How to withdraw money abroad with Wise card
If you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll likely need some cash to pay for small items and tipping – even if you prefer to use your cards for most transactions. Using an ATM is convenient and easy – but you’ll need to find the most cost-effective option to avoid unnecessary fees.
Specialist services such as Wise (formerly TransferWise) offer debit cards you can use overseas, with low fees and straightforward ways to hold and exchange currencies. This guide walks through how to withdraw money abroad with Wise, what fees are involved, the withdrawal limits, and some useful tips to save money when withdrawing abroad.
How to withdraw money abroad with Wise: step by step
The Wise card is an international debit card linked to a multi-currency account which you can use to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and make payments and withdrawals in 150+ countries. You’ll need to sign up for a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and get verified by uploading images of some ID documents. Once you’re all set up you can order your Wise card for home delivery, with a one time low fee.
Once you have your Wise card, it’s easy to withdraw money from an ATM abroad:
- Find a convenient ATM which supports the network your Wise card is issued on (Visa or MasterCard)
- Insert your card and select the option to make a withdrawal
- Enter the amount you want to withdraw
- Enter your PIN for security
- Your money will be dispensed and your card will be returned
Fees and cost for withdrawing abroad with Wise
There are no ongoing fees to use your Wise card – just low transaction fees which you can easily review and check in the Wise app. Here’s what you need to know.
| Service | Wise card fee |
|---|---|
| Order a Wise card | 9 USD |
| Spend a currency you hold | Free |
| Spend in a currency you don’t hold | Currency conversion fees from 0.43% |
| ATM withdrawals | 2 withdrawals, to the value of 100 USD a month fee free After that a fee of 1.5 USD + 2% of the withdrawal value applies |
| Order a replacement card | No fee to replace an expiring card 5 USD for a replacement at any other time |
Fees correct at time of writing – 3rd October 2023.
Read more: How to get a Wise card
Withdrawal limits
For safety, Wise has card limits which cap the amount you can withdraw from an ATM in a single transaction, per day and per month. All Wise limits are set to a default amount, but you can then review and change the levels if you’d like to, in the Wise app.
Daily limits reset each day at midnight, and monthly limits reset at the end of each calendar month.
Here are the Wise ATM withdrawal limits, per day and month, you’ll need to know about:
| Limit type | Single payment | Daily limit | Monthly limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default ATM withdrawal limit | 250 USD | 250 USD | 1,500 USD |
| Maximum ATM withdrawal limit | 1,000 USD | 1,000 USD | 6,000 USD |
* Details correct at time of writing – 3rd October 2023
You can easily see how much is left on a particular limit within the Wise app, just by logging into your account and toggling to the card tab. You’ll also be able to see the level your withdrawals are capped at, and change them if you’d like to, with just your phone.
To view and change your Wise card ATM withdrawal limits in the Wise app:
- Log in on the Wise app and select the Cards tab
- Tap Account limits and the type of transaction – ATM withdrawals
- Select the button to change the limit within the Wise maximum available limit range
ATM fees
Sometimes when you’re making an overseas ATM withdrawal, you’ll see a message flash up on the screen which offers you the choice of paying in your home currency – so in this case, dollars – instead of the currency that’s used in the country you’re in. You might be asked if you want the ATM to convert the funds for you, or if you’d prefer to pay in your home currency, for example.
This happens because of something called dynamic currency conversion (DCC). DCC means you can easily see how much you’re withdrawing expressed as US dollars instead of the currency in your destination. Sounds great – but in fact, it usually means paying higher fees overall, thanks to a poor exchange rate.
Avoid this tricky fee by always choosing to pay in the local currency wherever you are.
Where can I use my Wise card?
You can apply for a Wise card in the US, the UK, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, Brazil and most of the EEA. Once you have your card you can use it almost anywhere in the world where Visa or Mastercard debit cards are accepted – over 150 countries in total.
Your Wise card can also be used for online payments, to pay in any of the 40+ Wise supported currencies, with low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.
If you are travelling often, these guides can help:
Are there any countries where the Wise card doesn’t work?
Wise cards issued in the US can not be used in a small number of countries, usually because of sanctions or practical problems with offering services there. The countries where the Wise card won’t work do change from time to time, so you’ll want to double check on the Wise website before you travel.
At the time of writing, Wise cards from the US can not be used in:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen.
Wise multi-currency card: how does it work?
The Wise card is a debit card linked to a multi-currency Wise account. You can top up your Wise account in dollars or the currency of your choice, and convert to the currency you need for international spending – or just let the card do the conversion for you, with the mid-market rate and low fees.
Learn more in our full Wise debit card review
How to get your Wise card
Here’s how to get your Wise debit card in just a few simple steps:
- Open a Wise account online in just a few minutes
- Top up your Wise account in the currency of your choice
- Order your Wise card for a one time 9 USD fee
- Complete the verification step, uploading an image of your ID document and entering your SSN
- Your physical card will arrive in the post – deliver can take 14 to 21 working days
If you don’t already have a Wise multi-currency account it’s good to know you can register in just a few minutes using your email address, Facebook, Apple or Google ID.
Is it safe to use the Wise card to withdraw money?
Yes. It’s safe to withdraw money using your Wise card. Wise is FinCEN registered in the US, and overseen by similar bodies in the other countries in which services are offered. That means you can be sure it’s a safe provider to use.
It’s also good to know that using a travel card like Wise to make cash withdrawals abroad can add some extra safety benefits too.
Firstly, you won’t need to carry lots of money with you when you leave the US – which can be a risk as tourists are commonly targeted by petty thieves. Just make cash withdrawals when you need to instead. And secondly, your Wise card is not connected to your bank account. That means that even if you’re unlucky and your Wise card is lost or stolen, you can simply freeze it in the app, with no need to cancel your bank card, and no worry that the thieves have accessed your primary checking account.
Tips for saving money when withdrawing abroad
Generally, using a card to make payments is convenient and with a provider like Wise, it can be cost effective too. With Wise there’s no fee to spend a currency you hold, and the conversion charges are pretty low if you don’t have the currency you need too.
However, there are some times when only cash will do. When withdrawing money abroad bear in mind these tips to make sure you don’t spend more than you need to:
- Always pay in the local currency – an ATM or merchant may ask if you’d prefer to pay in dollars, but this is always more expensive
- Keep an eye out for messages on the ATM you use. Sometimes extra fees are added by the ATM operator, which may mean picking a different machine is better
- Know your limits, and the fees charged by different cards you hold, so you’ll always get the best deal available to you
- Keep a couple of payment methods handy, like cards on different networks and a small amount of cash, so you’re never stuck
Alternatives to withdrawing money abroad
Wise isn’t your only option for making cash withdrawals overseas. You could also open another multi-currency digital account from a provider like Revolut, use your bank debit card, or get a travel prepaid or credit card specifically for when you’re away from home.
Different options have their own features, fees, and benefits – and often having more than one way to make overseas cash withdrawals is a good plan. Alternative card providers like Revolut can offer multi-currency accounts which have some no fee ATM withdrawals every month – convenient if you’ll need plenty of cash where you’re headed. Using your normal debit card is easy because you won’t need to set up a new card in advance – but you may pay extra fees for the luxury, in the form of foreign transaction or international ATM charges. And getting a travel credit card can be attractive if you want to maximize your cash back or rewards – but you’ll normally pay pretty high cash advance charges, and interest.
Conclusion: Is withdrawing money with Wise worth it?
Getting an international debit card from Wise, to spend and withdraw money abroad can be convenient and cut your costs overall. You’ll be able to hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account, and spend or withdraw with your card in 150+ countries.
If you’d prefer to see your travel budget before you leave you can add money in dollars and convert to the currency or currencies you need instantly in the app. Or if you’d rather leave things flexible, just let the card do the conversion at the point of payment, with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%.
How to withdraw money abroad with Wise FAQ
Where can I withdraw money with Wise?
You can withdraw money with Wise at ATMs which support your card network – Visa or Mastercard – in 150+ countries around the world.
What’s the limit to withdraw money with Wise?
For security, Wise has limits to the amount of money you can withdraw per transaction, per day and per month. You can adjust these limits in the Wise app, to a maximum of 1,000 USD per day, or 6,000 USD per month.
What are the fees applied when withdrawing money with Wise?
You can make 2 withdrawals with your Wise card, to the value of 100 USD a month fee free. After that a fee of 1.5 USD + 2% of the withdrawal value applies.
Where can I withdraw money from my Wise account in the US?
Withdraw money with your Wise card at any US ATM which supports your card network.
