Using a credit card in the Philippines

The Philippines is a safe country when it comes to credit card payments. You can easily use the most popular cards, Mastercard and Visa, but in large cities you shouldn’t find it hard to pay with American Express either.

If you decide to travel around any of the 7,000 islands of the Philippines, you may need cash for everyday expenses. For that, you can either exchange your sterling for local currency or you can use an ATM to withdraw cash. Just keep in mind that using an ATM usually involves fees.

Potential credit card fees in the Philippines

When you use your credit card in the Philippines, you may incur fees, such as:

• Foreign transaction fees. A non-sterling fee of around 3% per transaction can apply, depending on your credit card. That’s £30 in fees for every £1,000 spent with your card.
• Merchant currency conversion fees. Sometimes, a merchant will offer to take payment in sterling instead of the local currency. This is known as a dynamic currency conversion (DCC) and often comes with higher fees than if you paid in the local currency.
• Cash advance fees. Your card issuer may charge a fee for cash advances (withdrawing cash using your card).
• ATM fees. The provider of a cash machine may charge a fee if you withdraw cash using your card.
• Hidden fees. Some merchants in the Philippines add up to 10% commission when you pay with a card.

Here’s a section of a fairly typical T&Cs document showing the charges applicable when spending abroad:

Can I avoid paying these fees?

Yes. You can take out a card with no foreign transaction fees, decline DCC if offered (that’s when a merchant offers to take payment in sterling and convert it on your behalf) and always ask the merchant if there are any hidden fees before you pay.

Should I use my credit card to get cash in the Philippines?

If you travel on less populated islands or outside of the large cities, you’ll need cash to pay for food, transportation and accommodation. You could get cash from an ATM using your credit card, but this usually comes with cash advance fees (typically 2%-3% of the transaction for many cards) and the cash machine provider may charge you. You’ll also usually start to accrue interest as soon as you make the withdrawal.

Chip-and-PIN credit cards

All ATMs and POS terminals in the Philippines accept chip-and-PIN cards.

Is it safe to use my credit card in the Philippines?

In general, it’s safe to use your credit card in the Philippines. However, for increased security, always try to:

• Use a cash machine within a bank. If the cash machine withholds your card for some reason, you’ll be able to quickly request help. Cash machines that are within banks are also less likely to have card-skimming devices attached to them by crooks.
• Take two cards. You could lose your primary card, or it may fail to work. In that case, a backup card could come in handy.
• Keep your card in sight. To avoid being a victim of card cloning, always keep your eyes on your card when you make payments.

How to prepare before travelling to the Philippines

1. Get a credit card without foreign transaction fees. Most travel cards don’t have foreign transaction fees. If you don’t travel often, get a travel card without an annual fee and use it only when you’re abroad.
2. Opt for a Mastercard or Visa card. They’re more universally accepted in the Philippines, though you shouldn’t have a problem using an American Express card either.
3. Get a backup card. Take your primary card with you and keep your backup card in your hotel room deposit box or safe in case something happens to your primary card.
4. Get some cash. If you travel outside of the large cities or around less populated islands, you’ll need to have some cash on you for everyday expenses.
5. Inform your bank that you’re travelling to the Philippines. If you don’t, your bank may consider charges made abroad to be fraudulent. This could cause it to put a block on your card and land you in an unpleasant situation. It’s usually helpful to tell your bank the dates that you’ll be gone as well.
6. Get your bank’s phone number. For any card-related issues you may have in the Philippines, you’ll know who to call.

Bottom line

The Philippines is a card-friendly country, especially in large cities and heavily populated islands. Just be careful of foreign transaction fees, dynamic currency conversion and hidden fees that some merchants impose on card payments. If you travel outside of large cities or around less populated islands, you may find it harder to use your card.

Compare cards offering fee-free transactions in the Philippines

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Name	Product	Finder Score	Finder score	Purchases	Annual/monthly fees	Initial credit limits	Representative APR	Incentive	Link
Santander All in One Credit Card		4.5 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%	£3 per month	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	29.8% APR (variable)	0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit. Every time you spend abroad in the local currency using your Santander debit or credit card between 18 June to 15 September 2024, you'll be entered into a prize draw to win 1 of 18 travel vouchers each worth £5,000 each. T&Cs apply. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
118 118 Money Guaranteed Rate Card		3.6 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	49%	£0	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	49% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 49% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 49% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yonder Credit Card Finder Award		4.5 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	29.94%	1 month for £0, £15 per month thereafter	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	66.7% APR (variable)	First month free for new members, £15 p/m thereafter. Plus, 10,000 bonus points. Earn 5 points per £1 spent and up to 25 points per £1 at selected partners. Membership includes worldwide travel insurance, no FX fees and use your points towards any flight. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.94% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 66.7% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Royal Bank Credit Card		4.7 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	12.9%	£0	Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.	12.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Ulster Bank Credit Card Mastercard		4.7 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	12.9%	£0	Min. limit £350, max. limit not specified.	12.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
NatWest Credit Card		4.7 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	12.9%	£0	Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.	12.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Halifax Clarity Credit Card Mastercard		4.5 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	23.94%	£0	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	23.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Virgin Money Travel Credit Card Finder Award		4.5 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	0% for 9 months reverting to 24.9%	£0	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	24.9% APR (variable)	Enjoy exclusive offers and rewards on the Virgin Red app. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• How can I send money to the Philippines?

  You can find the easiest and fastest way to send money to the Philippines by exploring our money transfer page.

• What is the currency used in the Philippines?

  The Philippines uses the peso, also known as the piso. Its currency code is PHP and the symbol is ₱.
  If you decide to make a cash withdrawal, you’ll find banknotes of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

• What is the exchange rate?

• Which banks operate in the Philippines?

  The largest banks in the Philippines are:

  • BDO Unibank
  • Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company
  • Bank of the Philippine Islands

  If your credit card provider has a relationship with any of these banks in the Philippines, you could save on some fees, such as ATM withdrawals.

Using a credit card in…

Written by

Chris Lilly

Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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