Do corporate cards automatically work internationally, or do foreign transactions need to be enabled?
Short answer
Most corporate cards can be used internationally, but whether foreign transactions work automatically depends on the issuer—some require you to explicitly enable international use or notify travel plans, while others allow it by default but may block transactions for fraud prevention. Ramp cards work internationally by default and do not require enabling foreign transactions in advance.
How it works on Ramp
Ramp cards work internationally by default, and you do not need to enable foreign transactions ahead of time. Both physical and virtual Ramp cards are automatically authorized for international use.
Foreign transaction fees:
- Ramp does not charge a separate foreign transaction fee on international purchases.
- Foreign currency transactions are converted to USD using the Visa exchange rate, which may include a currency conversion spread or markup determined by the card network and/or issuer.
Note: While there is no “foreign transaction fee,” the exchange rate applied may differ from the interbank rate, resulting in an effective cost similar to a small FX markup.
Where Ramp cards work
Ramp cards work in most countries outside the United States, including Canada, Mexico, most countries in Europe, and many additional supported regions worldwide
Ramp cards do not support transactions from certain restricted or embargoed countries, including (but not limited to): Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, and Ukraine, including the Crimean region.
If a transaction attempts to process from a blocked country, it will be automatically declined.
Travel notifications:
- You do not need to notify Ramp before international travel.
- Ramp’s fraud detection system monitors transactions in real time and does not require advance notice of travel plans.
- If Ramp detects activity that may be unexpected, you may receive an SMS asking you to confirm the transaction. Simply reply to verify legitimate charges.