Best Forex Cards For Students 2023

There are primarily three ways to spend money during your study abroad experience – cash, credit card, and forex cards. Now, we all know how stressful it is to deal in cash. Most credit card companies also tend to leverage heavy transaction fees which might end up costing you a fortune. So that leaves us with forex cards. They are an easy solution for spending money abroad in the local currency. Forex cards are definitely one of the best options for you as a student. Heading abroad for studies can be a lot easier on your wallet when carrying forex cards. However, it is essential to know the best options available in order to ensure you maximize your savings. In order to help you in the process, here’s a guide curated specially for students like you. Let’s have a look at the best forex cards for international students. 

What Are The Payment Options For Indian Students Studying Abroad?

Enrolling in a prestigious foreign university to pursue higher education is a significant achievement. Many students are dissatisfied since they are unable to pay their tuition at a foreign college or university. Here are some payment options for Indian students studying abroad- 

• Wire Transfer: Wire Transfer is one of the most common and secure methods of transferring money abroad via a bank. Banks typically use the SWIFT global messaging platform to facilitate electronic money transfers to other countries. For large sums of money, wire transfer is the best method of international fund transfer. Many banks now provide online international fund transfers.
• Demand Draft: A Demand Draft also referred to as a cashier’s check is another option for paying your international education fees. You can go to your local Indian bank and request a Demand Draft for the required amount in the name of your college or university. You can deliver the Demand Draft to your college/university in person or by mail.
• Credit Cards: Using a Credit Card to pay for educational fees in another country is as simple as making an online international purchase. Credit cards are accepted by the majority of international colleges and universities. However, before using your credit card to pay for educational expenses in another country, check with your credit card provider about international transaction fees. These fees are generally higher, making the fee payment transaction more expensive than other payment methods.
• Money Transfer Service Providers: Money Transfer Providers are another convenient way to transfer funds abroad quickly and easily. They also allow you to send money overseas. Some Money Transfer Providers mandate you to visit the branch to complete a transaction, whereas others allow you to transfer funds online. They charge a transfer or service fee, which can increase the cost of your transaction. As a result, it is critical to conduct research and choose the best service provider.
• Forex Cards: Another popular method of payment for educational expenses abroad is the Forex Card. It is a prepaid card that can be loaded with money from your Indian bank account in foreign currency. When paying your fees, simply select the Visa or Mastercard payment method and pay with your Forex Card, just as you would a credit card. The Forex Cards also allow you to withdraw cash from foreign ATMs, which makes them useful for any other expenses in the currency you have loaded.

In this guide, we will discuss about the best forex cards for students in 2023.

Why Is Using A Forex Card Comparatively A Better Option For Students?

Forex cards are comparatively a better option for students for several reasons, it is an ideal option for you if you are planning to study abroad. A student forex card is a foreign exchange that allows students to cover their expenses without worrying about money or currency.  You can focus on your education and control your spending if you don’t have to worry about not having enough money for necessities like food, shelter, and travel. In reality, this currency card reduces the cost of student travel.

For making payments abroad, international students, tourists, and travelling working professionals all require a forex card. Forex cards are prepaid cards that can be recharged prior to departure. It is the simplest, safest, and most efficient way for individuals to carry foreign currency and allows them to easily track their transactions. Forex cards, also known as traveller’s best friend, are used as debit and credit cards and are an easy solution for managing your finances abroad in local currency. There are many forex card options available for students studying abroad.

What Are The Features Of A Forex Card?

• Online Reload Facility: You should be able to rapidly transfer money from your bank account using the online reload feature on your card.
• Low Exchange Rates: Read the exchange rates provided on your bank’s or the card provider’s website before purchasing a card online, then pick the most reasonable ones.
• Multi-currency Advantage: A multi-currency card may store many currencies, including AUD, GBP, EUR, and others.
• EVM Chip-enabled Cards: Magnetic-strip cards are vulnerable to card skimming, which enables hackers to copy and use them fraudulently. Fortunately, more secure EVM chip-enabled cards are already available. Make sure your card has this functionality, then.
• Cash: At an ATM, you can withdraw cash in local currency using your card.

Best Forex Cards For International Students

Here are some of the best-prepaid forex cards available for you. Read the descriptions of each card carefully to choose the best one at the end. 

1. Wise Borderless Cards

The first position on our list of ‘Best Forex Cards For International Students’ is Wise Borderless Cards. Wise is known worldwide for its lost cost transfers. Whether your payments are a really huge one to a university or a small one to student bank accounts around the world, Wise can help you with both of them. 

Wise lets you send money around the world in 60+ different currencies. Additionally, it is completely online so you get all the facilities right at your fingertips. You can make payments to universities or send money from your mobile with just one very low fee.

Attractive Aspects:

• No sign-up or issuance fees
• You will get the real exchange rate on every transaction

Bonus Tip: If you are going to study in the US, Australia, Great Britain or Europe, you could also get the Wise Multi-Currency Account. It is a single card that allows you to transfer money in over 45 different currencies and get free cash withdrawals up to $350 USD per month.

2. Niyo Global Card

If you are in search of a more tech-enabled card then Niyo Global Card would be a great option. Niyo and DCB banks have teamed up to provide the modern generation with a forex card that can be used in 150 countries. 

Even you would appreciate having a forex card that allows you to access and convert your money at any time and from anywhere. That is exactly what Niyo Global Card brings to you which makes it one of the best forex cards for international students. 

However, there is one downside to this forex card for students. It has a small joining and annual fee amount that you will have to bear. Also, you will get hit by the hidden exchange rate fee tucked into Visa’s exchange rate. 

Also Read: How To Get A Lower Interest Rate On An Education Loan

3. Axis Bank Forex Card

Axis Bank has quite a few options of forex cards for students. Keep in mind that there are different fees depending on the country you are living in. 

There are 4 types of forex cards available which are listed below.

1. Axis Bank Vistara Card
2. Multi-Currency Forex Card
3. World Traveller Forex Card
4. Diners Card (Specifically for USD transactions)

16 different currencies are available in these forex cards. Again, the downside here is that you will have to incur substantial sign-up fees. Plus you will have to pay fees for reloading and for any cash withdrawals that aren’t done at Axis ATMs. In case your card is not used for more than 36 months then you will have to face an inactivity fee of $5 USD or the listed fee for each currency. 

Recommended Reading: Difference Between Subsidized & Subsidized Loans

4. HDFC Forex Cards

HDFC, one of the most popular banks, also provides a wide range of student forex cards. The ISIC Student Forex Plus Card offered by HDFC is available for the US, Great Britain, and Europe. This card is even accepted as a qualifying student ID globally and hence recognised in the list of best forex cards for international students. 

HDFC offers some of the best-prepaid forex cards. However, there is an issuance fee and a reloading fee associated with these cards. In addition to these charges, you will always get the prevailing Visa/Mastercard exchange rate and fees on cash withdrawals. 

If you are looking forward to becoming an international student and need assistance with student loans, all you have to do is fill out the form in this blog.

5. ICICI Forex Cards

Depending on the luxury, you get the privilege of choosing one of the 5 student forex prepaid cards. These are listed below for your reference.

1. Goibibo Travel Forex
2. Sapphiro Forex
3. Multi-Wallet Prepaid Card
4. Coral Forex Card
5. Student Forex Prepaid

ICICI offers a multitude of travel privileges and discounts that are pretty attractive and you should definitely consider choosing one of them. 

Bonus Tip: Sapphiro Forex will cost you a lot more in fees than the Student Forex card.

With this, we come to the end of our list of best forex cards for international students. 

FAQS

1. Is a Forex card good for international students?

A forex card is basically a foreign exchange card that enables students to pay for their expenditures without stressing about currency or cash concerns. If you are an international student in pursuit of your abroad studies, this card is ideal for you.

2. Which forex card is best for students?

Some of the top banks that give the best forex cards include HDFC, Axis, ICICI, YES Bank, and more.

3. Is a Forex card better than an international debit card?

While cash is unquestionably the riskiest alternative, forex cards are the most secure. Unlike debit cards, forex cards are not connected to your bank account. You may also set a cost limit for the Forex card, but not for the Debit card.

4. Is a Forex card accepted everywhere?

A Forex card is one of the most effective methods to transfer money when travelling to another nation. It is used to carry foreign currency and is accepted almost everywhere.

5. Which is better; Forex Card or Cash?

Prepaid forex cards provide good exchange rates when compared to cash. As a result, with the same amount of cash, you may buy more foreign currency in a prepaid forex card than in cash.

6. Which is the best Forex Card for the UK?

Wise Multi Currency Card, Travelex Money Card, HSBC Global Everyday Debit Card, and Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card are among the best travel cards to use in the UK.

Thank you for reading this blog on Best Forex Cards For International Students 2023. If you enjoyed reading this blog then the following blogs on similar financial aspects may be of interest to you.

• Cost Of Studying In Germany
• Affording Travel Without Credit Cards
• All You Need To Know About International Sim Cards

FAQS

Thank you for reading this blog on Best Forex Cards For International Students 2023. If you enjoyed reading this blog then the following blogs on similar financial aspects may be of interest to you.

• Cost Of Studying In Germany
• Affording Travel Without Credit Cards
• All You Need To Know About International Sim Cards