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Using a credit card overseas

Credit cards are widely accepted in most countries so you don’t need to carry as much cash. You also have the added reassurance that if your card is lost or stolen while away, we'll get a replacement card couriered to you and even provide emergency cash if required.

Keeping transactions safe and secure

Westpac credit cards are protected by CardShield™, which includes fraud detection, Online Protection and CHIP security features. Where possible, use a PIN instead of your signature to verify credit card purchases.

Our Westpac Added Online Security Service also protects you when you’re shopping online with participating online retailers. Make sure you keep your mobile phone number and email address up to date.

Perfecting your PIN

If you've changed your PIN from the 4 digit number we issued to a 6 digit PIN, be aware that some transactions may not be successful overseas. You may also encounter an error with your 4 digit PIN in some countries requiring a 6 digit PIN.

 

Overseas travel notification

It's a good idea to let us know when and where you're heading overseas, and intend using your credit cards.

We'll record your travel details and monitor the security of any accounts or credit cards while you're away.
 

You can use our card at many places overseas to ...

  • Make purchases at over 28 million locations worldwide
  • Access cash at over 900,000 ATMs worldwide.

Fees for using your card overseas

A Foreign Transaction Fee is payable as a percentage of the Australian dollar value of any Foreign Transaction. The percentage will vary depending on the applicable credit card scheme:

1. Transactions in foreign currency

  • Visa and Mastercard: 3.0%

2. Transactions in Australian dollars and the merchant or financial institution accepting the card is located overseas:

  • Visa and Mastercard: 3.0%

Note: It may not always be clear to you that the Merchant or entity processing the transaction is located outside Australia.

One-card banking

If you currently withdraw money from your linked Savings and/or Cheque account(s) via your credit card it is important to know that this functionality is not available when using overseas ATMs, including Global Alliance ATMs.

To ensure access to your Savings and/or Cheque account funds when overseas obtain a Debit Mastercard® or visit a Westpac branch. Terms and Conditions and Fees and charges may apply.

Countries where Westpac Group cards cannot be used

The Westpac Group and Card Schemes operate in many overseas locations and must comply with economic and trade sanctions at all times. Some locations are highly sanctioned and present significant sanctions compliance risk. Westpac cards are not accessible and cannot be used in the following affected locations:

  • Cuba
  • Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine
  • Iran
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • Sudan
  • Syria
Things you should know

World Mastercard®, Mastercard® and the Mastercard brand mark are registered trademarks, and PayPass is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Visa is a registered trademark of Visa Worldwide PTe Limited.