Credit Card International Usage: How to Enable and Control It

To use your credit card abroad or on foreign websites, you usually have to switch international usage on first. Indian banks issue cards with international, online and contactless usage turned off by default, and you control them from the bank's app, net banking or customer care. This guide covers how the controls work, which ones to turn on before a trip, and the mistakes that cost money abroad.

Why your card has these controls

Since RBI's 2020 card security rules, banks issue new cards enabled only for domestic contact-based use (swiping or dipping at a terminal, and ATM withdrawals). International use, card-not-present (online) use and contactless use have to be turned on by you. Banks must also let you switch each channel on or off and set limits at any time. If a card has never been used for a particular channel, the bank may switch that channel off.

The rules apply to all issuers, so you'll find the same toggles at every bank under different names. Look for "card controls", "manage card", "set limits" or "usage settings". Check your bank's current options, because the menus change with app updates.

The controls, one by one

Most banks split usage into a grid like this:

Channel	Domestic	International
Point-of-sale (swipe/dip)	On by default	Off until enabled
Online (card-not-present)	Off until enabled	Off until enabled
Contactless (tap)	Off until enabled	Off until enabled
ATM cash	On by default	Off until enabled

For each switch you can usually set a rupee limit below your credit limit. Setting a limit gives you a ceiling on what a stolen card could be used for, and doesn't get in your way otherwise.

What to enable before a trip

1. International point-of-sale: needed for shops, restaurants and hotels abroad.
2. International contactless: useful in countries where tap is the norm, such as much of Europe, the UK, Singapore and Australia.
3. International online: turn this on if you'll book local transport, attractions or hotels on foreign websites during the trip.
4. International ATM: only if you really need cash and have no other option (more on the cost below).

Set each limit close to what you expect to spend, plus some buffer. If a big payment is declined, you can raise the limit from the app in under a minute.

What to switch off when you're back

Turn off international point-of-sale, contactless and ATM unless you travel again soon. If you pay foreign subscriptions or shop on international sites, leave international online on with a modest limit. Our international travel checklist has the full pre-departure list.

The cost side: forex markup and GST

Once international usage is on, every foreign-currency transaction carries a forex markup, plus 18% GST on that markup. Most Indian cards charge 3.5%, but some charge much less. On a trip where you spend ₹1,00,000 on your card:

Markup	Markup amount	GST (18%)	Total extra cost
3.5% (typical)	₹3,500	₹630	₹4,130
1.99% (HSBC Live+)	₹1,990	₹358	₹2,348
1.5% (ICICI Emirates Emeralde)	₹1,500	₹270	₹1,770
0% (IDFC FIRST Select)	₹0	₹0	₹0

Zero-markup cards have their own catches. On the IDFC FIRST Select, international spends stop earning reward points from 26 October 2026, so you save on markup but earn nothing. The Axis Scapia card is another lifetime-free 0% markup option in our data. Our list of low forex markup cards compares the rest.

Online purchases from foreign merchants also attract markup, even when the price is shown in rupees, if the merchant is billed from abroad. Check your statement for a separate markup line after your first foreign transaction.

Mistakes that cost money abroad

Accepting rupee conversion at the terminal. When a shop or ATM offers to charge you in INR, that's dynamic currency conversion. The rate is usually worse than your bank's, and on some cards you still pay markup on top. Always choose the local currency. Our DCC explainer shows the maths.

Using the credit card at foreign ATMs. Credit card withdrawals are cash advances. You pay a cash advance fee, the markup, GST, and interest from the day you withdraw, with no interest-free period. See how cash advances are charged.

Not checking the limit first. A hotel pre-authorisation can block a large amount for days. If your international limit is set too low, your next payment may be declined.

Leaving everything switched on. Once you're home, international usage you don't need is just extra exposure. If your card details leak in a data breach, a switched-off international channel stops most misuse before it starts.

Ignoring transaction alerts. Keep SMS and app alerts on while travelling. If a charge you don't recognise appears, block the card from the app straight away and report it. Our fraud protection tips explain what to do next.

Forgetting about TCS rules. Tax collected at source on overseas spending has changed more than once in recent years. Read our TCS explainer and confirm the current position with your bank or a tax advisor before a large trip.

A quick routine for every trip

1. A week before: confirm your card's forex markup and choose which card to carry as your main one and which as backup.
2. Two days before: turn on international point-of-sale and contactless, set limits, and note down your bank's international helpline number.
3. During the trip: pay in local currency, keep alerts on, and avoid the credit card at ATMs.
4. On return: switch off international channels you don't need and check your statement for markup and any unfamiliar charges.

The card figures here come from BestCard's latest data. Banks change markups and reward rules, so check the issuer's site before you rely on them. If you want a card that fits how you travel, try the card matcher.