Can Visa gift cards be used internationally?

A Visa gift card and a globe, signifying how Visa gift cards can be used internationally.

Visa gift cards offer the flexibility of cash, but with added security features to avoid any potential issues. But you might be wondering whether they can be used in other countries.     

The short answer is yes: Visa gift cards can be used internationally. And, since they aren't linked to a bank account, they’re accessible to just about everyone.

There are just a few limitations that you might want to take into consideration.

Here’s what you need to know about using Visa gift cards abroad and sending them to recipients in other parts of the world.     

Using Visa gift cards internationally

Virtual Visa gift cards can be used in over 200 different countries and territories. They work just like regular credit/debit cards at any merchant or ATM that accepts Visa. 

When making a purchase in a foreign country, the currency conversion is handled automatically. This means the recipient doesn't need to worry about exchange rates or finding a currency exchange.

These prepaid debit cards can also be used to make purchases online, just like any other credit or debit card. 

It's important to note that while Visa gift cards are widely accepted, they're not reloadable. Once the balance is spent, the card can't be topped up. However, this feature actually makes them an excellent choice for budgeting while traveling or for sending a specific amount as a gift.

Where can Visa gift cards be used?

Visa gift cards are accepted in over 200 countries and territories, including:

Albania Cocos (Keeling) Islands Guernsey Mongolia Senegal
Algeria Colombia Guinea Montenegro Serbia
American Samoa Comoros Guinea-Bissau Montserrat Seychelles
Andorra Congo Guyana Morocco Sierra Leone
Angola Cook Islands Haiti Mozambique Singapore
Anguilla Costa Rica Heard Island and McDonald Islands Namibia Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
Antarctica Côte d'Ivoire Honduras Nauru Slovakia
Antigua and Barbuda Croatia Hungary Nepal Slovenia
Argentina Curacao Iceland Netherlands Solomon Islands
Armenia Cyprus Ireland New Caledonia South Africa
Aruba Czech Republic Isle of Man New Zealand South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Australia Denmark Israel Niger South Korea
Austria Djibouti Italy Nigeria Spain
Azerbaijan Dominica Jamaica Niue Sri Lanka
Bahamas Dominican Republic Japan Norfolk Island Suriname
Bahrain East Timor Jersey North Macedonia Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Bangladesh Ecuador Jordan Northern Mariana Islands Sweden
Barbados Egypt Kazakhstan Norway Switzerland
Belgium El Salvador Kenya Oman Taiwan
Belize Equatorial Guinea Kiribati Pakistan Tajikistan
Benin Eritrea Kuwait Palau Tanzania
Bermuda Estonia Kyrgyzstan Panama Togo
Bhutan Eswatini Laos Paraguay Tokelau
Bolivia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Latvia Peru Tonga
Bonaire Faroe Islands Lesotho Pitcairn Trinidad and Tobago
Bosnia and Herzegovina Fiji Liberia Poland Tunisia
Botswana Finland Liechtenstein Portugal Turkey
Bouvet Island France Lithuania Puerto Rico Turkmenistan
Brazil French Guiana Luxembourg Qatar Turks and Caicos Islands
British Indian Ocean Territory French Polynesia Macao Reunion Tuvalu
British Virgin Islands French Southern Territories Madagascar Romania United Arab Emirates
Brunei Darussalam Gabon Malawi Rwanda United Kingdom
Bulgaria Gambia Maldives Saint Barthelemy United States
Burkina Faso Georgia Malta Saint Helena United States Minor Outlying Islands
Burundi Germany Marshall Islands Saint Kitts and Nevis Uruguay
Cambodia Ghana Martinique Saint Lucia US Virgin Islands
Cameroon Gibraltar Mauritania Saint Martin (French part) Uzbekistan
Canada Greece Mauritius Saint Pierre and Miquelon Vatican City
Cape Verde Greenland Mayotte Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Vietnam
Cayman Islands Grenada Mexico Samoa Wallis and Futuna
Chad Guadeloupe Micronesia San Marino Western Sahara
Chile Guam Moldova Sao Tome and Principe Zambia
Christmas Island Guatemala Monaco Saudi Arabia

Which countries don’t accept Visa gift cards?

While Visa gift cards are accepted in 200+ countries, they might not work in these countries due to economic sanctions and other restrictions:

Central African Republic Libya Sudan
China Mali Syria
Cuba Myanmar (Burma) Ukraine
Ethiopia Nicaragua Venezuela
India North Korea Yemen
Iran Russia Zimbabwe
Iraq Somalia
Lebanon South Sudan

Guidelines and considerations for employers issuing Visa gift cards internationally

Sending international customers, prospects, employees, or research participants a Visa prepaid card allows them a lot more flexibility in how they can use their reward or incentive.

International recipients can use Visa prepaid cards online at any retailer that accepts regular Visa credit or debit cards. As a result, Visa prepaid cards are a much more attractive option than a gift card to a specific retailer, which significantly limits how recipients can spend their reward.

While Visa prepaid cards are a great option for recipients in and outside of the US, there are some limitations and restrictions to consider.

Reginal restrictions

Some Visa prepaid cards only work in the country where they're purchased. Check the cardholder agreement before sending internationally.

Transaction fees

In certain countries, foreign transaction fees and currency exchange rates may apply.

FAQs on Visa prepaid gift cards

Can all Visa gift cards be used internationally?

Yes, Visa gift cards can be used anywhere that accepts Visa cards, including at ATMs, stores, and online retailers. However, some Visa prepaid cards only work in the country where they were purchased.

What is the foreign transaction fee for Visa gift cards?

The foreign transaction fee for a Visa gift card varies based on the currency used in the transaction. For example: the international cross-currency transaction fee is 1%. Meanwhile, the fee for international transactions in US currency is .8%.

How do you buy a gift card for someone in another country?

You can either buy the person a gift card from a retailer in their country, or you can buy a virtual Visa prepaid card, which is accepted by more than 200+ countries.

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