International / cross-border cards fees
Card · Global
Accepting International / cross-border cards typically costs merchants Domestic rate + 1%-1.5% + currency conversion ~1%. When a customer pays with a card issued in another country, processors add a cross-border/international surcharge (about +1%-1.5% on Stripe and PayPal) plus a currency-conversion fee (~1%) if you settle in a different currency. International cards also carry higher fraud risk. For global merchants this surcharge can dominate the effective rate.
Source: Processor pricing pages. Data as of June 2026.
Note: These are general estimates, not a quote or offer. Your real rate depends on your card mix, volume, region, risk profile and the contract you sign.
International / cross-border cards at a glance
| Type | Card |
|---|---|
| Typical merchant fee | Domestic rate + 1%-1.5% + currency conversion ~1% |
| Region | Global |
| Settlement | 1-2 business days |
| Chargebacks / disputes | Yes — higher fraud/dispute risk on cross-border |
| Cheapest for | Use a local-acquiring processor (Adyen, Checkout.com) to cut cross-border fees at scale. |
Snapshot June 2026 — processors change pricing; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What drives the cost
- Cross-border surcharge (+1%-1.5%)
- Currency conversion (~1%)
- Higher fraud/chargeback risk
Processors that support International cards
Flat rate · 2.90% + $0.30
PayPalFlat rate · 3.49% + $0.49
AdyenInterchange-plus · Interchange-plus
Checkout.comInterchange-plus · Interchange-plus
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost merchants to accept international / cross-border cards?
Domestic rate + 1%-1.5% + currency conversion ~1%. When a customer pays with a card issued in another country, processors add a cross-border/international surcharge (about +1%-1.5% on Stripe and PayPal) plus a currency-conversion fee (~1%) if you settle in a different currency. International cards also carry higher fraud risk. For global merchants this surcharge can dominate the effective rate. Snapshot June 2026 — processors change pricing; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What drives the cost of International cards for a merchant?
Key cost drivers: Cross-border surcharge (+1%-1.5%); Currency conversion (~1%); Higher fraud/chargeback risk. These are general estimates, not a quote or offer. Your real rate depends on your card mix, volume, region, risk profile and the contract you sign.
Does International cards have chargebacks?
Yes — higher fraud/dispute risk on cross-border
Which processors support International cards?
Among the processors we track, Stripe, PayPal, Adyen, Checkout.com support International cards. Compare their full fee schedules on each processor page.
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Last updated: 2026-06-29