By 
Direct Answer
Yes. The Citi Double Cash Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase made in a foreign currency or processed outside the United States. On a $2,000 international trip, that is $60 in fees on top of your spending, effectively wiping out the card’s 2% cash back earnings and then some.
The Citi Double Cash is one of the best flat-rate cash back cards available for everyday US spending. But if you are planning to use it abroad or shop from international websites, the 3% foreign transaction fee is a real cost that adds up fast. Here is everything you need to know, and what to carry instead when you travel.
What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee?
A foreign transaction fee (sometimes called a foreign currency fee or international transaction fee) is a surcharge your credit card issuer adds when you make a purchase that is processed outside the United States or billed in a foreign currency.
It applies in two situations most people do not fully realize:
- Any purchase abroad: restaurants, hotels, shops, taxis, and ATM withdrawals using the card when you are physically in another country
- Online purchases from international merchants: buying from a foreign website, even while sitting at home in the US, can trigger the fee if the merchant processes payments through a non-US bank
The fee is calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount and charged automatically. It appears on your statement as a separate line item or rolled into the transaction total, depending on the issuer.
Citi Double Cash Foreign Transaction Fee: The Exact Details
The Citi Double Cash Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. This applies to:
- Purchases made in any currency other than US dollars
- Purchases processed by a non-US financial institution, even if billed in US dollars
- Both in-person and online international transactions
The fee is charged by Citi at the time of the transaction and is separate from any currency conversion rates applied by Mastercard (which is generally close to the interbank rate and fair).
Always verify the current fee in your cardholder agreement before traveling, as credit card terms can change. You can find the current rates and fees on the official Citi website or on your monthly statement.
What Does 3% Actually Cost You?
The 3% fee sounds small. Here is what it looks like in real dollars on a typical international trip:
| International Spend | Foreign Transaction Fee (3%) | Cash Back Earned (2%) | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 (weekend trip) | $15.00 | $10.00 | -$5.00 |
| $1,000 (one-week trip) | $30.00 | $20.00 | -$10.00 |
| $2,000 (two-week trip) | $60.00 | $40.00 | -$20.00 |
| $5,000 (extended travel) | $150.00 | $100.00 | -$50.00 |
The math is unavoidable: on any international spending, the Citi Double Cash costs you a net 1% of every transaction. The 2% cash back does not come close to offsetting the 3% fee. You end up paying more than you earn.
Calculator
Foreign Transaction Fee Calculator
Enter your planned international spending to see exactly what the 3% fee costs you , and how much you save by switching to a no-fee card.
When the Citi Double Cash Is Still Fine to Use Internationally
The 3% fee is a real downside, but there are specific situations where using your Citi Double Cash abroad is acceptable or even fine:
Small, Incidental Purchases on a Mostly Domestic Trip
If you are on a short international trip and only making a handful of small purchases (a coffee, a train ticket, one restaurant meal), the fee may only amount to a few dollars. Whether that is worth switching cards depends on your situation.
When You Have No Other Option
If the Citi Double Cash is the only card you have with you and you need to make a purchase, use it. A 3% fee beats not being able to pay, and it beats paying cash at a poor exchange rate from a tourist bureau.
Online Purchases from US-Based Merchants
The foreign transaction fee does not apply to US merchants. If you are shopping on Amazon.com, booking a US hotel, or paying for a US-based subscription service, you pay no fee and earn the full 2% cash back normally.
The Best Cards to Use Internationally Instead
If you travel internationally even once or twice a year, having at least one card with no foreign transaction fee in your wallet makes a real difference. Several strong no-fee options are available, and many of them also earn cash back or travel rewards on international purchases.
The key features to look for in a travel-friendly card:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Rewards earning on all purchases including international
- Wide acceptance (Visa or Mastercard over American Express for international)
- Travel protections like trip delay insurance and rental car coverage
Several no-annual-fee travel cards offer exactly this. See our full breakdown of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards for side-by-side comparisons and our top picks for 2026. Cards like the Capital One VentureOne and the Wells Fargo Autograph both charge zero foreign transaction fees and earn rewards on every purchase including international spending.
If you are comparing flat-rate cash back cards more broadly, our guide to the best 2% cash back credit cards covers which ones include no foreign transaction fees and which do not, so you can pick the right card for both domestic and international use.
The Smart Two-Card Strategy
Most people who carry a Citi Double Cash do not need to give it up. The card is genuinely excellent for domestic spending. At 2% back on everything with no annual fee, it is hard to beat for everyday US purchases. The practical solution is a simple two-card setup:
- Citi Double Cash: Use for all domestic spending: groceries, gas, subscriptions, bills, and US online shopping. Earn 2% on everything.
- A no-foreign-fee card: Carry this specifically for international travel and purchases from foreign merchants. Avoid the 3% hit entirely.
Both cards can be no-annual-fee cards, meaning this strategy costs you nothing to maintain. You get the best of both worlds: maximum cash back on domestic spending and zero fees on international purchases.
For a full breakdown of how the Citi Double Cash stacks up against other cash back cards on rewards, fees, and features, see our Citi Double Cash vs Chase Freedom Unlimited comparison and our complete cash back vs travel rewards guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Citi Double Cash Card charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. The Citi Double Cash Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in foreign currencies or processed through non-US financial institutions. This applies to both in-person international purchases and online purchases from international merchants.
How much is the Citi Double Cash foreign transaction fee?
The foreign transaction fee on the Citi Double Cash is 3% of each transaction amount. On a $1,000 international purchase, that is $30 in fees. Since the card earns only 2% cash back, you come out negative on every international transaction.
Should I use Citi Double Cash when traveling abroad?
No, not as your primary card. The 3% foreign transaction fee exceeds the 2% cash back you earn, making it a net loss on every international purchase. Pack a no-foreign-fee card instead and save the Citi Double Cash for domestic spending after you return home.
Does the foreign transaction fee apply to online purchases?
It can. If you purchase from an international website or a merchant whose payment processor is based outside the US, the 3% fee applies even if you are physically in the United States. This is less common on major international retailers that process US payments through US banks, but it can catch travelers shopping from smaller foreign merchants online.
What credit cards have no foreign transaction fees?
Many travel-focused cards and some cash back cards charge no foreign transaction fees. The Capital One VentureOne, Wells Fargo Autograph, Discover it, and several Chase cards all waive foreign transaction fees entirely. See our no-annual-fee travel card guide for a full comparison.
Is the Citi Double Cash good for international travel?
No. Despite being an excellent domestic cash back card, the Citi Double Cash is one of the weaker options for international travel specifically because of the 3% foreign transaction fee. It is best used for US spending where you can earn the full 2% with no offset from fees.
The Bottom Line
The Citi Double Cash Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. That fee is larger than the 2% cash back you earn, making the card a net negative on every international purchase. For domestic US spending, it remains one of the best flat-rate cash back cards available. For travel abroad, leave it at home and carry a card with no foreign transaction fees instead.
The simplest fix: keep your Citi Double Cash for everyday domestic spending and add one no-annual-fee travel card to your wallet for international use. The combination costs nothing to maintain and saves you money every time you cross a border.
