Best Credit Cards For Overseas Spending In Singapore (2021)

It might be a travel blackout year in 2021, but it doesn’t hurt to check out these top credit cards that specifically reward you for foreign currency spends – both online and offline.

The increasing number of travel corridors Singapore is establishing with countries is a sign of gradual easing. When essential travels and vaccinated travel lanes give way to leisure, many would surely pounce at the opportunity to cross borders, which means it is now a good time to start thinking about what credit cards would score you serious savings on overseas spending.

But don’t limit yourself to only look upon foreign transaction fees and complimentary travel insurance. Some credit cards still award the good ol’ cashback, rewards points and miles just by making online transactions in foreign currencies – in turn, you could offset your actual travel spending with those.

Here are the best credit cards for overseas spending we found in Singapore.

Best credit card for overseas spending

Best for rewards points and miles: UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card

The UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card has been the talk of the town. Why? because of its attractive bonus miles earn rate, complimentary personal accident and travel inconvenience insurance coverage of up to S$500,000 and the ability to redeem them from over 40 partner airlines.

Earn 6 miles per S$1 spent on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia, UOB Travel, and Agoda. Additionally, you can earn up to 2.4 miles for every S$1 spent overseas, 1.4 miles for every S$1 spent locally. The best part? No minimum spend and cap on miles earned at all times.

Best for online and mobile contactless payments: UOB EVOL Card

It’s not hard to understand why UOB EVOL Card has been millennials’ weapon of choice, what with its show-stealing 8% cashback on online and mobile contactless spend.

If you’re stuck at home in Singapore like most of us are, this card is perfect with its 8% cash back on online spend. You don't even need to step out of your house to get cashback! It's just one tap away.

UOB EVOL cardmembers will have to meet a minimum of S$600 per statement month to earn the maximum cashback rate. Keep in mind that the total cashback is capped at S$60 monthly.

Best for online shopping and courier: Standard Chartered Spree Card

A foreword on the Standard Chartered Spree Card: the card makes the list for its specialty in online shopping, in foreign currency. You may want to skip ahead if you’re looking for something that rewards you for purchases when you’re physically overseas.

This card lets you enjoy 3% cashback on online spends in foreign currency, making it worthwhile for cardmembers who regularly add-to-cart on major international e-commerce sites.

That's not all. The Standard Chartered Spree Card offers 2% cashback on all local online spends, contactless payments and mobile payments and 1% cashback on all other spend. Although no monthly minimum spend is required, a S$30 cap in monthly cashback is in force.

However, taking into account the foreign transaction fee of 3.50%, you’ll have to take it that the cashback is a bonus to offset the fee.

On the bright side, cardmembers enjoy shipping and storage discounts among other perks.

Best for cashback: Citi Cash Back Card

The Citi Cash Back Card is widely recognised for its generous cashback perk, but one little known fact is that this card make for a fabulous choice for overseas spending.

This card lets you enjoy 6% cashback on dining, 8% cashback on groceries, 8% cashback on petrol locally and globally.

What's even better is that you can get up to S$1 million in travel insurance coverage when you charge your travel tickets to this card and up to 20.88% savings at Esso and Shell, inclusive of 8% cashback for petrol spending.

Overall, this card is great for local and overseas spending! Just remember that in order to earn the 8% and 6% cashback, a minimum monthly spend of S$800 is required. A cashback cap of S$80 per statement month applies, too.

Best for trips: Maybank Family & Friends Card

If you regularly travel for work or leisure, the Maybank Family & Friends Card is a great travel buddy. You can earn 8% cashback globally on your five preferred cashback categories including: groceries; dining and food delivery; transport; data communication and online TV streaming; retail and pets; online fashion; entertainment; and pharmacy and wellness. 

While there is a relatively high minimum monthly spend of S$800 per calendar month you need to hit in order to earn the generous 8% cashback, take heart that you can chalk up a maximum of S$125 cashback each calendar month, with each category of choice earning a maximum of S$25 per calendar month. That’s not shabby at all! 

Apart from gaining access to enticing Maybank Card privileges across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, you can also look forward to  earning 3X interest on your child’s savings with Maybank Family Plus.

New cardmembers get a bonus perk: you can now select your preferred card design that best suits your aesthetics.

Best for Shopping: Standard Chartered Rewards+ Credit Card

It’d be fair to assume that a good portion of time spent overseas is devoted to shopping and dining. In that case, Standard Chartered Rewards+ Credit Card is a solid pick for shopaholics and foodies alike.

This card lets you earn 10X reward points (one base point and nine bonus points) for every S$1 spent in foreign currency on overseas retail, dining and travel transactions, 5X (one base point and four bonus points) reward points for every S$1 spent on local dining transactions and 1X reward point for every S$1 spent on all other eligible spend.

The best part? There’s no minimum spend required to start earning your rewards points. 

That said, bear in mind that there is a 20,000 bonus rewards points cap that applies to your local dining transactions and foreign currency retail, dining and travel transactions.

The 20,000 bonus rewards points cap applies to a full year from the approval date of your Standard Chartered Rewards+ Credit Card.

Best for high spenders: CIMB Visa Infinite Card

The CIMB Visa Infinite is the ‘Black Card’ of the bank – quite literally. With its S$120,000 minimum annual income eligibility criteria, you’d know this is meant for the select few. If you happen to be in said group, you’re in for a treat on the overseas spending front.

For one, you can score an unlimited 2% cashback on all travel, overseas and online spend in foreign currencies so long as you meet the minimum spend of S$2,000 each statement month. All other eligible spend will net you 1% unlimited cashback.

For discerning customers who enjoy living it up, the CIMB Visa Infinite lets you indulge in  premium golfing privileges, 24/7 Visa Infinite Concierge, up to 25% dining discounts in airports worldwide, 5% discount on Airport Limousine transfers in 300 cities, three complimentary global airport lounge access per year and more. 

Another plus point? The CIMB Visa Infinite comes with an annual fee waiver for life – a rarity for premium credit cards for sure. 

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