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Using Your Portuguese Credit Card Abroad

By PointsExplainedLast reviewed

Check your card's foreign-use costs

Read the pre-contract information for conversion, international processing and cash advance charges.

Keep authentication working

Make sure your phone and banking app can receive approvals abroad.

Save the blocking contact

Store your issuer's card-blocking number or app route somewhere you can reach without the card.

Compare before accepting conversion

When a terminal offers to charge you in euro, compare the local-currency amount and the converted amount, and remember you can pay in the local currency.

Where this comes from

Sources

The documents this guide relies on. If one has changed since we read it, the document is right and this guide is out of date.

  1. Regulation (EU) 2021/1230 on cross-border payments in the Union — EUR-Lex

    Art. 3: equal charges for cross-border euro payments; art. 4: mark-up over ECB reference rates disclosed in advance and published; ATM/POS conversion disclosures and option to pay in payee's currency; electronic message after payments in other Union currencies, monthly repeat, opt-out, free; recital 12: payer should be able to refuse the conversion service and pay in the payee's currency.

    eur-lex.europa.eu · Accessed
  2. Payments, transfers and cheques — Your Europe (European Union), last checked 28/04/2026

    Equal charges cover card payments and ATM withdrawals in euro across the EU; no surcharging, three-party scheme and business cards not covered; online payments over €30 need two authentication elements.

    europa.eu · Accessed
  3. Euro foreign exchange reference rates — European Central Bank

    Reference rates usually updated around 16:00 CET every working day except TARGET closing days; published for information purposes only.

    ecb.europa.eu · Accessed
  4. Regime Jurídico dos Serviços de Pagamento e da Moeda Eletrónica (Decreto-Lei n.º 91/2018), versão consolidada — Diário da República

    Art. 98(2): conversion offered at ATM/point of sale must disclose charges and exchange rate beforehand; art. 104: strong customer authentication; art. 111(1)(c): reporting means at all times; art. 115: €50 limit and no losses after notification; art. 116: blocked funds; art. 117: refund for unexpected amounts, exchange-rate exclusion; art. 118: 8-week request.

    diariodarepublica.pt · Accessed
  5. Cartão de crédito: como usar (bem) este meio de pagamento — Santander Portugal (Salto), atualizado a 9 março 2026

    Some cards charge an international processing fee on purchases outside the EEA.

    santander.pt · Accessed
  6. Cartão de crédito: como escolher e como usar em segurança — Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Saldo Positivo), 07-11-2025

    Fees for use abroad among costs to check; cash on credit carries high additional costs, use in emergencies.

    cgd.pt · Accessed
  7. Glossário de Cartões — Caixa Geral de Depósitos

    Cash advance defined as an operation using the credit card's available credit limit at an ATM or branch.

    cgd.pt · Accessed
Questions

About this guide

Do I pay extra for card payments in euro in Spain or France?

Your bank must charge the same for a cross-border payment in euro as for a corresponding national payment, under EU Regulation 2021/1230.

Should I pay in euro or in local currency when a terminal asks?

You can choose. Whoever offers the conversion must tell you the charges and exchange rate first and, for EU currencies, show its mark-up over the ECB rate and tell you that you can pay in local currency. Compare the amounts before deciding.
Keep reading

Choosing Your First Credit Card in Portugal

Your Rights as a Credit Card Holder in Portugal

Credit Card Fees in Portugal and How to Avoid Them