Using a credit card in South Africa

South Africa is one of the most popular countries for tourism throughout the whole of Africa. Millions of people from overseas arrive every year to enjoy the national parks, beaches and picturesque rural landscapes, as well as major cities such as Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

The booming tourism industry means that credit cards are widely accepted across the nation.

Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted credit cards in South Africa. American Express cardholders may find less businesses accept their cards.

If you’re taking along a variety of cards, debit cards and cash, read our full guide on spending money while traveling in South Africa.

Which credit card issuers are accepted in South Africa?

While some merchants accept American Express or Discover cards, Visa and Mastercard are accepted more commonly.

For cash withdrawals, look for Standard Bank ATMs for Discover cards. Amex cardholders can choose from ATMs of Nedbank and from smaller banks’ ATMs.

	Merchant acceptance	ATM acceptance
Visa	High	High
Mastercard	High	High
American Express	Medium	High
Discover	Medium	Low

Potential credit card fees in South Africa

There are two main types of fees you could incur using a credit card abroad:

• Foreign transaction fees. If your card comes with foreign transaction fees, you could pay a fee of up to 3% on every purchase made abroad.
• Currency conversion fees. Instead of paying in local currency, a merchant could let you pay in US dollars. This is known as a Dynamic Currency Conversion and it comes with additional fees and poor exchange rate.

Can I incur both fees?

Yes. Avoid this by paying in local currency and get a credit card without foreign transaction fees.

Compare cards for use in South Africa

All credit cards in the table below have no foreign transaction fees. Using them will help you avoid paying extra fees on purchases made abroad.

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Name	Product	Foreign transaction fee	Annual fee	Purchase APR	Filter values
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card		None	$95	15.99% to 22.99% variable		Earn a signup bonus worth $1,000 plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries with this popular travel card.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Gold Card		None	$250	See Pay Over Time APR		Rose Gold is back Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 based on our valuation with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® from American Express		None	$550	See Pay Over Time APR		One of the most valuable premium travel cards, featuring two welcome offers worth up to $4,500 based on Finder's valuation, multiple travel credits and unrivaled lounge access. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Is it safe to use my credit card in South Africa?

South Africa is known for credit card fraud. One of the popular frauds is someone offering you assistance to use an ATM while they steal your card and information. Follow these tips to improve your safety:

• Select ATMs with care. Stick to ATMs attached to banks. These are less likely to be tampered with and you can easily retrieve your card if the machine eats it.
• Take two cards. Having a backup can ensure you have coverage if something happens to your primary card.
• Keep your card in sight. Avoid card cloning or misuse by watching your card every time you pay.

How to prepare before traveling to South Africa

• Get a credit card without foreign transaction fees.This will save you up to 3% of the amount of every transaction you make. That’s $150 for every $5,000 spent abroad.
• Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted. Discover and American Express are also widely accepted, but also carry cash just in case.
• Notify your bank before you travel. Otherwise, your bank could interpret charges abroad as fraudulent and block your card.
• Get your bank’s phone number. Simply call to resolve issues with your card.
• Get a backup card. Make sure you keep it safe. Sometimes, it can be your only access to funds.
• Get some cash. Use it for incidentals and for smaller shops where credit cards aren’t accepted.

Should I use my credit card to get cash in South Africa?

Most hotels, restaurants and shops in Cape Town, Johannesburg or any other major city in South Africa, accept credit cards. That said, it’s always a good idea to also carry cash for smaller establishments.

If you use a credit card to make a cash withdrawal, there will be additional cash advance fees or an APR. Use a debit card to avoid these fees.

Travel money guide: South Africa

Chip and PIN credit cards

South Africa has adopted the chip and PIN technology in the past few years. This means you’ll need a PIN for an ATM cash withdrawal. Ask your bank to assign one to your card before leaving the US.

Bottom line

South Africa is known for credit card fraud, but you can still use your card safely if you exercise caution. Consider making a cash withdrawal for places that don’t accept credit cards.

Consider using a debit card for cash withdrawals to avoid cash advance fees and an APR. For all other purchases, make sure you use a travel credit card without foreign transaction fees.
See more guides on using a credit card in other countries.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I send money to South Africa?

  Find the best way to send money on our money transfer page.

• Which currency is used in South Africa?

  South Africa uses the rand with a currency code ZAR and a symbol R.

  If you’re making a cash withdrawal, you’ll encounter banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 R.

• What is the US dollar to South African rand exchange rate?

• What is the most commonly used credit card network in South Africa?

  Visa and Mastercard are widely used, but you can also find many merchants that accept American Express or Discover cards.