 884 in January to CLP 982 in October, according to the Central Bank. That is why the fee is only part of it: the rest depends on the exchange rate on the day of payment. We track it in our article on the dollar today in Chile, and for trips to Europe, in the one on the euro today.

Purchases abroad are charged to an international limit in dollars and arrive on a separate statement. Scotiabank explains in its fees that if that amount is not paid in dollars by the deadline on the international statement, it is transferred to the national limit in pesos. Bci, for its part, calculates its percentage fees abroad using the observed dollar on the date the purchase is reported to the processor.

Cash advances outside Chile are the most expensive operation. Banco de Chile charges 2.5% + US$2.5 per advance abroad on its Visa Fan, Platinum, Signature and Mastercard Black (exempt on the Infinite and CLP 0 on the Universal); Bci charges UF 0.23 per advance (about CLP 9,493), and UF 0.30 on some premium cards. Banco Falabella and Banco Ripley report 0% fees on international advances, although the advance accrues interest from day one.

• Banco de Chile: the Visa Infinite gives access to more than 1,200 VIP lounges at airports; Visa Fan and Platinum earn redeemable Dólares-Premio.
• Itaú: according to its launch, the Black includes 6 visits a year to VIP lounges in Chile and the Legend adds 4 visits abroad, 2 days of parking at Santiago airport and 2 transfers a year.
• Scotiabank: Visa Singular, Signature and Wealth Management report free VIP lounge access; Visa Wealth Management, "no international fees", according to its website.
• Tenpo Black: LoungeKey VIP lounge access at more than a thousand airports for US$35 per person, plus baggage and car rental insurance, according to its page.
• Banco Ripley Black: charges 0.35 UF a month and adds VIP lounge access, baggage protection and travel insurance, according to its website.

With the published charges, profiles can be matched, without this being a recommendation to sign up for any card. What changes from one traveler to another is how much they spend abroad, whether they need cash and whether they use lounges or insurance.

• Occasional trips or purchases on foreign websites: a 0% international fee matters more than benefits. Among the cards reviewed, the lowest-maintenance card with 0% is Banco de Chile's Universal, at CLP 34,670 a year, followed by CMR Falabella at CLP 42,100.
• Travelers who need cash: advances are what varies most between banks; Banco Falabella and Banco Ripley report a 0% fee, Banco de Chile 2.5% + US$2.5 on several cards and Bci UF 0.23.
• Frequent travelers who use lounges: premium cards charge 0.30 to 0.60 UF a month but add VIP lounge access and insurance; Banco de Chile's Visa Infinite costs CLP 173,352 a year and Itaú Legend CLP 297,174.
• Those who already have a 2.5% card: before switching, add up how much they spend abroad each year; on US$1,000 the fee is around CLP 24,000, and on US$5,000 about CLP 121,000.

Debit or credit abroad? Debit cards work, but the ones reviewed charge for each international purchase (1.9% for CuentaRUT and 1.92% for Banco de Chile's Student Plan) and deduct the money instantly in pesos. A 0% credit card avoids that fee and keeps the purchase in dollars until the payment date, although the exchange rate may move in that period.

What to check before traveling

• Enable international use of the card in the bank's app if the issuer requires it; BancoEstado, for example, requires it for the CuentaRUT.
• Check the international limit: it is separate from the national one and may be lower.
• Pay in the local currency when a merchant offers to charge in Chilean pesos: the merchant then does the conversion at its own exchange rate.
• Pay the international statement in dollars within the deadline to avoid transfer to the national limit.

If the card will be used mostly in Chile, the criteria change: our comparison of the best credit cards by bank lists every fee, and credit cards with no maintenance fee covers those that can reach CLP 0. For travelers without a credit card, the CuentaRUT works abroad with its 1.9% charge.

This information is journalistic and educational, not financial advice. Check the conditions and the total cost (CAE) with the institution before signing up.

Which credit card charges no fee abroad?

Banco de Chile's cards, CMR Falabella, Banco Ripley's cards, abcvisa and Itaú Black and Legend report 0% on international purchases. At Bci, Signature, Mastercard Black and BciPlus cards do not charge either.

How much do banks charge for purchases abroad?

Between 0% and 2.5% of the amount on the credit cards reviewed. On debit, the CuentaRUT charges 1.9% with a US$0.5 minimum.

Do subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify count as purchases abroad?

Yes, if the service bills as an international payment, as Banco de Chile warns. In that case the card's international fee applies.

Is it worth withdrawing cash with a credit card abroad?

It is the most expensive operation: besides interest from day one, Banco de Chile charges 2.5% + US$2.5 on several cards and Bci UF 0.23 per advance.

What happens if I don't pay the international statement in dollars?

According to Scotiabank, the amount moves to the national limit in pesos, under the card's conditions.