Using your debit card abroad | Barclays (2024)

Today’s exchange rates

We’ve made our exchange rates more transparent, so it’s even easier to see how much making a transaction abroad will cost.

This table shows our exchange rate for certain currencies compared to the rate published by the European Central Bank (ECB), to help you understand how much it costs to use your debit card abroad.

When you buy something or take money out of a cash machine in the EU, you may be able to choose whether to pay in sterling rather than the local currency. If so, the retailer or cash machine provider will give you a rate as a mark-up over the ECB rate.

You can use this table to decide whether you want to let the retailer or cash machine provider convert the currency using their rate, or if you’d like to use ours instead. If you’d like us to make the conversion, please pay or withdraw in local currency rather than sterling.

As we explain in our customer terms, we calculate our exchange rate using the reference exchange rate for the Visa card scheme.

In most circ*mstances, Visa converts transactions into sterling using the Visa Exchange Rate on the day the transaction is authorised. However for a small number of transactions the conversion may happen on the day the transaction is processed. As this may be a day or two later, the exchange rate may be different on that day.

To work out how much your transaction costs in sterling, divide the value in local currency by the rates shown in the table.

In most circ*mstances, Visa converts transactions into sterling using the Visa Exchange Rate on the day the transaction is authorised. However for a small number of transactions the conversion may happen on the day the transaction is processed. As this may be a day or two later, the exchange rate may be different on that day.

To work out how much your transaction costs in sterling, divide the value in local currency by the rates shown in the table.

• The non-sterling transaction fee

  If you use your debit card abroad or pay in a currency that’s not sterling, we’ll charge you a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee. This includes cash withdrawals in a foreign currency outside the UK, debit card payments in a foreign currency, refunds and shopping online on a non-UK website. If you’re withdrawing cash, the cash machine provider may apply other charges.

• This table shows what we’ll charge when you use your debit card abroad, or when you pay in a currency other than sterling (either abroad or in the UK).

  100 Euro transaction	Converted amount	100 Euro transaction 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee	Total
  Making purchases abroad (including when you are being refunded)1	£90.22	£2.70	£92.92
  Withdrawing cash from any ATM abroad2	£90.22	£2.70	£92.92
  Getting cash over the counter at a bank abroad (including Barclays)	£90.22	£2.70	£92.92
  Buying foreign currency before you travel from the Barclays Travel Line	£93.11	£0	£93.11

  See Also

  How Many Debit Cards Can I Have on My Checking Account

• This is how we’ll refer to the transactions on your statement:

  Visa exchange rate

  This is the exchange rate used by Visa to convert the transaction into sterling on the day Visa processes the transaction. This might not be the same day when the transaction took place.

  Non-sterling transaction fee (previously referred to as ‘commission’ and ‘foreign exchange charge’)

  A 2.99% fee charged by us for using your debit card abroad when making purchases, withdrawing cash or for refunds. You’ll also pay this fee whenever you don’t pay in sterling (either abroad or in the UK) such as shopping online at a non-UK website.

  Date

  This is the date on which the transaction took place (might be different to the day on which Visa processed the transaction).

• Our fraud-detection systems are constantly verifying transactions.

  • There’s no need to tell us you’re going abroad – but make sure we have your up-to-date contact details
  • If we’re concerned about a transaction made using your card, we’ll get in touch to check it’s genuine
  • If we have your mobile number, we’ll send a text to ask if you know about the transaction – and you can confirm it by replying
  • If your card is lost or stolen call our 24-hour emergency helpline. We can arrange some emergency cash for you

1. The Non-Sterling Transaction Fee will also apply whenever you do not pay in sterling (either abroad or in the UK), for example, when you shop online at a non-UK website.^{Return to reference}
   

2. In addition to the Non-Sterling Transaction Fee and the Non-Sterling Cash Fee, the ATM provider may apply other charges.^{Return to reference}