For travellers just beginning their miles-hacking journey, the UOB PRVI Miles Card offers a surprisingly generous earning structure without the typical high-income hurdles. Whether you're flying out of Changi, shopping online from overseas retailers, or booking your next hotel stay, this card rewards you with up to 3 miles per dollar spent. 

Available in VISA, Mastercard, and American Express, UOB PRIV’s principal appeal lies in its uncapped miles-earning rate, making it a powerful workhorse for those who spend a significant amount, especially in foreign currency. In this review, we break down whether this entry-level miles card is the one to pack for your next trip.

The UOB PRVI Miles Card is designed for those who want strong overseas miles earning rates without needing to qualify for a premium-tier card. It’s ideal for individuals who frequently make travel bookings, overseas purchases, or large-ticket purchases and prefer a card that rewards them handsomely for it. 

Key benefits include:

• High miles earn rate on overseas and selected travel spend (3 mpd in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam; 2.4 mpd anywhere else)

• No cap on miles earned

• Welcome bonus for new cardholders

• Comes in three variants (VISA, Mastercard, AMEX) with slightly different perks

UOB PRVI Miles VISA, Mastercard, and American Express comparison

While all three UOB PRVI Miles variants offer the same strong miles earn rates and basic travel benefits, the American Express variant differs slightly, offering annual bonus miles and complimentary airport limo transfers.

When it comes to foreign currency spend, the UOB PRVI Miles outpaces many cards in its tier. Here’s how it compares:

Miles are awarded in the form of UNI$, the rewards currency used across UOB cards. UNI$ are converted into miles in blocks of 5,000 (equal to 10,000 miles).

The bonus earn rates apply when spending in foreign currency (FCY) or on eligible travel-related merchants, including airlines, hotel bookings, and online travel platforms. These transactions must:

• Be processed in foreign currency

• Be MCC-coded as eligible travel merchants (e.g., MCC 4722 for travel agencies, MCC 7011 for hotels, MCC 4511 for airlines)

• Be charged directly and not via third-party payment processors

• Avoid payment methods that obscure the MCC (e.g., mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay may disqualify your transaction if MCC cannot be clearly passed through)

Bonus partnerships with OTAs: Up to 8 mpd on Agoda and 6 mpd on Expedia

UOB PRVI Miles Cardholders can also enjoy higher earn rates through limited-time partnerships with Agoda and Expedia, when specific booking and payment conditions are met.

Current promotions for UOB PRVI Miles include:

• Via UOB Website: Up to 50,000 miles when you apply for the AMEX card, spend a minimum of $1,000 in the first 30 days, and pay the annual fee.

The UOB PRVI Miles Card earns rewards in the form of UNI$, UOB’s proprietary rewards currency. This is the same points system used across most UOB credit cards, including the UOB Lady’s, UOB EVOL, and UOB Preferred Platinum cards. UNI$ is essentially your gateway to miles, vouchers, and other redemptions.

The UOB PRVI Miles Card earns rewards in the form of UNI$, UOB’s proprietary rewards currency. This is the same points system used across most UOB credit cards, including the UOB Lady’s, UOB EVOL, and UOB Preferred Platinum cards. UNI$ is essentially your gateway to miles, vouchers, and other redemptions.

How UNI$ works with miles

UNI$ convert to air miles at a rate of 1 UNI$ = 2 miles, but conversions must be done in minimum blocks of 5,000 UNI$ (equivalent to 10,000 miles). You cannot redeem smaller denominations, so it’s important to plan your spend carefully to reach these milestones before your points expire.

Example:

Spend $1,000 overseas → Earn 600 UNI$ (since 2.4 mpd = 600 UNI$) → Convert to 1,200 miles

There is no simultaneous earning of miles and UNI$. Your miles are essentially the result of converting UNI$, not an independent earning stream.

Where to maximise UNI$ earnings

To earn UNI$ at the optimal rate, focus your spending in the following categories:

• Book with Agoda or Expedia — 8 and 6 mpd respectively

• Foreign currency transactions in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam — yields 3 mpd

• Other foreign currency transactions (online or offline) — yields 2.4 mpd

• Large payments through UOB Payment Facility (e.g. tax, tuition, insurance) — you’ll pay a fee but can generate large amounts of UNI$ if used wisely

Where not to use this card

There are many everyday transactions where the UOB PRVI Miles earns no UNI$ at all, such as:

• NETS and NETS-related transactions 

• Insurance premiums

• Utility bills

• Education fees (unless routed via Payment Facility)

• Government payments

• Wallet top-ups (e.g., GrabPay, YouTrip, Revolut)

UNI$ are valid for 2 years from the date they’re earned, which is shorter than cards like Citi PremierMiles (miles never expire) or DBS Altitude (miles valid for 3 years). If you’re not planning to travel or redeem soon, this can be a downside.

Comparison of miles/points expiry across popular travel cards

If you’re not a frequent flyer or need time to accumulate miles, expiry flexibility matters. Citi PremierMiles offers the most peace of mind for long-term redemptions, while UOB PRVI Miles rewards higher earn rates but demands more active management.

UOB’s transfer ecosystem is smaller than competitors like Citi or HSBC, but it still covers three major frequent flyer programmes:

While the $25 transfer fee is standard across Singapore banks, it can eat into the value of your miles if you're only transferring small amounts. That’s why it's often best to accumulate a larger chunk of UNI$ before converting, ideally in multiples of 10,000 UNI$ to make the most of your fee.

Avoid converting if:

• You don’t have a redemption in mind

• You won’t be travelling within the next 12–18 months

• You're far from your airline's sweet spot redemption thresholds

Auto-conversion for KrisFlyer

UOB offers auto-conversion for KrisFlyer miles — a feature that converts your UNI$ into miles automatically each month once you enrol.

Who should consider auto-conversion:

• Frequent Singapore Airlines travellers who redeem often

• People who find it hard to track points expiry

• Those with other UNI$-earning UOB cards and want seamless pooling

Beyond miles, the UOB PRVI Miles Card also includes lifestyle and travel benefits, though many are variant-specific and come with conditions.

Free lounge visits

UOB PRVI Miles Cardmembers enjoy 4 complimentary Priority Pass visits per calendar year, granting access to over 1,700 airport lounges and travel experiences worldwide. You can access lounges either via the Priority Pass app, or by presenting your physical UOB PRVI Miles Mastercard or Visa at the lounge (AMEX cardholders must use the app).

Want to earn miles on non-cardable spend like insurance premiums, income tax, rental, or school fees?

UOB lets you do this for a fee. The effective miles cost works out to be ~2 cents per mile, depending on the fee structure and amount.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is only included if the entire airfare is charged to your UOB PRVI Miles Card.

Coverage includes:

• Up to public conveyance personal accident cover 

• Up to S$50,000 emergency medical evacuation 

• Up to S$200 per insured person for travel delay

The UOB PRVI Miles Card is designed to be accessible, especially compared to premium travel cards. Here's what you’ll need to qualify:

• Singapore Citizens / PRs: Minimum annual income of $30,000

• Foreigners: Minimum annual income of $40,000

This makes it a great entry point for working adults who want strong miles-earning power without stepping into the high-income tier. It’s also a solid upgrade if you’re graduating from a cashback or student card and starting to travel more frequently.

• Annual Fee: $261.60 (inclusive of GST)

• Waiver: First-year waiver generally available. For AMEX cardholders, you qualify for an annual fee waiver if you spend S$50,000 or more on card anniversary date. 

Whether you should pay the fee comes down to this simple trade-off:

• If you want bonus miles: Go for the AMEX variant and make sure you hit the required spend threshold (S$50,000) to qualify for the bonus UNI$10,000 (equivalent to 20,000 miles).

  • Annual Fee: $261.60 (inclusive of GST)

  • Waiver: First-year waiver generally available. For AMEX cardholders, you qualify for an annual fee waiver if you spend S$50,000 or more on card anniversary date. 

• Whether you should pay the fee comes down to this simple trade-off:

  • If you want bonus miles: Go for the AMEX variant and make sure you hit the required spend threshold (S$50,000) to qualify for the bonus UNI$10,000 (equivalent to 20,000 miles).

  • If you prefer to avoid paying: Choose the Visa or Mastercard variant and request a waiver (usually granted if you spend regularly).

The UOB PRVI Miles Card stands out in the entry-level travel segment for a few key reasons:

• Best-in-class 2.4 mpd on overseas spend, with no minimum spend or cap

• Three card variants (AMEX, Visa, Mastercard) allow you to choose perks that suit your travel style

• Access to multiple airline programmes 

• UOB Payment Facility lets you earn miles on tax, tuition, and other non-cardable spend

• Simple eligibility criteria make this card ideal for young professionals and miles beginners

It’s a particularly strong fit if you travel often, spend in foreign currencies, and want to accumulate miles faster without jumping into $120,000-income-tier cards like the UOB Reserve or Citi Prestige.

While the card is powerful, there are trade-offs to consider before applying:

• Short UNI$ expiry window of 2 years means you need to monitor your points more actively than with competitors like Citi or DBS

• Limited airline transfer partners – those looking to redeem on Emirates, United, or other niche carriers may find it restrictive

• No automatic travel insurance unless you pay the full fare with the card – this may be inconvenient if you’re using miles or other partial payments

• Transfer fees apply to every conversion, a cost that adds up if you make frequent redemptions

If you're a savvy miles chaser with specific redemption goals, consider pairing this card with another that complements its weaknesses (e.g., DBS Altitude for Expedia bonuses, or Citi PremierMiles for expiry-free miles).

• Rewards: 2.4 mpd overseas; 1.4 mpd local

• Annual fee: $261.60 (first-year waiver for Visa/Mastercard; AMEX variant comes with bonus miles)

• Minimum annual income: $30,000 (Singaporeans/PRs), $40,000 (Foreigners).

SingSaver’s take

If you’re looking for a miles card that packs serious value without the premium income tag, the UOB PRVI Miles Card should be on your shortlist. It offers one of the highest overseas earn rates in Singapore, comes in three variants for lifestyle flexibility, and delivers consistent value for frequent travellers — especially those booking hotels, flights, and shopping abroad.

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