Travel money cards: your guide to travel currency cards

Landing in a new city should be about the views and the food, not worrying about whether you'll be able to pay with your card. While UK debit cards have long been the default for holiday spending, additional fees and poor exchange rates can make them an expensive choice.

Travel money cards like ours can be a helpful alternative, designed to let you spend, send, and manage your money across borders without the stress of high costs.

Whether you're tapping for a coffee in Paris or withdrawing cash in Tokyo, using our prepaid travel money card abroad can help make your money go further. Read on to learn how we've designed our features to be clear, helpful, and cost-effective.

18+, T&Cs apply.

The information provided is accurate as of 14 May 2026.

Information is provided by Revolut Bank UK Ltd Registration No. 12871051 UK but is not liable for any of the claims, offerings, or services described herein, nor are the representations made or opinions expressed in this topic the views and opinions of Revolut Group Holdings Ltd or Revolut subsidiary companies registered and licenced to provide Revolut products in local countries. For more information about Revolut and current product offerings in your local country please visit https://www.revolut.com/.

Revolut travel cards: what you should remember

Here's a quick summary of how our travel cards work:

• Account setup: download our app and sign up for an account in minutes
• Adding money: add money to your account in GBP via a bank transfer or another card
• Currency exchange: swap your pounds for the local currency in-app to lock in a rate, or let us convert it automatically when you make a payment
• Spending: use a physical or virtual card for contactless payments or ATM withdrawals worldwide through Visa and Mastercard networks
• Management: track your spending in real-time and freeze your card instantly if it goes missing

Fair usage limits and weekend fees may apply, depending on your plan.

What's a travel money card?

A travel money card is a specific type of payment card designed to make spending in foreign countries easier and more cost-effective. Unlike a standard debit card, which is usually tied to a single currency, a Revolut currency card allows you to hold and spend multiple currencies. With us, you can hold more than 35 currencies in-app and pay in more than 150 currencies using your card.

Our travel card functions like a digital wallet. You can use it to pay for a coffee in Paris, a train ticket in Tokyo, or to withdraw cash in New York. Because our cards are built for international spending, they offer competitive exchange rates, allowing you to relax and focus on what matters most when you travel.

You might have heard these being called travel cards, prepaid travel cards, or forex cards. No matter the name, the goal's the same: to provide a cost-effective way to manage your money while you're away from home.

How do travel money cards work?

Travel money cards work by allowing you to add money in your home currency and then convert it into the local currency of your destination. When you tap your card abroad, we'll check if you've got enough of the local currency in your account. If you do, we'll deduct the amount right away. If you don’t or if the currency isn’t supported in-app, we’ll handle the conversion for you using your GBP balance.

Multi-currency vs sterling cards

There are 2 main ways these cards handle your money:

• Multi-currency cards like ours: these let you hold balances in various currencies at once. For example, you could have $500, €200, and £100 all on the same card. This is useful for locking in a rate if the pound is strong before you travel.
• Prepaid sterling cards: these only hold pounds. While simple and easy to use, they mean you're dependent on the exchange rate at the time you top them up.

We offer a hybrid approach. You can exchange and hold over 36 currencies in-app whenever you like, or just spend and let our system handle the conversion automatically.

Currency card exchange rates and fees

The exchange rate is an important factor in determining your holiday costs.

The way we handle rates

We use competitive Revolut exchange rates. If you're on a Standard plan, you can exchange up to £1,000 per rolling month with our competitive rates on weekdays. If you exceed this, a 1% fair usage fee applies. For Plus customers, the fair usage fee is 0.5%. Premium, Metal, and Ultra customers don't have these monthly exchange limits.

Depending on your plan, we may apply weekend rates when the exchange market is closed (between 5pm Friday and 6pm Sunday). If the currency you need is among the 36 we support in-app, you can convert your GBP before the weekend arrives to avoid the possible weekend fee.

Fair usage limits and weekend fees may apply, depending on your plan.

Fees to keep in mind

While travel cards may be cost-effective, you should always check the T&Cs for clarity:

• ATM withdrawals: we offer ATM withdrawals without Revolut fees up to a certain limit per month, depending on your plan. Check your limit in-app. Third-party ATMs may charge fees, so check in-app for our in-network ATMs.
• Delivery fees: these may apply when we send your physical card by post. Virtual cards are free.
• Inactivity fees: some prepaid card providers may charge a fee if the card isn't used for a certain period, though this is rare with modern services. We don't charge inactivity fees.

Travel money: things to consider before you go

While they're helpful tools, travel money cards have some limitations to keep in mind:

• Acceptance: our cards work anywhere that accepts Visa or Mastercard, but some remote locations may still only take cash. It's always a good idea to carry a small backup of local currency.
• Car rentals and hotels: some car rental companies and hotels require a credit card for security deposits. They might not accept a travel debit card, or they may 'block' a certain amount of your holiday money as a deposit, making it unavailable for you to spend.

Revolut card advantages

We've built our accounts to make managing your money abroad as seamless as possible. When you sign up for a personal account, you'll get more than just a card.

Physical and virtual cards

You can choose between a physical card for your wallet or a virtual card for your phone. Virtual cards can be added to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet instantly, allowing you to start spending even before your physical card arrives.

Disposable virtual cards

For another layer of security when booking hotels or tours online, we offer disposable virtual cards. The card details are automatically deleted after one payment and replaced with new ones, protecting you from potential online fraud.

Learn more about how to create disposable virtual cards.

Common questions about travel money cards

Can I use a travel card if I have bad credit?

Yes, you can. Because travel money cards are usually debit or prepaid, there's no hard credit check involved in the application process. You'll only need to provide identification to verify your identity.

How much money can I add to my card?

This depends on your provider. Most cards have high limits that'll easily cover a family holiday.

With us, each customer has an account limit, but it's generally high enough to support your holiday budget. You can check your specific limits in the Limits section of our app.

What happens to the leftover money after my holiday?

With Revolut, you don't need to worry about wasting leftover currency. You can either exchange it back into pounds in-app or keep it there for your next trip. Once you're back in the UK, you can use your card for everyday spending.

How to start using Revolut for your travels

Getting set up is straightforward and you can do it entirely from your phone:

1. Download the app, sign up, and verify your identity in a few minutes.
2. Add money to your account via bank transfer, with a debit card, or with a mobile wallet like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
3. Get your card: tap Cards, then +. You can order a physical card or set up a virtual card to start spending right away.
4. Set up currency Pockets: if you want to lock in a rate, tap Accounts, then + Add new to set up a currency account for your destination.
5. Explore travel features and benefits: our accounts offer way more than just cards, so explore other features and get ready for your trip.