Best HK Credit Cards for Overseas Spending & Travel 2026

Last updated: January 2026

Introduction

Let’s face it: travelling from Hong Kong isn’t cheap. Whether you are hopping over to Osaka for a weekend food tour or flying to London for business, your biggest expense after flights and hotels is usually what you spend on the ground. And if you are using the wrong credit card, you are leaving a massive amount of money on the table.

Foreign currency transactions are the “wild west” of credit card rewards. Banks love to splash big numbers like “Up to 7% Cashback!” on their marketing materials, but they often hide the caveats in the fine print. Does that 7% apply to online shopping? Is there a minimum spend? Does it count if you use Apple Pay?

We have crunched the numbers, read the boring T&Cs, and compared over 15 of Hong Kong’s most popular cards to bring you the definitive guide to overseas spending. And if you want to skip the reading and just see what your specific spending habits would earn, head over to our cashback rewards / miles calculator for a personalized ranking.

TL;DR: Quick Comparison Table

If you’re short on time, here’s the complete ranking of all Hong Kong credit cards with overseas/foreign currency categories. Note that “Effective Rate” estimates include the deduction of standard FX fees where applicable.

Keep reading for the detailed breakdown of each card, including the fine print that could make or break your rewards.

The “Golden Rule” of Overseas Spending

Before we dive into the specific cards, there is one rule you must follow to earn any rewards at all.

⚠️ NEVER pay in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) while abroad.

When you are at a shop in Tokyo or a hotel in Paris, the payment terminal might ask: “Do you want to pay in JPY/EUR or HKD?”

If you choose HKD (this is called Dynamic Currency Conversion, or DCC), three bad things happen:
1. You get a terrible exchange rate from the merchant’s bank.
2. You earn ZERO bonus rewards. Most banks only give cashback on “Foreign Currency Transactions.” If the receipt says HKD, it’s a local transaction to them, earning you a measly 0.4%.
3. You might still get hit with a cross-border fee.

Always choose the local currency.

The Top Tier: 5%+ Cashback Cards

🥇 Hang Seng Travel+ Credit Card (7%/5%)

This is currently the undisputed king of physical travel spending, but it comes with strict rules.

• The Deal: You earn 7% cashback on card-present spending in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia. You earn 5% on card-present spending in all other countries.
• The Catch:
  • Card-Present ONLY: This is the big one. If you buy something online from a Japanese website, or book a hotel online in USD, you do not get the 7%. You must physically tap or insert the card (or use Apple/Google Pay) at a terminal abroad.
  • Minimum Spend: You must spend at least HKD 6,000 per month to unlock these rates.
  • Cap: The bonus cashback is capped at HKD 500 per month.
• Verdict: If you are physically travelling, this is the card to bring. Just don’t use it for your pre-trip online bookings.

🥈 Hang Seng MMPower World MasterCard (6%)

If you want one card that does it all—online and offline—this is the runner-up that might actually be more useful for many.

• The Deal: 6% cashback on all foreign currency spending.
• The Good News: Unlike the Travel+, this covers online foreign currency spending too. Buying from Amazon US? 6%. Booking hotels on Agoda in USD? 6%. Eating sushi in Osaka? 6%.
• The Catch:
  • Minimum Spend: HKD 5,000 per month required.
  • Cap: Shared cap of HKD 500 per month (combined with online retail and other categories).
• Verdict: The best all-rounder. If you do a mix of online shopping and travel, the MMPower is incredibly versatile.

🥉 BOC Chill World Mastercard (5%)

• The Deal: 5% cashback on foreign currency transactions.
• The Catch: The cap is very low. You can only earn a maximum of HKD 150 bonus cashback per month. That means after spending just HKD 3,260, your rate drops to 0.4%.
• Verdict: Good for students or light spenders, but for a serious family trip, you will hit the cap on the first day.

Best Cards for Miles Collectors

AMEX The Platinum Card (9X points)

For the premium traveller, the AMEX Platinum Card offers massive points earning potential, which can be converted to miles (like Asia Miles), unlike some other cards on the list (MMPower and Travel+ cannot earn miles, only cashback).

• The Deal: Through the “Accelerator” program, you earn 9X points on foreign currency spending.
• The Math: At 18 points = 1 mile, 9X earning means HKD 2 per mile (excellent value, roughly 4-5% equivalent if you value miles at 8-10 cents each).
• The Catch:
  • The Cap: The 9X rate applies to the first HKD 15,000 of spending per quarter. After that, it drops to 4X points.
  • Acceptance: While Apple Pay helps, AMEX isn’t accepted everywhere.
  • Fees: High annual fee (though it comes with lounge access and other perks).
• Verdict: If you value Asia Miles or Avios and travel in luxury, this is a powerhouse card up to the 15k cap.

Citi PremierMiles (3-4X points)

• The Deal: Earn 3 points (HKD 4/mile) normally, or 4 points (HKD 3/mile) if you spend over HKD 20,000 that month.
• The Catch: Citi excludes transactions in RMB and MOP (Macau Pataca) from earning points on this card. If you go to Shenzhen or Macau often, leave this card at home.
• Verdict: A solid, reliable workhorse for general travel, provided you aren’t going to China or Macau.

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard ($4/mile)

• The Deal: Simple. HKD 4 = 1 Asia Mile for eligible transactions in foreign currency.
• The Catch: You are locked into Asia Miles. You cannot convert to Avios or cash out.
• Verdict: The best “set it and forget it” card for loyal Cathay Pacific flyers.

Best “No Strings Attached” Cards

Sometimes you don’t want to track caps or categories. You just want to swipe.

Mox Credit Card (1-2% + 0% FX fees)

This card is a game-changer for a specific reason: Foreign Transaction Fees.

• The Secret Weapon: Almost every other card on this list charges a ~1.95% fee on foreign transactions. Mox charges 0%.
• The Deal:
  • 2% Unlimited Cashback if you keep HKD 250,000 in your Mox account (or receive HKD 25,000+ monthly payroll via FPS).
  • 1% Unlimited Cashback otherwise.
• The Math:
  • Standard Card: Earn 2% - Pay 1.95% Fee = 0.05% Net Gain.
  • Mox (with savings): Earn 2% - Pay 0% Fee = 2.00% Net Gain.
• Verdict: Mathematically, Mox beats almost any “2% cashback” card because of the FX fee savings. It is highly competitive.

Cards with Significant Caveats

Be careful with these cards. They look good on paper, but have specific traps.

Citi Cashback (2% - but read the fine print!)

• The Trap: This card gives 2% on foreign currency, EXCEPT for in-person transactions in the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Due to EU regulations, Citi (and some others) removed rewards for physical swiping in Europe.
• Verdict: Great for Japan/USA/Online. Useless for a trip to Paris or Rome.

DBS Live Fresh (1% - Online FCY Only!)

• The Trap: This is an “Online” card. It gives high rewards for online foreign currency spending.
• If you take this card to a restaurant in Bangkok and swipe it, you earn a basic 0.4%.
• Verdict: Leave it at home. Use it only for buying things from overseas websites while sitting on your sofa in Hong Kong.

Don’t Forget: The FX Fee Reality Check

When comparing cards, you must factor in the Foreign Transaction (FX) Fee.

• Standard Fee: Most banks (HSBC, Hang Seng, Citi, SC, DBS) charge 1.95%.
• AMEX Fee: Charges 2.00%.
• Mox: Charges 0%.

Example Calculation:
You spend HKD 10,000 in Tokyo.

1. Hang Seng Travel+ (7%):
   • You earn: $700
   • You pay fees: $195
   • Net Profit: $505
2. Standard Chartered Simply Cash (2%):
   • You earn: $200
   • You pay fees: $195
   • Net Profit: $5 (You basically break even)
3. Mox (2% tier):
   • You earn: $200
   • You pay fees: $0
   • Net Profit: $200

As you can see, unless your card earns significantly more than 2%, a 0% FX fee card like Mox often puts more actual money back in your pocket.

How to Choose: Decision Guide

Confused? Here is the simple path to choosing the right card:

1. Do you travel frequently and spend in-person (Japan/Korea/Thailand etc)?
   👉 Get the Hang Seng Travel+. The 7% return is unbeatable, even with the fee.

2. Do you want one card for both online shopping and travel?
   👉 Get the Hang Seng MMPower. 6% everywhere is hard to beat.

3. Do you hate paying FX fees and want simplicity?
   👉 Get Mox Credit. The 0% FX fee saves you money instantly.

4. Are you a serious Miles collector?
   👉 Get AMEX Platinum (for luxury perks) or SC Cathay (for simplicity).

Methodology

To create this guide, we reviewed the official Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) of all major Hong Kong credit cards as of January 2026. We calculated “Effective Rates” by factoring in base earn rates, bonus categories, and spending caps. We also specifically looked for exclusions (like the Citi Europe rule or the Hang Seng offline-only rule) that other comparison sites often miss.

Disclaimer: Cashback rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change by banks at any time. Always check the official bank website before applying.

Have questions about a specific card? Use our calculators to see exactly how much you’d earn based on your actual monthly spending.