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How do you avoid getting charged large fees by your bank when withdrawing overseas?


by @creative_nomad_ 8yr  | 14 comments

Hi All,

My question is about banking when it comes to being overseas/working etc. How do you avoid getting charged large fees by your bank when withdrawing overseas?

Iโ€™m originally from Australia and do my banking still in Australia. I live in the UK and most recently was living in Vietnam where I found I had to withdrawl money just to get charged very large amounts from my Aussie bank.

How do you get around this? What can you recommend.

Thanks

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@azurio 7yr

A pretty good USA card that refunds ATM withdrawal fees is with Charles Schwab.

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@vero_cuba 7yr

With UK address you can get Monzo card. ALso free withdraws abroad of maxยฃ3k a year. No monthly fees.

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Schwab lets citizens/residents of certain countries open a brokerage account and with that, I think you can get the high yield investor checking account, which comes with a debit card that has no fees and lets you withdraw money worldwide without paying a fee (they reimburse you every month for ATM withdrawals).

Itโ€™s not always down to the cent but Iโ€™ve found their conversion rates to be really reasonable and their reimbursement is usually spot on.

The only exception is in Europe where the bank fees are higher (so I havenโ€™t been reimbursed as much) so for here, itโ€™s worthwhile to open an N26 account - you can do it online and the free account gives you 5 free withdrawals per month in Europe.

So armed with the two, you could get really reasonable ATM withdrawal rates everywhere :slight_smile:

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@noah 8yr

Iโ€™m australian and I use the Citibank plus transaction cardโ€ฆ http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/citibank_plus_transaction_account

No fees for overseas ATM withdrawal, and the currency rate is the Visa rate which is very good.

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@kathrynoh 8yr

Wow, that sounds great. Iโ€™d apply but Iโ€™m going overseas on Sunday. I might give it a go when I get back in Dec.

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Revolut works great.

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Iโ€™m from the UK and I use the Norwich & Peterborough bank account, which is free to use in any currency, as long as you pay ยฃ500 per month into the account. I also have the Halifax Clarity Mastercard which is free to use anywhere and to withdraw cash anywhere, though you get charged interest on cash from day 1. But itโ€™s a useful fallback.

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Hey mate,

Check out Mozo and find a credit card that has no foreign conversion fee. This will ensure you can EFTPOS with no fees. I use a Bankwest Platinum card that has this feature and I also collect Qantas Points.

Then use the same site to find a debit card where you can withdraw with no fee from the bank - but you will always pay a local ATM fee, there is no way around this. I use the Citibank normal transaction account for this.

I posted in Australian Reddit about how I freelance around the world, pay little fees and maximise points. You can read it here.

Thanks!

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+1 vote this is the best combination in Australia, I also use it :+1:t2::blush:

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@vi 8yr

I have a Revolut card: https://revolut.com

Itโ€™s a prepaid card with a mobile app. First 650โ‚ฌ of withdrawal from any ATM is for free. After that you pay 1% (which is still less than what most of the banks charge).

This also increases security. My Revolut card was scanned in Brazil and someone withdrew 200โ‚ฌ from my account (better than if someone had access to my real bank card). I filed a complaint to Revolut and they gave me back the money and issued a new card free of charge.

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@kathrynoh 8yr

My Australian bank is CUA. They charge a flat rate of $5 per overseas withdrawal which isnโ€™t great but beats the % charge by most banks. I donโ€™t really mind it because they have good exchange rates, better than the big Australian banks. Also, I only really use it for personal spending. Otherwise, I use Paypal for most online payments and also have a Payoneer account (which probably has worse fees).

The only Australian accounts Iโ€™ve seen that donโ€™t charge any fees are credit cards accounts which I donโ€™t want. If you are okay with that, ANZ has an account with no overseas transaction fees that they seem to be flogging a lot lately.

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you find a bank that doesnโ€™t charge you those fees. mine doesnโ€™t charge me anything for using my cards internationally.

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I have an account with the German DKB, whose credit card I can use for worldwide free withdrawals and payments. You donโ€™t need to be a German citizen or resident to use it, and the account can be opened completely online. I donโ€™t know if their exchange rates are always the best, but itโ€™s a decent option.

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@marcardar 8yr

For about 15 years, Iโ€™ve used a (two actually) German Postbank SparCard Direct account which comes with a Visa Plus card where the first 10 overseas ATM withdrawals per year are free. Also not sure about how favorable the exchange rate is but Postbank is so high profile Iโ€™m assuming it canโ€™t be terrible. Also not sure if it can be opened as easily as the DKB card you mentioned.

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Read and participate in 14,117 discussions on Nomads.com

Suggested topics

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How do you avoid settling in one place?


by @sukienniko 5yr 5 years ago  | 10 comments

As a follow up to my previous question (I guess I donโ€™t have the right to post links here?), but on a larger scale: if living as a nomad in a place for, say, more than a month (which will be beneficial for the sake of getting work done), how to you prevent yourself from getting too involved in the local society?

I find that every time I stay somewhere for a significant amount of time, I naturally start to settle into the idea that Iโ€™ll be there permanently, or at least long term. I guess this is human nature: wanting to have a stable lifestyle, with stable friends, relationship, workplace, recreational activities, etc. But, indeed, that is not my goal-- I believe the benefits of the nomadic lifestyle are far greater at this stage in my lifeโ€ฆ

So, for those of you who have successfully avoided settling somewhere time despite staying for months at a time, what strategies do you use to stay afloat, as in, not getting too deeply integrated locally?

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How do I ensure that getting refused entry to the UK won't keep me from getting an Australian 462 (work and holiday) visa?


in Australia by @allisonkirschbaum 6yr 6 years ago  | 0 comments

On New Yearโ€™s Day this year, I was refused entry to the UK due to not having proof of funds, an outward-bound plane ticket (I was road-tripping out with a friend via car) and not being able to prove that I had indeed canceled the lease on the apartment I had leased during a prior recent trip.

I havenโ€™t had any entry issues to any of the several countries Iโ€™ve visited after, but now Iโ€™m applying for a 462 visa (work and holiday) visa in Australia, and since Australia and the UK share an immigration info system, I want to make sure getting refused entry wonโ€™t keep me from getting a visa. None of the issues that cropped up in the UK (the proof of funds, the plane ticket, and the apartment) will be an issue in Australia, as Iโ€™ve never traveled there before, donโ€™t know anyone and will have proof of more than sufficient funds for the trip and an outbound plane ticket.

Anybody have any suggestions on how to make the approval process go as smoothly as possible?

Many thanks in advance! :smiley:

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Getting started: where to?


by @vforvalerio87 6yr 6 years ago  | 3 comments

Hi everybody!

I just joined this community because Iโ€™m currently in a place in life where I can live the digital nomad lifestyle and I feel like I would really be missing out if I didnโ€™t catch this opportunity. I work fully remotely, no fixed hours, I currently live in northern Italy and I basically have no partner or kids.

So, the question isโ€ฆ where to? I would love to hear the advice of more experienced digital nomads!
Laptop and internet is enough for me to work but I need decent internet for conferencing and I really have to put in the hours: some days are more relaxed, others Iโ€™ll have to work all day and night.
I enjoy more temperate climates, so no torrid heat or unbearable humidity, if possible.
I like decent food but Iโ€™m very adaptable in terms of tastes: anything is fine as long as quality is good and sanitary conditions are acceptable.
I absolutely do not enjoy the club life and would just rather go hiking during the weekends and pubs (or breweries) during the evenings. Iโ€™m a social person though and I donโ€™t particularly enjoy places where people are too introverted (been in Seattle for four monthsโ€ฆ the freeze is real); I really look forward to making friends or acquaintances wherever I end up.
I enjoy decent transportation so places where thereโ€™s a viable metro system or Uber actually works would be nice.
I prefer places with a bit more of history and culture (this is one of the reasons why I absolutely loved Portugal, for example).
Iโ€™d like to spend under $3k average per month for rent, food and going out.

For now I was thinking either:

  • Staying close to home for a first experience, so something like Vienna or Berlin
  • South East Asia; Iโ€™ve been to Hong Kong a few times before, now I was thinking either Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, or possibly Thailand
  • South America, especially Colombia. I also have some people I know in Bogota and in Medellin, which I think would be a plus

When? Ideally I would leave anywhere from mid to late March and stay away for 2 or 3 months.

Sorry for the long read, I hope to get some input. Thank you for your time, if we ever meet in person I owe you a beer (or whatever youโ€™d prefer).

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Anyone have tips for preventing or getting over jet lag? ๐Ÿ˜“๐Ÿ˜ดโœˆ๏ธ


by @artofbryce 6yr 6 years ago  | 10 comments

We just finished our first stint around South East Asia and somehow survived 3 days of way too many flights, leaving me to feel like death.

Too much shitty airplane food, not enough sleep, big time difference from Mexico to SEA.

Anyone have tips to prevent that more in the future (aside from better flight plans)? More importantly, how do I recover faster from this horror?

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Getting a Russian Visa while traveling


in Russia by @shaulsolomon 7yr 7 years ago  | 1 comment

I am an English/American currently in Israel, and heading in a week to Georgia/Armenia for two weeks and then want to head to Russia for a week.
As I am only in Israel for another week, would it be possible to apply for the visa in Israel and ask to receive it in Armenia (my last stop before I want to go to Russia)?
Or perhaps there is another better option that I have available?

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How to avoid getting your stuff stolen?


by @matthieudrula 7yr 7 years ago  | 8 comments

Hey guys,
My question might be blunt ahah but โ€ฆ how do you get your stuff stolen?
Do you stay in hostels, or shady hotels? Or do you get robbed?
I stopped using hostel with outsiders and I pretty much only use budget hotel now.
I have heard about an app that take screenshots of your room and send it to you if it detects movement too so you can alert the hotel staff.
I donโ€™t want to make everybody paranoiac too ;).

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Am I being silly by worrying about getting Zika in Bali? ๐Ÿ˜•


by @metamas 7yr 7 years ago  | 5 comments

Bali was at the top of my short-list of places to go DM for 1-3 months until I saw it had the โ€œZykaโ€ tag on Nomad List :scream: . Iโ€™m not super read-up on the whole state of Zyka, other than occurrences of infection being on a decline (for now), but I am a worrisome enough person about such things that it has got me reconsidering. Though, it still seems to not be stopping the rate of DMs visiting Baliโ€ฆ

Is there cause for large concern here, or I am just being a nut? โ€ฆItโ€™s been known to happen pretty frequently over such things :anguished: :face_with_thermometer: :mask:

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Is it just me or are Airbnb prices getting way out of hand?

 

by @srg_b 7yr 7 years ago  | 37 comments

I had this impression for a while now, but now it seems impossible to find a monthly stay over airbnb for a decent price. Just now I was looking at Utrecht which averages at 2500 euro per month for a studio. People seem to provide only small monthly discounts. In my last few trips I relied on Facebook groups for finding stay. I do have decent budget but paying โ‚ฌ1500+ for a studio in a European city simply seems ridiculous. How is everyone else finding accommodation?

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Bring external monitor to SE asia and avoid coworking cost?


by @anderkd 7yr 7 years ago  | 13 comments

Would it be advisable or wacky to lug an external monitor from the US in hopes of avoiding coworking costs by working from Airbnb with decent wifi? Iโ€™m not sold on coworking spaces, and like the solitude of coding away in my own little airbnb space. One screen is limiting to productivity, hence the love of an external monitor. Thoughts?

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How do you deal with getting data on your mobile while travelling?


by @nomads_and_drifters 8yr 8 years ago  | 15 comments

Hi,
I wondered how everybody deals with getting data on their phone in each country they travel. Is there a way around it? It is always such a pain having to buy and activate sim cards everywhere. I have tried the company โ€œworldsimโ€ and had an international sim for a while, but they where terrible and ended up to be super expensive.

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Working remotely in New Zealand and getting permanent residency?


in New Zealand by @mmorris 8yr 8 years ago  | 4 comments

Soโ€ฆ Trump is Prez. The world looks to the US as a role model. He doesnโ€™t think Climate Change is real. Weโ€™re !@#$ed.

Canadian Citizen here. Was considering Costa Rica for a long term solution, but they wonโ€™t deal with the impact as well. We were always fond of NZ and my parents spend at least 3 months of the year there along with knowing some citizens.

Questions:

  1. How can we gain a Permanent Residency Visa? It seems the Skilled Migrant Category makes the most sense as I am a Systems Analyst (by NAFTA requirments) and my wife could probably qualify as a Nutritionist/Naturopath/Counsellor. Anyone have experience with this path?
  2. I currently work for a US non-profit remotely. Does NZ allow for this? do I need a job in NZ to be considered for the Skilled Migrant Category? Can I work for the US org while my Permanent Residency is processed?

Thanks!

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Worth waiting until getting to Asia to buy gadgets?


by @skewed_corp 8yr 8 years ago  | 7 comments

Iโ€™m ticking off my lists before I venture off again and am starting to purchase stuff like 4G Routers, Wireless speakers, Mice, etc.

The only thing isโ€ฆ all of the stuff is shipped from Asia in the first place. Are all these gadgets readily available in a place like Bangkok and is it worth waiting to save on costs?

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What do you do to avoid plastic bottled water in Asia?


by @nomadaccountant 8yr 8 years ago  | 18 comments

If I stay somewhere for a while I usually get hard bottled bulk water containers, but often I have to rely on cheap plastic water bottles, which isnโ€™t good from both a health and environmental perspective. Have used a drink bottle with a filter but canโ€™t say I trusted it, and it was a little annoying. Any better options in use?

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Can Someone advice me on whether or not I need to pay tax on UK property while living overseas?


by @nomads_and_drifters 9yr 9 years ago  | 5 comments

Hi,
I have a property in the UK that collects rental money to a UK account. I moved recently to Fiji and have residency in Fiji now. I wonder if I need to pay taxes on the property in the UK or if there is a structure I can set up that avoids the tax legally? or does anybody now who to go to for advice?

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How do you get paid abroad without paying tons of fees?


by @waterlooalex 9yr 9 years ago  | 18 comments

What method do you use to get paid by your employer abroad? Iโ€™ve used wire transfers and PayPal, but come to realize there are lots of fees some more obvious than others.

For example, with PayPal, often there is an international transfer fee of 3.4% or more, then on top of that PayPal takes a 2.5% spread on the currency exchange rate.

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How to avoid Tax Residency/Wealth Tax in Spain?


in Spain by @palimpalim 9yr 9 years ago  | 4 comments

Iโ€™m planning to move to Spain this year, but Spain has a wealth tax for worldwide assets over 700.000โ‚ฌ if you are classified as a resident which I want to avoid.

Iโ€™ll try to be a short as possible:

  • I am a german citizen and Iโ€™m renting a flat in London, UK but havenโ€™t stayed there a single day in 2016. (110 days in different countries in Asia, 10 days in Spain, 30 days in germany)
  • I own a flat in germany that I rent out to tenants (limited tax liability for the rental income in germany), but besides that I donโ€™t have any income except for a few dividends from my stocks
  • I am planning to fly to Thailand for 2 months beginning of December 2016

Although I am renting the UK flat until December 2016 I prefer not to be in UK, which would mean that I would not be classified as a UK-resident because I would not meet any of the automatic UK or sufficient tie tests.

Iโ€™d like to move to Spain as soon as possible but would be willing to stay out of it for x weeks to avoid being classified as a resident and save wealth tax.

Can anyone help me in this matter? whats my best line?

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How can you avoid foreign banking, ATM, and transaction fees?

 

by @danielgenser 9yr 9 years ago  | 52 comments

Whatโ€™s the latest on how to avoid ATM/bank/foreign transaction fees? How do you keep track of money spent when youโ€™re never quite sure of the exact exchange rate? I normally use YNAB to keep on top of my budget here at home, but Iโ€™m dreading keeping tabs on all the minute foreign transaction adjustments abroadโ€ฆ

Iโ€™m looking at this to check out some of the banking options: http://thepointsguy.com/2014/02/the-top-11-checking-accounts-for-avoiding-foreign-atm-fees/

Have you used any of these?

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Is getting a work visa then quitting a possibility to stay long-term? (For Colombia)


in Colombia by @matthieudrula 9yr 9 years ago  | 0 comments

In Colombia, I have heard people telling me that once you have a work visa you can enter and not care about what happen if you get fired.
Unlike the USA where if you lose your job, you are *****ed.
Is it a possibility to get a job, get in, open a bank account(not sure if thatโ€™s a good idea since itโ€™s not going to receive a consistent flow of cash from a Colombian company), then quit and work as a freelance remote.

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Should I buy a SIM card for a country before getting there?


by @idrisraja 9yr 9 years ago  | 7 comments

Does anyone know of a service where I can buy SIM cards for countries before actually getting to the country? My mobile coverage doesnโ€™t work most places out of the US (or itโ€™s an exorbitant cost). I just want to land in the country, and pop in a SIM card right at the airport.

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Is getting dental braces while nomading a good idea?


by @nunoarruda 9yr 9 years ago  | 13 comments

This is probably a weird question but yeahโ€ฆ I want to get dental braces to fix the gaps on my teeth but I travel each month to a different city/country and I know I would need adjustments/tightening on the braces once in a while.

I guess I would have to visit a different orthodontist every time depending on where I am. Whatโ€™s your opinion?

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