Credit Cards for Expats
Been hit with a foreign transaction fee that costs more than your actual purchase? I've been there.
Living in the Netherlands as an American means navigating two financial worlds simultaneously — your US credit history, your European daily life, and the gap between them that nobody warns you about before you get on the plane.
These are the cards I actually carry after living here for 8+ years. No guesswork. No generic advice. Just what works when the Netherlands is home, not a holiday.
My picks for personal credit cards
Pros:
- Transfer partners
- Very good lounge access
- Very nice portfolio of benefits
Cons:
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Amex not accepted everywhere
Pros:
- Luxury perks
- Transfer partners
- Premium travel protections
Cons:
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- 5/24 rule can exclude some applicants
Pros:
- Low annual fee
- Bonus categories
- Flexible rewards redemption
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Best rates only through Chase portal
Pros:
- Anniversary perk
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Poor transfer rates to airline partners
- Low value redemptions on non-IHG properties
My picks for business credit cards
Pros:
- Pay over time
- Protection perks
- No pre-set spending limit
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Excellent credit ratings
- Bonus rewards limited to Amex portal
Pros:
- Business protection perks
- Earn high bonus on typical business expenses
- Points worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Portal
Cons:
- Annual fee
- No annual statements credits
- Bonus rate on spending cap may be limited for business
Pros:
- Automatic status
- Anniversary perk
- TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry statement credit
Cons:
- Annual fee
- 5/24 rule can exclude some applicants
- Low value redemptions on non-IHG properties
Pros:
- Travel protections
- Anniversary reward
- Automatic elite status
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Limited redemptions
- Complicated rewards