How to withdraw money abroad: Fees, rates & best ATM cards 2025

If you’re off on a trip abroad you’ll need to have access to cash in the local currency during your stay. Carrying all your travel money as cash isn’t safe, and travelers checks aren’t widely used in many countries. So what’s the alternative?

Read on for our guide to overseas ATM withdrawals, including fees, tips to save money when paying abroad, and some alternatives to make international withdrawals, such as using an online provider like Wise or KOHO.

Quick summary: Best ways to get cash abroad

• You can make ATM withdrawals overseas with a Canadian issued debit, credit or prepaid card

• You may need to issue a travel notice to inform the bank you’re headed away, or you might need to activate your card for international use before you leave

• International ATM withdrawals can have higher fees compared to domestic, including a withdrawal charge of about 2-5 CAD with a debit card, plus a foreign transaction fee of about 2.5-3%

• Specialist alternatives like Wise or KOHO have debit cards which can offer some no fee ATM withdrawals every month, as well as mid-market rate currency conversion

Can I withdraw money in a different country?

Yes. You can withdraw cash in the local currency when you’re overseas by finding an ATM which accepts your Canadian issued debit or credit card.

• To use your Canadian card overseas you may need to inform your bank of your travel plans, and you’ll need to know your PIN.

• There may be fees to pay for making an overseas cash withdrawal, including foreign transaction fees or cash advance fees if you use a credit card.

• There may also be limits on the amount you can withdraw on a daily or monthly basis which you’ll need to be aware of.

If you’re unsure of how your specific card will work overseas, or the associated fees and limits, you can contact your card issuer directly to ask for more information.

How does an international ATM withdrawal work?

• Withdrawing money abroad using ATMs works similarly to domestic withdrawals. However, you’ll need to make sure your credit, debit or prepaid card is activated for international use, and issued on a network that’s globally accepted, such as Mastercard and Visa

• When you withdraw money overseas, you’ll receive your cash in the local currency wherever you are. If you don’t have a balance in that currency in your bank account, the card network will calculate the cost to you in CAD using their exchange rate, and debit that amount in dollars from your account

• Having a travel optimized account from a provider like Wise which offers multi-currency balance options can be convenient as you can exchange your CAD to the currency you need ahead of time, to easily keep track of your travel budget

• Using a multi-currency account is a smart move as it allows you to convert between balances at a very low cost, either in advance or at the point of payment, and then withdraw directly in the local currency when you need cash

What is the best way to withdraw money overseas?

You can withdraw cash from ATMs overseas fairly easily in most cases. ATMs are found widely in most towns and cities, although it’s worth bearing in mind that there are some more rural destinations where you may struggle to find one.

Generally you can choose to make ATM withdrawals with a debit, credit or prepaid card.

• Debit cards can be a cheap option, particularly if you have a travel card which charges no ATM fee and uses a good exchange rate for currency conversion.

• Credit cards often have a cash advance fee and interest which starts immediately for cash withdrawals, which can make them quite pricey.

• Prepaid cards vary a lot in terms of fees, but can present decent value if you choose one which has been designed with international travel in mind.

If you plan to make overseas cash withdrawals you’ll need to make sure your debit, credit or prepaid card can be used internationally. In some cases you’ll need to take a specific activation step for this service, or you’ll need to tell the card issuer you’re heading overseas to stop anti-fraud technology blocking card use.

You’ll also need to make sure you’re aware of the fees that will apply to your specific card when using it abroad. Some international travel card services like Wise or KOHO offer no-fee ATM withdrawals overseas, but with bank issued cards it’s pretty standard to meet withdrawal and foreign transaction fees for overseas use. We’ll look more at the best ATM cards for international use, next.

Best ATM cards for international travel

While you can use most credit or debit cards in overseas ATMs, there are some which may be more convenient or cheaper than others. Here are a few you might want to consider using – we’ll walk through the general steps to make an international ATM withdrawal in just a moment.

*Details correct at time of writing – 24th January 2025

Wise card international ATM withdrawals

Wise cards can be used for ATM withdrawals in 150+ countries, wherever the card network is supported. You’ll be able to make some free ATM withdrawals every month before any Wise fees apply, and currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate with low fees.

Wise accounts support multi-currency balances in 40+ currencies, you can choose to either add money in CAD and convert to the currency you need in your destination in advance, or to let the card do the conversion for you when you withdraw.

The Wise card is optimized for international travel, so there’s no need to inform the provider of your travel plans. Just make sure your card is activated and you know your PIN, and you can use it overseas just as conveniently as you can at home.

Learn more on Wise card review, and How to use Wise card abroad for travel.

KOHO card international ATM withdrawals

As part of the Mastercard network, the KOHO prepaid Visa card is widely accepted at ATMs in many countries worldwide, making withdrawing cash abroad simple.

• If you’re on the Extra or Everything plans, you’ll get 1 free international ATM withdrawal per month, with additional withdrawals costing $2–$3 CAD.

• For Essential plan users, all international ATM withdrawals incur the $2–$3 fee, plus a 1.5% foreign transaction fee.

  You don’t need to inform KOHO of your travel plans, but make sure your card is activated, and you know your PIN. While KOHO doesn’t charge extra for foreign ATM use beyond the standard out-of-network fee, ATM providers may apply their own fees, which aren’t reimbursed.

Additionally, all KOHO cards offer cash back rewards on every purchase, with no foreign transaction fees on the premium Extra and Everything plans.

Learn more about it on KOHO international fees.

RBC international ATM withdrawals

You can use an RBC debit card for overseas withdrawals at ATMs displaying the PLUS symbol for easy access to your Canadian dollar accounts, but you’ll need to make sure you have a 4-digit PIN for your card.

Some RBC cars have an alphabetical PIN - no longer accepted at some international ATMs. You can update your PIN to a numeric version at an RBC ATM or branch before traveling.

There’s no need to notify RBC of your travel plans, but it’s important to keep your contact details up to date in case the bank needs to reach you. International withdrawal fees are $3.00 for U.S. ATMs and $5.00 for ATMs outside Canada and the US.

A 2.5% foreign transaction fee also applies to any purchases or withdrawals made in foreign currencies.

Can I use my RBC debit card internationally?

RBC debit cards are accepted for making purchases around the world and can be used to access ATMs anywhere the PLUS logo is displayed.

International ATM withdrawals incur a $3 fee in the US and $5 in other countries outside Canada, plus a 2.5% foreign transaction fee for currency conversions. You also don’t need to notify RBC before traveling, as their fraud detection systems monitor your account for unusual activity.

TD Bank international ATM withdrawals

TD Bank debit cards provide convenient access to your accounts at over 2 million ATMs worldwide on the Visa network. You can withdraw cash up to your daily limit or take a cash advance from your TD Credit Card.

International ATM withdrawal fees vary based on location: $3 for withdrawals in the US or Mexico and $5 for withdrawals outside of Canada, the U.S., or Mexico, plus a 3.5% foreign transaction fee on the amount withdrawn.

There’s no need to notify TD Bank before traveling, as their fraud detection systems monitor for suspicious activity. However, you’ll need to keep your contact information up to date, including your mobile number, to receive TD Fraud Alerts in case they need to verify a transaction.

TD Bank also offers some debit and credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, such as the TD First ClassSM Visa Signature Credit Card and accounts like TD Beyond Checking and TD Premier Checking.

Can I use my TD Bank debit card internationally?

TD Bank debit cards are accepted for purchases anywhere in the world and cash withdrawals internationally at ATMs on the Visa network. Fees for ATM withdrawals vary, including $3 in the US or Mexico and $5 in other countries outside of the US, with a 3% foreign transaction fee applied to currency conversions.

For frequent travelers, TD Bank also offers credit and debit cards with no foreign transaction fees, such as those linked to the TD Beyond Checking account or the TD First ClassSM Visa Signature Credit Card.

Withdrawing money at ATMs overseas: Step by step

Withdrawing cash at ATMs abroad is a handy solution for anyone who wants to have cash on hand while traveling. While card use is pretty common globally, there are still some countries where cash is king – and some transaction types, such as buying small items in a market, where using cash makes more sense than using your card.

Here are a few things to consider when you’re using your Canadian issued debit, credit or prepaid card overseas.

Let your bank know that you’re traveling abroad

Some banks require you to activate your card specifically for international use, and some also need you to inform them of your travel plans. This is because fraud detection tools may pick up unusual patterns of spending and block the card if the bank is not aware that you’re overseas. If you need to issue a travel notice, you may be able to do so online, or by calling your bank.

• Make sure your card is activated for international use, and tell the bank you plan to travel if that’s required

• Update your contact information with your bank in case they need to get in touch while you’re abroad

• Check your bank’s international ATM limits as they may be different to domestic limits

• Consider getting a specific travel card from a provider like Wise – you won’t need to inform the card issuer when you travel, and cards offer some no-fee ATM withdrawals, too

Choose the right ATM

When you’re away from home you may need to do a little research to find ATMs which you can use, and which can help you keep down the costs of international withdrawals. Some Canadian banks have partnerships with banks in other countries, which allow you to make low or no fee withdrawals, for example – but you’ll need to check what your options are with your bank before you travel. We’ll cover more on fees, and how you can cut them, later on.

• Look for ATMs that support your card type (Visa or Mastercard for example) – the network logo will be prominently displayed

• Check if you need to find a specific international ATM – in some countries, such as Japan, not all ATMs can accept foreign cards so you need to look out for specific terminals

• Watch the ATM screen for warnings about extra fees – some ATM operators add a charge, which is on top of anything you need to pay your bank for the withdrawal

• Some international banks have ATMs in different countries. Withdrawing from the same bank as in your home country will help you save on fees

• Travel cards like Wise are on the Visa or Mastercard networks, which allows global coverage as well as low costs

Select the type of withdrawal

At an overseas ATM you might find you’re asked if you’d prefer to pay in CAD or the local currency wherever you are. It’s always best to pay in the local currency, as this means your bank or card network will manage the conversion – usually with a far better exchange rate than that used by the ATM.

• Always choose the local currency to withdraw money, to get the lowest overall costs

• The amount will be converted back to CAD according to the currency exchange rate of the day to be billed to your account

• Cards like the Wise card can automatically convert your CAD balance to the currency you need, using the mid-market exchange rate

Withdrawal fees abroad

You’ll often find that there are costs to withdraw money overseas. In fact, you may pay any of the following charges, depending on your specific card:

Fees charged by your bank or card issuer – these costs will be set out in your account terms and conditions. Major Canadian banks can charge around 2-5 CAD per withdrawal, although alternatives like Wise and KOHO offer some free withdrawals every month

Fees charged by the ATM operator – this fee is paid to the bank or network that owns the ATM, and can vary a lot. Where this charge is applied you’ll usually be shown a message on screen before you confirm your withdrawal, so you can find another ATM if you’d rather not pay the extra fee

Exchange rate markup fees – you’ll usually pay for currency conversion. This may be in the form of a foreign transaction fee of around 2.5-3%, or it may be as a conversion fee added to the exchange rate being used to convert your CAD to the required currency

Advantages and disadvantages of withdrawing money abroad

Extra tips when withdrawing cash abroad

Let’s round off with some final hints and tips to make international ATM withdrawals easier and cheaper:

• Create a multi-currency account: With a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise you can convert your balance to the currency you need and make withdrawals directly from your account with a debit card. This is often cheap and also makes budget planning far easier as you can see what money you have in the local currency in your destination

• Avoid non-bank operated ATMs: Picking an ATM that’s attached to a bank rather than in a store, mall or bar, can mean lower fees and a better exchange rate. ATMs in places like bars can often add in extra fees as they know customers don’t have any alternative close by

• Check the transaction limits: Many banks and providers set limits for the maximum amount that can be withdrawn, which may be lower overseas compared to at home. You may be able to adjust these limits from your account – with Wise, as an example, you can set your own single transaction, daily and monthly limits to suit your needs

• Make sure to bring some cash with you: It can be reassuring to convert some cash before your departure to avoid last-minute surprises, like finding that your card isn’t working in ATMs, or reaching the withdrawal limit

Learn more about how to avoid international ATM fees.

Can I use my Canadian debit card in the US?

Yes, most Canadian debit cards can be used in the US at ATMs and for purchases, provided they are part of a recognized network like Visa, Mastercard, or PLUS. Fees for international transactions may vary depending on your bank and account type, and foreign transaction fees could apply to purchases or withdrawals made in US dollars.

For lower fees and a better exchange rate, options like the Wise card and the KOHO prepaid Visa card can be great alternatives.

Both cards have no foreign transaction fees, competitive exchange rates, and are accepted in the US. KOHO’s Extra and Everything plans include cash back rewards and one free international ATM withdrawal per month, while the Wise card allows free ATM withdrawals up to 350 CAD per month and low fees for currency conversion making them a convenient choice for travelers.

Conclusion: Best ways to get cash abroad

Using ATMs to withdraw cash when you travel is convenient and secure. If you pick a travel card from a provider like Wise, it can also be a pretty cheap option.

Using a travel optimized card can mean you get some no fee ATM withdrawals every month, as well as mid-market exchange rate currency conversion. This means you avoid foreign transaction fees which push up costs by about 2.5-3% in many cases. Use this guide to decide on your best option for travel cash, based on your personal preference and destination.

Overseas ATM withdrawals FAQs

Is it possible to withdraw money with a debit card abroad?

Yes. You can use an international debit card easily overseas, by looking out for the card network logo on an ATM. Visa and Mastercard are usually the most accepted networks, offering great global coverage. You might need to tell your bank you’re traveling or activate your card for international use before you leave Canada.

How much does it cost to withdraw money abroad?

Banks can often have ATM debit card fees of about 2-5 CAD, plus a foreign transaction fee of about 2.5-3%. Credit cards often have far higher fees. However, this does vary so you’ll need to check the terms and conditions of your own account before you travel. A good option is to get a multi-currency travel card before you go, from a provider like Wise to get some no fee ATM withdrawals no matter where you are in the world.