How to choose a virtual debit card for international payments
Last update: 26 Aug 2025
If you’re looking for a virtual debit card for international payments, you’ll need a provider that helps you do the following:
- Save on fees and earn rewards on your purchases. With most business virtual cards, you’ll be paying fees for account maintenance, new cards, foreign transactions, currency conversion or even topping up your account. Choose a card that gives you clarity about fees – and even lets you earn rewards – so you can accurately plan your spending, reduce costs and reinvest earnings in your business.
- Pay in all the currencies and countries you need to run your business. It’s a good choice to get a card backed by a major card scheme like Mastercard or Visa that enables unrestricted spending in all major and emerging markets, as well as in a wide range of currencies. This can help you pay in key supplier currencies like RMB, avoid more fees and establish positive relationships with vendors and partners.
- Customise spending limits and advanced security features. One limitation of many virtual cards is a lack of customisation. But with the right balance of advanced security features and custom controls, you can protect against theft and fraud, while setting flexible spending limits that make sense for your team.
- Access structured data to simplify reconciliation. Using separate cards for different suppliers, expense types or teams can help you simplify accounting. Plus, direct integrations with the software tools you already use, and easy ways to segment and export data, can save you time too.
- Apply online without extensive documentation or strict requirements. An online-only application process minimises the time and effort spent opening a business bank account, and can give you faster access to your virtual card. Online applications can also remove barriers to entry, especially for smaller teams and sole proprietors.
Below, we’ll share why the World Card from WorldFirst is the best choice for international business payments, then share some popular international virtual debit card alternatives for non-businesses.
In this article:
- WorldFirst: the best card for international business payments
- How to open a World Account and start using World Cards now
- 3 alternative virtual international debit cards for non-businesses
- How Nook Theory used World Card to earn $15,000 in cashback and built a 7-figure business within a year
Ready to apply for a virtual card and start making international payments now? Open a multi-currency account and get a World Card for free.
World Card: The best card for international business payments
Why the World Card is best for cross-border businesses:
- No FX fees on 15 currencies
- Pay in 150+ currencies in 210+ countries
- Use up to 25 virtual cards
- Customisable spending limits
- Built-in security features
- Fully digital application
Partnering with leading banks like J.P. Morgan, Barclays and HSBC, WorldFirst has been powering international payments for over two decades. We’ve helped over a million customers process more than $300 billion in transaction value with our simple, secure global payment solutions.
We created World Card, our free virtual payment card, to empower our clients to make even faster, easier payments to partners, vendors and suppliers. You can shop with your World Card anywhere online that accepts Mastercard.
Use your World Card to pay advertising costs, marketplace seller fees and operational expenses, or connect with your Alipay wallet to make in-person payments when you travel to China for business.
Here are a few reasons to choose the World Card:
Pay no account fees, no FX fees on 15 currencies and enjoy low, transparent fees on everything else
There are no setup fees and no monthly or annual fees to open a World Account and start using your World Card. When you open your account – no minimum balance required – you can get up to 25 virtual cards for free and start spending right away with your World Account funds.
When you use your World Card, you’ll pay zero FX fees on 15 major currencies including CNH, EUR, USD and SGD when spending from your existing World Account balances.
In addition to saving you more on fees, your World Card can help you earn cashback to invest in your business.
Earn up to 1.2% unlimited cashback on all eligible business expenses, including monthly expenses like marketing ads, software subscriptions, online travel and accommodation, and e-commerce and business logistics.
Pay in 150+ currencies more easily and securely
Your World Card gives you the flexibility to spend in 150+ currencies in 210+ countries and regions, and you can hold and maintain wallet balances in 15 major currencies including SGD, USD, CNH, EUR, GBP, AUD, HKD and JPY.
It’s not a problem if your suppliers don’t accept cards. WorldFirst’s multi-currency World Account lets you:
- Pay suppliers in 100+ currencies and 200+ countries directly through your WorldFirst dashboard, with most payments landing within 24 hours
- Pay other World Account holders instantly, for free (ask your suppliers to sign up for an account for free)
- Use the Pay in CNY feature to make direct payments to China
- Find and pay suppliers through 1688.com
Coming soon, you’ll also be able to get employee cards to use on work-related expenses. We’re also rolling out physical cards, and an easy way to add your World Card to Apple Pay or Google Wallet for in-store and online purchases.
Manage spend and security with customisable cards and advanced safety features
World Card lets you set per-card spending limits daily, monthly or by transaction, right from your World Account dashboard. That means you can allocate budget to the right departments, suppliers, expense types or team members, and adjust limits ahead of major purchases or peak periods.
For example, you can increase your procurement team’s spending limit by tens of thousands ahead of Black Friday, or set the ad team’s limit to a few hundred dollars while a junior employee experiments with their first CPC campaign.
Custom limits can help prevent your team members from accidentally over-spending, or inadvertently using their company virtual cards to make personal purchases. And, use your WorldFirst dashboard to monitor spending and stay on top of potential budgeting or security issues.
We protect every transaction with 3D secure and AVS, and are PCI-DSS-certified to keep your data secure. However, in the event that a card is lost, stolen or compromised, we offer an extra layer of security: you can freeze, unfreeze or cancel any World Card instantly from your WorldFirst dashboard.
Automate more of your reconciliation processes with segmented reporting and software integrations
In your World Account dashboard, you can view and manage your employee spending in real-time. Each card has its own transaction history within the dashboard, so you can see expenses separated out by card.
You can also use filters to view transactions by currency, status or time frame, to give you deeper insight into expense trends. Export reports or sync your data via direct integrations with Xero and NetSuite to simplify expense management, reconciliation, accounting, taxes and more.
Open an account through a simple, intuitive online portal
You don’t need to be an established business to open a World Account and start using virtual World Cards, as long as you meet regional and compliance requirements. Anyone operating in one of our supported regions is eligible to open an account, subject to AML verification.
You also don’t need to demonstrate a certain amount of revenue or have more than one employee in order to use WorldFirst. Any business or sole trader can open an account. And, the list of required documents is fairly short compared to other types of cards, especially those from traditional banks.
Once you’ve gathered up the appropriate documents, like your ID and proof of address, it only takes a few minutes to apply for a World Card, entirely online. In most cases, your card will be ready to use immediately after approval.
- Open 20+ local currency accounts and get paid like a local
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Save with competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
How to open a World Account and start using World Cards now
Applying for a World Card takes just a few minutes, and most accounts are approved within 48 hours. To apply for your card:
- Visit our online registration portal and have your phone number, email and IDs ready
- Click Sign up and select your region
- Click Create account
- Share a few key personal and business details
- Upload images of any necessary qualifying documents (see our Account Opening Help page for additional information)
As soon as your account is approved, you can log in to the World Account dashboard to apply for your World Cards. Head to World Card in the main navigation portal, agree to the Terms and Conditions, then click Apply now to get up to 25 cards.
Want to benefit from simple, secure and affordable international payments? Open a World Account for free today.
3 alternative virtual international debit cards for non-businesses
| Number of virtual cards | Number of currencies | Fees for card? | Best for? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WorldFirst | 25 | 15 | Free | Cross-border businesses |
| Wise | 3 at a time | 40+ | S$8.50 for physical card (required for virtual card) | Travelers, expats and students living abroad |
| Revolut | 4 multi-use cards + one disposable | 36 | Free | Freelancers and sole traders |
| DBS Bank | No information provided | 11 | Free, but there’s an annual account fee | Consumers looking for a traditional bank |
If you’ve landed here but aren’t looking for a multi-currency business account, there are other virtual cards that let you pay internationally. Here are some of the top options:
1. Wise
Wise is a UK-based fintech that specialises in secure international money transfers. Individuals can use the service to send or receive payments, or apply for a virtual Wise Multi-Currency Card.
Card details:
- Fees:
- SGD 8.50 to order your physical card (required in order to get a digital card)
- 2% fee to top up your wallet except in certain currencies
- Percentage-based conversion fees vary by region and amount
- Application process: Create a free account in a few minutes and order your physical card, then open a balance, top up your account and use the Wise app or website to order your virtual cards.
- Currencies: Spend in 40+ currencies in 160+ countries.
- Cards: Hold up to three cards at a time and manage spending by using them for different types of expenses.
- Security features: Instantly freeze and unfreeze your card from the Wise app or website and get automatic transaction notifications.
2. Revolut
Revolut is a UK-based neobank that offers a variety of services, including multi-currency accounts, crypto accounts, accounts for freelancers and more.
Revolut offers two types of virtual cards, the “chameleon” disposable debit card with details that refresh after every to prevent fraud, a multi-use card that uses just one set of details and can be used for contactless payments.
- Fees:
- Top-up fee to add funds to your account (1.5% fee to add funds with Paysafe)
- International payment fees change regularly and depend on region and currency
- Intermediary bank fees
- Revolut exchange fees
- Application process: Download the Revolut app, open a Revolut account and top up your new account, then choose the type of card you want and it will appear in your app.
- Currencies: Exchange and hold 36 currencies or pay abroad in 140+ currencies. If you aren’t holding the currency you want to pay in, Revolut will automatically exchange your funds at the available rate.
- Cards: Create up to 4 multi-use cards and one disposable card. Track your expenses with different cards for different types of purchases, and set your own spending limits.
- Security features: Two-factor authentication. Cards only exist within the Revolut app and you can freeze them any time.
3. DBS Bank
DBS is a leading financial services and multi-national banking company based in Singapore. Account holders can generate a virtual international debit card through the DBS Digibank app after being approved for a physical debit card.
- Fees:
- Application process: Open a bank account by visiting the branch or using the DBS website or mobile banking app. Pick up your physical debit card or wait for it to be mailed. Virtual debit card is instantly activated in the app after you complete a know-your-customer (KYC) authentication process
- Currencies: 11 available foreign currencies you can transact in, including AUD, CAD, EUR, HKD, JPY, NZD, NOK, GBP, SEK, THB and USD
- Cards: No information available about additional cards
- Security features: Adjust your daily spending limit and temporarily block your card from the app. Change your pin instantly from your phone
Read more: Corporate bank account in Singapore: 5 options compared
How Nook Theory used World Card to earn $15,000 in cashback and built a 7-figure business within a year
Nook Theory is a sustainable lifestyle and home decor brand with a focus on minimising its environmental impact.
Before working with WorldFirst, the company’s supplier costs were hard to predict, and fluctuating exchange rates were making it even harder to stay within budget. Long delays in their international payments were also making it difficult to purchase inventory ahead of peak periods.
Founder Christina Ng needed a way to move money faster, if she wanted to reduce costs and focus more on growing the company. That’s when she decided to partner with WorldFirst.
Christina uses her World Card to pay Chinese suppliers on 1688.com, speeding up inventory so she can stay in stock ahead of important sales windows. She also charges Google Ads to her card so she can run campaigns ahead of these key sales periods. In just one month, Ng earned $420 in cashback on Nook Theory business expenses.
With faster payments via her World Card and other WorldFirst cross-border payment options, Ng was able to maintain the inventory she needed without running out of stock. And with more reliable spend management, she could scale Nook Theory into new markets, with a 35% increase in global sales over a six month period.
Six more months later, Nook Theory had become a 7-figure business, earned $15,000 in annual cashback and experienced a 90% reduction in all payment delays.
Watch the video to learn more:
Save on fees and earn when you spend with your World Card
If you’re looking for a virtual business card to make international payments, choose World Card to fuel your company’s growth. With clear, transparent pricing and unlimited cashback, you save and earn more when you spend, so you can invest in the future of your business.
Your World Account gives you more ways to pay, so you can keep suppliers and your customers happy. It’s the smarter way to keep cash flowing, create stronger partnerships and grow your company.
Get a World Card for free now.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES:
https://wise.com/sg/blog/singapore-virtual-credit-card
https://www.dbs.com/digibank/in/articles/pay/virtual-debit-card
https://www.revolut.com/cards/virtual-card/
https://exiap.sg/guides/best-virtual-debit-cards
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