Using your card abroad

You don't need to tell us if you're going away 🛫

We won’t block your card if we see you using it in a different country. Instead, we'll tell you the exchange rate for each transaction and send you a spending summary of your trip when you get home.

We don't charge any fees for paying by card when abroad 🙅‍♂️

We also don’t mark up the exchange rate, so you’re always getting the best possible deal. You can check the current exchange rate on the Mastercard website.

Pay in the local currency whenever you can

If you're given the option, always choose to pay in the local currency. Some card machines will ask if you want to pay in pounds, but that means they'll give you a worse exchange rate. Pick the local currency and you won't pay any hidden mark-up fees.

You might need to use 'magstripe' for ATMs

You can use your card at any Mastercard ATM. We automatically disable transactions at 'magnetic stripe' (or 'magstripe') ATMs and card machines, because they're less safe than using chip and PIN. But in some countries they're standard, and you might need to use them. You can turn on your Monzo card's magstripe for 7 days by tapping here and then toggling ‘Magstripe ATMs’ on.

If a card machine or ATM asks which account you'd like to use, we suggest picking 'credit', as it's usually the most reliable.

Understand your overseas ATM cash withdrawal fees

There’s a fee of 3% for withdrawing cash over your ATM limits. Tap here and then 'ATM Allowances' to see your limits.

Just be aware that some ATMs will charge you a fee for taking out cash (which we don’t receive), so we recommend using a free machine whenever you can.

Read more about fees.

Take a spare card, just in case

Your Monzo card should work anywhere that accepts Mastercard, and it does work in the vast majority of cases, but some customers do report occasional issues. It's always a good idea to have a back-up, just in case. The Community Forum is the best place to ask questions about specific locations – and there are lots of travel tips there, too.