Using Mari Credit Card Overseas: Fees, Benefits, and Travel Tips for you
Leisure travel has gone from a luxury to an aspirational lifestyle choice these days. With more people taking more overseas trips than ever, the needs of travellers have also come into sharper focus.
WIth that in mind, we have updated the Mari Credit Card to better help modern travellers get the best out of your adventures abroad. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Mari Credit Card?
Designed to help Singaporeans stretch their daily spend, the card offers a straightforward 1.5% unlimited cashback with no monthly cap or minimum spend required. This makes it a seamless choice for everything from your morning coffee at a local stall to major online purchases.
While the card truly shines on Shopee with exclusive perks you won't find elsewhere, today, we're diving into its usage overseas and how it is a true global companion.
Once you start using the Mari Credit Card for overseas travel, you’ll quickly notice and enjoy savings that was never quite possible before. What does the Mari Credit Card do exactly? Read the next section to find out.
Can you use the Mari Credit Card overseas? How does it work?
Yes, the Mari Credit Card can be used overseas as easily and smoothly as back home in Singapore. Simply look for the familiar Mastercard logo – Mari Credit Card can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted.
That’s over 150 million merchants across more than 200 countries worldwide – so you’ll enjoy near-universal acceptance no matter where you go. You can simply use the card for:
• In-store payments
• Payments to online merchants and e-commerce platforms
• Travel-related spending such as shopping, dining or transport while overseas; accommodation and hotel bookings; and tickets for attractions, concerts and rides
Does MariBank charge overseas transaction fees?
We all love the convenience and simplicity of paying in a foreign currency using a credit card. But the fees that come tacked onto each transaction? Not so much. But with the Mari Credit Card, you can have your cake and eat it too.
This is because we’ve now done away with overseas transaction fees. With this change, this renders the Mari Credit Card one of the few credit cards with no overseas transaction fees.
In case you’re wondering, this change (implemented in 2026) allows cardholders to save 3% in transaction fees when paying in a foreign currency.
Note: Transactions charged in SGD processed overseas comes will be charged a 1% Currency Conversion Fee, charged by Mastercard, so remember to always pay in Foreign Currency
How does Mari Credit Card’s reduced fees benefit cardholders?
Reducing fees also improves the rewards cardholders get from this card.
Remember that you earn 1.5% cashback on all eligible transactions. With the fee removed, this means you will now get to keep your cashback.
No FX fees and bonus cashback for spending? That’s extra rewarding!
Where can you use Mari Credit Card overseas?
Short answer: Anywhere your travels happen to take you.
As explained earlier, the Mari Credit Card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. This practically means that travellers like you – making trips to mass market destinations – can expect to pay with the Mari Credit Card right wherever you are.
Here are some popular holiday destinations where travellers can use the Mari Credit Card:
• China
• Japan
• Korea
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• Australia
Why Mari Credit Card is a good card for travel
Still on the fence about making the leap to choosing the Mari Credit Card as your main travel credit card? We’ve summed up four key reasons that could just give you the nudge you need.
Nobody likes paying fees, so the less of them around, the better. With the introduction of zero FX fees, there’s now one less fee to stress out about.
Plus, don’t forget that removing this fee not only helped cardholders save, you can now enjoy your cashback. Wins all around!
1.5% cashback on eligible overseas spend
Every eligible transaction with the Mari Credit Card generates 1.5% cashback – this effectively gives you savings on each purchase you made on holiday. Whether hotel stays, restaurant visits, museum trips or theme park tickets, a little bit of cash is put back into your pocket every time. And the best bit is that this all happens automatically without any extra steps or effort needed.
Mastercard-level acceptance, worldwide
The Mari Credit Card is accepted everywhere that takes Mastercard. This means cardholders can use this card worldwide – and with an equal level of recognition and trust as one of the largest payment networks of our time.
This Mastercard-level acceptance ensures that the Mari Credit Card delivers the speed, access, and ease that cardholders expect in 2026.
Easily track your spends in the MariBank app
In a world of 'one-tap' payments, it’s way too easy to lose track of what you’ve actually spent. That’s why the MariBank app keeps your Mari Credit Card records crystal clear right on your phone.
Imagine you’re heading across the Causeway to try the new JB-KL electric train (ETS) with the family. Since the Mari Credit Card offers best-in-class FX rates for Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), you’re already saving on those 5 tickets.
The moment you tap 'pay,' you’ll get an instant notification and see the real-time conversion in the app. No more guessing the exchange rate or waiting for the monthly statement to see the damage!
The actual exchange rate applied to your transaction is specific to the date and time your transaction is confirmed.
Similarly, you will also receive notification that the cashback has been auto-credited to offset your next credit card bill.
The actual exchange rate applied to your transaction is specific to the date and time your transaction is confirmed.
Apply for Mari Credit Card
Five tips to help you get the best use out of your Mari Credit Card
Mari Credit Card works right out of the box, but a few small tweaks can make your experience even better. Follow these five tips to help you get the best out of Mari Credit Card.
1. Enable overseas usage before travelling
Mari Credit Card may be blocked from overseas usage, leading to card declines and errors when attempting to pay while overseas. To prevent this, be sure to enable overseas usage before travelling.
Go to the MariBank app to view personalised controls on overseas usage. Toggle the button to the correct position to enable this facility.
2. Always pay in the local currency
If you’re given a choice between paying in the local currency and your home currency, always choose to pay in the local currency.
Choosing to pay in your home currency will trigger higher fees due to Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) or Currency Conversion Fee. This means you will end up paying more for your purchase.
3. Use contactless payments when available
Not only are contactless payments faster and more hygienic (no spreading of germs through touch!), it has better security. Older systems rely on chip readers or magnetic strips readers, which can be modified to steal your credit card information. Best avoided whenever possible!
4. Check your MariBank app
Do you tend to blow your entire holiday budget before the sun sets on the first day of your trip? You’re not alone. But more to the point, here’s a tip that could prove helpful.
Actively track your spending using the MariBank app. This way you can keep an eye on how much of your budget is already gone, alerting you to slow down or reallocate your budget to cover the purchases you plan to make.
5. Keep your card secure while travelling
Be mindful of how you carry and store your card when out and about. Should your card go missing, the first thing you should do is to disable it remotely to block unwanted transactions. You can do this quickly and securely in the MariBank app.
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