Best credit card for international payments in South Asia [2027]

With credit cards, you can spend now and pay later. Explore the best credit card for international payments available in South Asia

Key takeaways

• Credit cards let you spend against a preset credit limit and repay the issuer later
• Credit card options in Bangladesh include Prime Bank Signature ZERO and City Bank American Express Platinum, Gold and Blue, while Pakistan options include HBL, UBL and Bank Alfalah credit cards
• The World Card is a multi-currency card linked to the World Account, supporting international spending from available currency balances rather than a credit limit

The best credit card for international payments that would suit you depends on where you live, how you spend and the fees attached to foreign transactions. Pakistani and Bangladeshi cards can support overseas purchases, travel and online payments.

The options below cover cards from both markets. The guide also explores a multi-currency virtual card, the World Card, for users making business payments internationally.

What to look for in a credit card for international payments

• Foreign transaction fees: Check the fee applied when a transaction is processed outside the card’s home currency or country
• Currency conversion markup: A card may apply a markup to the exchange rate used to convert a foreign transaction into the billing currency
• Rewards: Some cards provide additional points or cashback on international spending. Terms and Conditions Apply
• Annual fee: Compare the annual card fee, renewal charges and any available waivers
• Central-bank limits: Pakistani cardholders are subject to State Bank of Pakistan rules on individual cross-border card transactions. Bangladesh also applies foreign-exchange and travel-entitlement rules to international card use
• Network acceptance: Visa, Mastercard and American Express have different merchant acceptance, particularly for online and international transactions
• International platforms: Check whether the card supports the intended use, such as travel bookings, SaaS subscriptions, advertising platforms or overseas shopping

Best credit cards for international payments in South Asia

1. Prime Bank Signature ZERO

Bangladesh’s Prime Bank’s ZERO is a Visa Signature credit card with worldwide ATM, POS and e-commerce acceptance.¹ It offers 0% EMI facilities, insurance coverage, airport lounge access and 1 Reward Point for every BDT 50 spent.¹

*Fees checked in October 2026

2. City Bank American Express Cards

City Bank offers American Express cards in Bangladesh offering different benefits such as overseas travel assistance, lounge and travel privileges, dining offers and 0% FlexiBuy options.^2,3 The top three cards it offers are:

• American Express Platinum Credit Card: Earn double Membership Rewards Points on purchases and 10x points on selected grocery spends, with 24/7 overseas medical, legal and travel assistance³
• American Express Gold Credit Card: Earn 1 Membership Rewards Point on every retail and online transaction, plus FlexiBuy, balance transfer, instalment and travel benefits⁴
• American Express Blue Credit Card: Offers travel, dining and rewards benefits, including selected hotel and airfare savings, Priority Pass, lounge access, dining offers and Membership Rewards⁵

*Fees checked in October 2026

3. HBL Visa/Mastercard Credit Cards

HBL credit cards in Pakistan can be used globally at merchants accepting Visa or Mastercard, with options offering travel, lifestyle and everyday spending benefits, such as⁷:

• HBL Platinum Credit Card: Offers complimentary access to selected international airport lounges through the Visa Airport Companion App, along with travel and lifestyle benefit⁸
• HBL Gold & Green Credit Card: Supports everyday spending with reward points, shopping and dining offers, global acceptance and CIP Lounge access for eligible Gold cardholders⁹

*Fees checked in October 2026

4. UBL Credit Card

UBL offers Classic, Gold and Platinum credit cards in Pakistan with international acceptance, instalment plans and reward points.^11,12 The credit cards it offers are:

• UBL Classic and Gold Credit Cards: Both Classic and Gold credit cards support international Visa spending alongside Lite Installment Plan, balance transfer, cash advance, supplementary cards and reward points on transactions¹¹
• UBL Visa Platinum Credit Card: Earns 3x reward points on international transactions, with worldwide Visa acceptance, international airport lounge access and selected Visa travel privileges¹²

*Fees checked in October 2026

5. Bank Alfalah Visa Credit Card

Bank Alfalah offers several types of Visa credit cards in Pakistan, each offering different benefits, such as¹⁴:

• Visa Platinum Credit Card: Offers complimentary access to domestic and selected international airport lounges, Jetsetter travel benefits and double Orbit points on international and online transactions¹⁵
• Ultra Cashback Credit Card: Offers up to 7% cashback on two selected categories from options including supermarkets, clothing, fuel, hotels and airlines, subject to monthly cashback limits¹⁶
• Visa Classic & Gold Credit Cards: Both Classic and Gold cards provide worldwide Visa acceptance at participating merchants and ATMs, but they carry different credit limits and supplementary-card facilities¹⁷

*Fees checked in October 2026

World Card for international business payments

The World Card is a Mastercard-powered virtual card for international business spending. It can be used by South Asians for advertising, SaaS subscriptions, supplier payments and other recurring business expenses wherever Mastercard is accepted.

The card is linked to the World Account, a multi-currency account that lets businesses hold balances in 15+ supported currencies, including USD, GBP and EUR. Businesses can fund their World Account in supported currencies and use those balances to pay through the World Card. When a payment is made in one of the 15 currencies already held in the account, there are zero currency conversion fees, provided sufficient funds are available. If the required currency is not held, WorldFirst converts the available balance at its applicable exchange rate.

Key features of the World Card

• Make payments in 150+ currencies with a business payment card
• Issue up to 20 multi-currency cards for business at zero issuance cost
• No fees when spending from sufficient balances in 15 currencies
• Manage spending limits, freeze cards and track transactions through the World Account dashboard

*Fees checked in October 2026

Which card fits your international spending?

The credit card options that suit your international spending vary by country, card network, rewards and fee structure. Some prioritise rewards and travel benefits, while others focus on lower ownership costs or broader acceptance. For business payments, a virtual card can draw from a multi-currency business account rather than a credit limit and can support international business expenses in multiple currencies.

FAQs

1. What is the best virtual credit card for international payments?

Virtual credit cards can support online international payments, subject to the issuer’s terms and merchant acceptance. The World Card is a virtual card linked to a multi-currency account rather than a credit card.

2. What are the foreign transaction fees on Pakistani credit cards?

Foreign transaction fees vary by card and provider. The World Card charges zero fees when spending from sufficient balances in its 15 supported currencies, although it is not a credit card.

3. Is there a limit on international spending for Bangladeshi credit cards?

Bangladesh’s international card usage is subject to applicable foreign-exchange and travel-entitlement rules. Bangladesh Bank’s framework provides for international-card use against the applicable annual travel entitlement.

Sources

1. https://zerobyprime.com
2. https://www.citybankplc.com/cards
3. https://www.citybankplc.com/p-ca/amex-platinum-credit-card
4. https://www.citybankplc.com/p-ca/amex-gold-credit-card
5. https://www.citybankplc.com/p/amex-blue-credit-card
6. https://www.citybankplc.com/upload/Amex_Credit_Cards_Fees_Charges.pdf
7. https://www.hbl.com/personal/credit-cards
8. https://www.hbl.com/personal/credit-cards/platinum-credit-card
9. https://www.hbl.com/personal/credit-cards/hbl-gold-green-credit-card
10. https://www.hbl.com/assets/documents/HBL_CC_KFS_Jan_2025_Eng.pdf
11. https://ubldigital.com/Loans/Cards-Products/UBL-Credit-Card/UBL-Credit-Card-Product
12. https://ubldigital.com/Loans/Cards-Products/UBL-Credit-Card/UBL-Platinum
13. https://ubldigital.com/portals/0/Pdf/UBL-SOC-July-to-December-2026.pdfhttps://ubldigital.com/portals/0/Pdf/UBL-SOC-July-to-December-2026.pdf
14. https://www.bankalfalah.com/personal-banking/credit-cards/
15. https://www.bankalfalah.com/personal-banking/credit-cards/visa-platinum-credit-card
16. https://www.bankalfalah.com/personal-banking/credit-cards/visa-ultra-cashback-card
17. https://www.bankalfalah.com/afghanistan/personal-banking/cards/alfalah-visa-classic-gold-credit-cards/
18. https://prodbaf.blob.core.windows.net/data/Schedule%20of%20Charges%20July%20-%20Dec%202026%20(conventional).pdf

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.