11 Best Forex Cards for Students: Features, Eligibility, Charges

Forex Card is one of the best travel partners for international visits. It makes managing expenses abroad very efficient and easy. Forex card is a prepaid card in which you can load money from your savings account and use it at POS and ATMs. It is the easiest, safest, and most efficient way to carry money abroad. In order to find the best Forex cards for international students, you need to consider multiple factors like transaction fees, insurance fees etc. A lot of banks in India provide forex cards that are specially made for international students.

Any Forex card that offers a combination of low fees, competitive exchange rates, insurance and emergency features can be considered the best Forex card for students. Some of the most popular Forex cards in India are the HDFC Bank ISIC Student ForexPlus Card, ICICI Bank Student Travel Card, SBI Multi Currency Forex Card, Bank of Baroda Forex Card etc. Check some of the best Forex cards for international students here.

Best Forex Cards for Students	Major Features
SBI Forex Card	-Cheaper issuance fee -The reload fee is less than INR 100 per transaction -Moneyback on returning the card with an applicable dedication of INR 100 only
Fly Finance Forex Card	-Easy to purchase -Completely online process -24×7 customer support
Bank of Baroda Forex Cards	-150 authorised foreign exchange branches -Supports USD, GBP, and EURO -Valid up to 3 years from the date of issuance
HDFC Forex Cards	-Multiple Categories of Cards -Easy to Reload -Supports all major currencies
Yes Bank Forex Card	-3 types of Forex Card -Low Transaction Fee -Supports 15 major currencies
Wise Borderless Card	-Dedicated category of Forex Card for Students -Available Online
Niyo Global Card	-Issues Forex Card in partnership with DCB bank which offers add-on services -Low Forex markup fee
BookMyForex Prepaid Card	-Free issuance and reload services -Same-day delivery after online form submission -Up to 14 major currencies supported
Axis Bank Forex Card	-Dedicated Forex card for international students -Supports as many as 16 currencies -Low maintenance fee
ICICI Forex Cards	-No issuance fee if you take the ICICI Multi-Currency Forex Prepaid Card -Zero Annual maintenance fee
IndusInd Bank Forex Card	-Supports around 14 currencies including major currencies like USD, GBP, EUR etc -Multiple promotional deals are offered free along with the card

1. SBI Forex Card

State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest government bank in India and renowned for Forex services. The State Bank Foreign Travel Card is a special card you can use when you travel abroad. It’s like a prepaid card where you load money onto it before your trip. This card is safe and easy to use because it has a special chip that keeps your information secure. You can use it in many countries around the world (except for India, Nepal, and Bhutan). It is one of the best forex cards for students.

SBI Forex Card supports nine different foreign currencies, such as US Dollars, British Pounds, Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, Japanese Yen, Saudi Riyal, Singapore Dollars, and United Arab Emirates Dirham. Check the major features of the SBI prepaid Forex card below:

Type of Card	Fees and Charges	Supported Currencies
SBI Multicurrency Forex Card	Issuance Fee: INR 100 + GST Reload Fee: INR 50 + GST per instance Refund Fee: INR 100 + GST per instance	US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Saudi Riyal (SAR), Singapore Dollar (SGD) and UAE Dirham (AED)
SBI Single Currency Card	Issuance Fee: INR 100 + GST Reload Fee: INR 50 + GST per instance Refund Fee: INR 100 + GST per instance	Available in 8 foreign currencies: US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Saudi Riyal (SAR) and Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Also Read: Check here some of the best currency exchanges in Toronto and know how and where to exchange currency.

2. Fly Finance Forex Card

When we talk about the best forex cards for students, Fly Finance brings out one. Fly Finance is one of the best service providers in India, especially in terms of international financial services required for students. Fly Finance has multiple partners through which they issue Forex cards to students going abroad. It has multiple partners through which you can get Forex cards at cheaper rates as compared to the market. Check some of the major features of the Fly Forex Card below:

• Fly Finance offers the cheapest transaction costs and low or zero forex markup fee
• The application process for Fly Finance forex card and you will get onboarded within 2 minutes after submitting the application
• Fly Finance provides real-time exchange rates that are cheaper than that offered by most of the banks

3. Bank of Baroda Forex Cards

Bank of Baroda is a renowned public sector bank in India. The bank has more than 150 branches for exchanging money in other countries. Bank of Baroda Forex Card lets you use three different currencies: GBP, USD, and EUR. You can start using the card right after you get it, and it is valid for three years. The fee for using the card is very cheap, especially for students from other countries. Check some of the major features of the BOB Forex card below: 

• Available at over 150 authorised foreign exchange branches across India.
• It can be purchased by both account holders and non-account holders.
• Bank of Baroda Forex card is a VISA Platinum EMV Chip NFC-enabled card 
• You can load the card with three currencies: USD, GBP, and EURO
• BOB Forex card comes with validity for a minimum of three years from the date of activation or the date printed on the card, whichever is earlier

4. HDFC Forex Cards

HDFC is one of the most popular private banks in India and is renowned for providing forex services. The bank offers multiple Forex Cards such as the ISIC Student ForexPlus Card, HDFC Regalia Forex Card, and HDFC Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus Chip Card etc. HDFC Forex card offers the current/ongoing Visa/Mastercard exchange rate and cash withdrawal fees. These features make it one of the best Forex Cards for international students. Check major details of HDFC Forex cards for international students.

Type of Card	Fees and Charges	Supported Currency
HDFC ISIC Student ForexPlus Card	Card issuance Fee: INR 300 Reload Fee: INR 75 + GST Reissuance: INR 100 + GST	USD, EUR, GBP
HDFC Regalia Forex Card	Card issuance Fee: INR 1000 + GST Reload Fee: INR 75 + GST	USD
HDFC Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus Chip Card	Card issuance Fee: INR 500 + GST Reload Fee: INR 75 + GST	AUD, AED, CAD, EUR, USD, Hongkong Dollar, Yen, Singapore Dollar, GBP, Swiss Franc, Swedish Krona, Thailand Baht, South African Rand, Omani Rial, New Zealand Dollar, Danish Krone, Norwegian Krone, Saudi Riyal, Korean Won, Bahrain Dinar, Qatari Riyal, Kuwaiti Dinar

5. Yes Bank Forex Card

Yes Bank is a leading private bank in India that offers multiple Forex services to international students at cheaper rates. A Yes Bank Forex card can be purchased by the bank simply by filling an application form. Even if you are not a customer of the bank, you are eligible for the card. The parents whose wards are studying abroad can also get a Forex card from Yes Bank. The bank also issues Forex cards through BookMyForex Yes Bank card and WSFx Smart Currency Card. Check the details below:

Type of Forex Card	Features
Yes Bank Multi Currency Travel Card	-Supports 15 currencies -24×7 Customer Support -INR 75 return fee only
WSFx Smart Currency Card	-Supports 14 currencies -Can be securely managed through the WSFx Global Pay App -Low Transaction Fee
BookMyForex Yes Bank Card	-Supports 14 currencies -Zero Issuance Fee -Zero load, reload, or annual fees

6. Wise Borderless Card

Wise Borderless Cards are amongst the best Forex cards for students. They are known for low-cost transfers across countries and one can easily make big and small payments in local currency using this forex card. Due to its increasing popularity and easy online process, the card is emerging as one of the best Forex cards for international students. Check the major features below:

• Wise Borderless card is entirely online and allows you to send money all over the world in over 60+ different currencies.
• However, if you are studying in the United States, Europe, Australia, or the United Kingdom, you can also open a Wise multi-currency account.
• It is a single card that allows you to carry over 45 different currencies and make free cash withdrawals of up to USD 350/INR 25,976 per month.
• This Forex card has low exchange rate fees and one can easily send money to their country of origin without many formalities.

Also Read: Applying for an education loan to study abroad? Check here all about IOB Vidya Jyoti Education loan

7. Niyo Global Card

One of the most popular Forex cards is the Niyo Global Card for Students, which is linked with SBM Bank (India) and VISA. There are various advantages to utilising the Niyo Card for students over other forex cards, including no foreign exchange mark-up fees on international purchases, no costs for loading or unloading cash, card issues, and account opening. Niyo Global Forex Card is one of the best Forex cards for foreign students if you plan to study abroad. It outperforms other cards and is one of the best Forex cards for international Students

• With monthly distributions, you can earn up to 6.5% each year in interest.
• Simply enter money in INR, and the transaction amount is instantly converted to any currency at the time of use.
• Works in over 150 countries throughout the world.
• India offers free* airport lounge access.
• Niyo Global app integration,
• 24X7 in-app chat assistance, and much more

8. BookMyForex Prepaid Card

BookMyForex provides zero-markup Forex cards that help you to exchange currency at exact interbank rates, without any hidden fees. The card is accepted globally at over 30 million stores, 2+ million ATMs, and 1+ million e-commerce sites. It also offers locked-in exchange rates and minimal ATM withdrawal fees, saving up to 7% compared to traditional cards. You can load up to 14 currencies for seamless transactions across multiple countries and enjoy instant reloads via the BookMyForex App. All these unique features make this one of the best prepaid cards for students. Check more details below:

Features	Details
Issuance Fee	NIL
Reload Fee	NIL
Insurance Cover	Free
Mode of Purchase	Online (Same Day Delivery)
Number of Currencies Supported	14 (including USD, CAD, GBP, AUD, EUR etc)

9. Axis Bank Forex Card

Axis Bank offers several Forex card options for how a person travels, and the fees vary by country. Axis Bank offers the Axis Bank Forex Card, which is linked to miles from Vistara Airlines, as well as a Multi-Currency Forex Card, and a Diners Card designed specifically for USD transactions.

With Axis Bank, one has to pay fees for signing up, reloading and cash withdrawals other than Axis Bank ATMs. There is an inactivity fee of USD 5 or the listed fee for each currency if the card is not used for more than 36 months. These unique features make the Axis Bank forex card one of the best forex cards for international students. Check the types of Axis Bank Forex cards for students below:

Type of Card	Fees and Charges	Supported Currency
Axis Bank Vistara Card	Initial Sale Fee: 500+GST Reload Fee: 100+GST Encashment Charges: 100+GST	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, NZD, DKK
Multi-Currency Forex Card	Initial Sale Fee: 300+GST Reload Fee: 100+GST Encashment Charges: 100+GST	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, NZD, DKK
World Traveller Forex Card	Initial Sale Fee: 500+GST Reload Fee: 100+GST Encashment Charges: 100+GST	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, NZD, DKK

10. ICICI Forex Cards

Whenever you talk about the best Forex cards for international students, ICICI Bank will be at the frontline. ICICI Bank offers 5 types of Forex cards and the card to be chosen is completely dependent upon the purpose of travel and other purposes ICICI Forex cards offer travel privileges and discounts that are lucrative to customers. There are a variety of Forex card options to choose from such as Sapphiro Forex Prepaid Card, Coral Forex Prepaid Card, Student Contactless Forex Prepaid Card and ICICI Multi-Currency Forex Prepaid Card. Check more details below:

Type of Card	Fees and Charges	Supported Currency
Sapphiro Forex Prepaid Card	Joining Fee: INR 3000 + GST Annual Fee: NIL	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, and NZD
Coral Forex Prepaid Card	Joining fee: INR 499 + GST Annual Fee: NIL	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, and NZD
Student Contactless Forex Prepaid Card	Joining fee: INR 499 + GST Annual fee: NIL	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, and NZD
ICICI Multi-Currency Forex Prepaid Card	Joining fee – NIL Annual fee – NIL	USD, EUR, GBP, SGD, CAD, UAD, JPY, CHF, SEK, THB, AED, SAR, HKD, ZAR, and NZD

11. IndusInd Bank Forex Card

IndusInd Bank manages and regulates the IndusInd Bank Multicurrency Forex Card. The Forex card provides fantastic deals to cardholders and is well-known for its easy transactions. It is regarded as one of the best FX cards for international students. Due to its user-friendly interface and easy processes, the IndusInd Bank forex card is considered one of the best forex cards for international students.

The card contains an integrated chip, which makes transactions significantly safer and more secure. The IndusInd Bank forex card is accepted in practically every country, and it may be used to withdraw money from any VISA ATM. IndusInd Bank offers a Forex card that supports 14 currencies including major currencies like USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD etc.

What is a Forex Card for Students?

A Forex card for students is a prepaid card that is specifically designed for students travelling abroad for education. It allows them to load multiple currencies onto a single card. This offers convenience and security during international travel. A Forex prepaid card comes with features like competitive exchange rates, low fees, and the ability to lock in exchange rates. These are some major features for which the students look so that they can get the best Forex cards. The card helps students manage their finances effectively while studying in a foreign country.

If you have decided to study abroad, you must be devoted to managing your finances. Deciding on how you will handle your day-to-day currency exchange needs is one of the most significant parts of studying abroad. Hence, it is necessary to find the best Forex cards for international students. Check out some common frequently asked questions about the Best Forex Cards for International Students below.

FAQs

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