Can I use my Barclaycard in Australia?

Planning a trip to Australia from the UK? Whether you’re holidaying, visiting relatives, working or studying there, you’ll need a way to spend in Australian dollars (AUD).

If you prefer to use a credit card and you have a Barclaycard (or are thinking of getting one for your trip), read on.

Below, we’ll run through everything you need to know about using your UK Barclaycard in Australia. This includes where it’s accepted, foreign transaction fees, exchange rates and more.

We’ll also show you a great alternative, the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account. You can use it for spending in 150+ countries including Australia, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate – only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Can I use my Barclaycard in Australia?

Yes, you can use your Barclaycard in Australia where Visa/Mastercard credit cards are accepted.

This includes shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, ATMs and on public transport too. Not absolutely everywhere in Australia will accept credit cards though, so it could be an idea to take a mix of cards and cash on your trip.

And then there’s the matter of fees, which are likely to apply when you spend in a foreign currency using your credit card - we’ll look at this next.

Barclaycard fees, exchange rates & currency conversion in Australia

Before you use a UK-issued debit or credit card abroad, it’s crucial to check out the fees.

Many credit cards including Barclaycard charge non-sterling transaction fees for spending in other currencies, as well as for cash withdrawals overseas.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll pay to use your Barclaycard in Australia.

Foreign transaction fees

Barclays charges the following to use its credit cards overseas:¹

If you’re planning on using your Barclaycard at an overseas ATM, there’s another key thing you should know.

Unlike with purchases where there’s usually an interest-free period, interest on ATM withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away. This could add to the cost of using the card to withdraw cash in Australia.

Exchange rates

The exchange rate for converting GBP to AUD is another important factor in how much it costs to use your Barclaycard in Australia.

Barclays uses Visa’s exchange rates for currency conversions when you spend or withdraw cash in a foreign currency. You can check the latest rates at any time here.

You also need to know about something called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This is where you’re asked if you want to pay in your home currency (GBP) or the local currency (in this case, AUD).

You should always choose the local currency, because otherwise the vendor or ATM will apply their own exchange rate. This is likely to be a poorer rate than the Visa rate, which will be used if you pay in the local currency.

Tips for using your Barclaycard in Australia

To help you get the most from using your Barclaycard in Australia, follow these tips:

• Avoid cash withdrawals with a credit card unless absolutely necessary. Fees can be high, and interest will start accruing right away (unlike with purchases, where you usually get an interest-free period)
• Use fee-free ATMs if you can - otherwise, you’ll find an ATM operator fee added on top of the Barclays fees.
• Always pay in the local currency - this ensures you get a better exchange rate and avoid expensive hidden fees.

You don’t have to tell Barclays that you’ll be travelling. Just make sure the bank has your up-to-date contact details, just in case the fraud prevention team is concerned about any transactions.

Travelling to Australia? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending

After reading this, you should have all the info you need about using your Barclaycard in Australia. We’ve looked at where it’s accepted, along with fees, exchange rates and tips for minimising costs when using a credit card overseas.

Just remember though that there are many great travel-friendly alternatives out there, such as the Wise card.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including Australia. It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

You also get two free ATM withdrawals for up to 200 GBP (or currency equivalent) each month. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 04-Mar-2025