When travelling abroad, be it for leisure or business, involves lot of planning. To make the most of your trip, one crucial step is to ensure that your Debit Card is ready for international transactions. By understanding the steps to enable international transactions on your Debit Card, you can travel worry-free.
Why activate global transactions on a Debit Card?
Convenience: Enabling international transactions means you don’t have to carry large amounts of foreign currency, reducing the hassle of exchanging money.
Safety: It minimises the risk of theft or loss, as you can use your card instead of carrying cash.
Ease of transaction: You can effortlessly make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs anywhere in the world, ensuring seamless financial transactions.
Steps to enable international transactions on your Debit Card
Check eligibility: Ensure your Debit Card is eligible for international transactions. Most premium and business accounts offer this feature, but it’s always good to confirm.
If your Debit Card allows international transactions, you can activate the same via internet banking, mobile banking, by calling your bank’s customer care numbers or visiting the branch closest to your home.
Use online banking portal:
- Log into Axis Bank’s online banking portal
- On the 'Cards' section, select your Debit Card
- Look for the option to ‘Manage Card’ or ‘Enable International Usage’
- Follow the prompts to activate your card for international use
Use mobile banking app:
- Open Axis Bank’s mobile app
- In the ‘Cards’ or ‘Debit Cards’ section, select the Debit Card you want to activate
- Find and enable the option for international transactions
- Confirm your action with the required authentication (OTP, password, etc.).
Customer service:
- Call your bank’s customer service helpline
- Request to enable international transactions on your Debit Card
- Provide any necessary verification details
Branch visit:
- Visit your nearest bank branch
- Fill out a request form for enabling international transactions
- Submit the form along with the necessary identification
Tips for using your Debit Card abroad
Notify your bank: Inform your bank about your travel plans to prevent your card from being flagged for suspicious activity, which can lead to inconvenient security blocks.
Check fees: Familiarise yourself with any foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal charges your bank may impose. Knowing these costs in advance helps you budget and avoid unexpected expenses.
Exchange rates: Understand how your bank handles currency conversion and the rates they offer. This knowledge can help you manage your expenses better and avoid unfavourable exchange rates.
Security measures: Always keep your bank’s international helpline number handy in case of emergencies. Additionally, enable alerts for transactions to monitor your account activity in real time.
Set spending limits: Adjust your card’s daily spending limit before you travel. This adds an extra layer of security, helping to control your spending and protect against fraudulent transactions.
Also Read: Virtual debit card: The future of card payments
Wrapping up
Enabling international transactions on your Debit Card is essential for a worry-free travel experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your card is ready for global use, offering convenience, safety, and ease of transactions.
For Axis Bank customers, the Burgundy Debit Card and Prestige Debit Card are excellent choices for international travel. With the Burgundy Debit Card, you can withdraw up to ₹3 lakh and has purchase limit of ₹6 lakh, plus 2 to 6 Axis eDGE rewards points for every ₹200 spent on both domestic and international transactions.
The Prestige Debit Card offers a daily cash withdrawal limit of ₹1 lakh and a purchase limit of ₹5 lakh, with 2 Axis eDGE rewards points for each ₹200 spent on domestic and international transactions. Choosing these Axis Bank cards unlocks the power of international transactions and provides significant rewards and perks.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purpose only. The views expressed in this article are personal and do not necessarily constitute the views of Axis Bank Ltd. and its employees. Axis Bank Ltd. and/or the author shall not be responsible for any direct / indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision.
