# Card blocked or capped abroad? Limits by country and bank (October 2026) > Card caps and fees for payments abroad in 9 countries, bank by bank: naira limits, Argentina's 30% perception, Brazil's 3.5% IOF. Dated, sourced, CC BY 4.0. - URL: https://satfares.com/card-friction-index/ - Last updated: 2026-10-12 - Publisher: SatFares (https://satfares.com) Before you pay for a flight in a foreign currency, your card may hit a cap, a tax perception or a fee. This index lists them for 9 countries, row by row, each with the date and the source we checked. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. **Quick answer — Why is my card blocked or capped for payments abroad, and by how much?** The **SatFares Card Friction Index** lists the caps and extra costs on card payments abroad in 9 countries, as of October 12, 2026. The tightest caps are on Nigerian naira cards, from $2,000 a month at Access Bank. The largest extra cost is Argentina's 30% perception. SatFares, a flight booking site paid only in crypto, publishes the index with a source and a date for every row. ## About this index | Attribute | Value | | --- | --- | | Edition | October 2026, first edition; every row checked on October 12, 2026 | | Coverage | 9 countries, 16 rows: Nigeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Colombia | | Tightest cap found | Access Bank (Nigeria): $2,000 a month on Visa Classic and Mastercard naira cards (August 2026) | | Largest extra cost found | Argentina: 30% perception on card spending abroad (ARCA RG 5617), creditable against income tax | | Government charge on every card | Brazil: 3.5% IOF on credit and prepaid card purchases abroad | | Fee plus tax on the fee | India: 3.5% on most SBI cards, plus 18% GST on the fee | | Sources | Banks' own fee pages, regulators and national press; no figure without a source | | Licence | CC BY 4.0: reuse freely, with a link to this page | ## Card caps and extra costs for payments abroad, by country and bank *Card Friction Index, October 2026 edition. Every row checked by SatFares on 2026-10-12; the source date is the date of the bank page or article. CC BY 4.0.* | Country | Bank or rule | Cap or extra cost | Applies to | Source date | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Nigeria | GTBank | Cap of $40,000 a quarter, double the $20,000 limit in place on August 10, 2026 | Naira cards, international spending | 2026-09-07 | [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/07/gtco-firstbank-others-raise-dollar-spending-limits-as-fx-scarcity-eases/) | | Nigeria | Zenith Bank | Cap of $50,000 a year | Naira cards, international transactions | 2026-09-07 | [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/07/gtco-firstbank-others-raise-dollar-spending-limits-as-fx-scarcity-eases/) | | Nigeria | FirstBank | Cap of $10,000 a quarter (POS and online); $1,000 a day at ATMs | Naira Mastercard | 2026-09-07 | [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/07/gtco-firstbank-others-raise-dollar-spending-limits-as-fx-scarcity-eases/) | | Nigeria | UBA | Cap of $20,000 at POS; $10,000 online | World USD card (POS); online payments | 2026-09-07 | [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/07/gtco-firstbank-others-raise-dollar-spending-limits-as-fx-scarcity-eases/) | | Nigeria | Stanbic IBTC | Cap of $8,000 a quarter | Mastercard naira debit cards | 2026-09-07 | [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/07/gtco-firstbank-others-raise-dollar-spending-limits-as-fx-scarcity-eases/) | | Nigeria | Access Bank | Cap of $3,000 a month (Visa Signature, Platinum); $2,000 a month (Visa Classic, Mastercard) | Naira cards | 2026-08-09 | [Legit.ng](https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1724047-nigerian-banks-increase-international-card-spending-limits/) | | Argentina | ARCA, RG 5617 (all card issuers and Argentine travel agencies) | +30% perception on account of income tax or personal assets tax; refundable to people who pay neither tax | Card purchases abroad; international passenger transport; travel services abroad sold by Argentine agencies | 2026-06-17 | [El Cronista](https://www.cronista.com/economia-politica/que-hay-detras-del-dolar-tarjeta-el-numero-que-el-gobierno-no-quiere-resignar/) | | Brazil | IOF (all card issuers) | +3.5% | Credit and prepaid card purchases and withdrawals abroad | 2026-08-25 | [Nubank](https://blog.nubank.com.br/iof-cartao-credito/) | | India | SBI Card | +3.5% on most cards (1.99% to 3% on some), plus 18% GST on the fee | Foreign currency transactions | 2026-10-12 | [SBI Card](https://www.sbicard.com/en/most-important-terms-and-conditions.page) | | India | SBI Card | +3.5% dynamic currency conversion fee, plus GST | Rupee payments of Rs 1,000 or more abroad or at merchants registered outside India | 2026-10-12 | [SBI Card](https://www.sbicard.com/en/most-important-terms-and-conditions.page) | | Vietnam | Techcombank | +1.1% (Visa Signature) to +2.95% (Classic, Everyday, Eco, DreamCard) | Credit card payments in foreign currency | 2026-10-12 | [Techcombank](https://techcombank.com/content/dam/techcombank/public-site/documents/techcombank-credit-card-service-fee-penalty-schedule-applicable-to-non-tier-customers.pdf) | | Vietnam | Techcombank | +1.1% | Payments in VND to merchants registered outside Vietnam | 2026-10-12 | [Techcombank](https://techcombank.com/content/dam/techcombank/public-site/documents/techcombank-credit-card-service-fee-penalty-schedule-applicable-to-non-tier-customers.pdf) | | South Korea | Hana Card (MG+ Travelog card) | +1.1% international brand fee and +0.2% overseas service fee | Standard credit payments abroad (waived on the prepaid foreign currency option) | 2026-08-10 | [Asia Economy](https://view.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2026081008391105229) | | Philippines | BPI | +0.85% service fee and +1% Mastercard or Visa assessment (BPI Free+: +2% and +1%) | Foreign currency transactions; the 1% also applies to foreign transactions billed in pesos | 2026-07 | [BPI](https://www.bpi.com.ph/personal/cards/credit-cards/rates-and-fees) | | Mexico | BBVA México, Tarjeta Azul | No line for purchases abroad in the commission table | Credit card (fact sheet issued August 4, 2026) | 2026-08-04 | [BBVA México](https://bbva.mx/content/dam/public-web/mexico/documents/personas/tarjetas/TCR-Azul.pdf) | | Colombia | Bancolombia | Visa +1%; Mastercard 0% on US dollar purchases in the United States, +0.45% in other currencies; American Express 0% in US dollars, +2% in other currencies | Card purchases in a currency other than the peso | 2026-07-16 | [Bancolombia](https://www.bancolombia.com/centro-de-ayuda/preguntas-frecuentes/comision-por-compras-en-otras-divisas) | ## Which country makes card payments abroad the hardest? It depends on what you measure: a cap or a cost. - **Caps:** Nigeria. In August and September 2026, naira card limits for international spending went from $2,000 a month (Access Bank) to $50,000 a year (Zenith Bank). A traveller can reach a cap before the trip is fully paid. - **Extra cost:** Argentina. The 30% perception of RG 5617 applies to card purchases abroad and to international tickets. It is a payment on account of income tax that taxpayers deduct later in their annual return, but it is paid up front. - **Tax on every card payment:** Brazil, with 3.5% IOF. - **Fees:** India has the highest bank fee in this edition, 3.5% plus 18% GST on most SBI cards. Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea and Colombia range from 0% to 3%. Mexico is the only country where the card we checked listed no fee at all for purchases abroad. ## How we built the index We started from the countries where card friction is documented and crypto adoption is high, then looked for primary figures. For each row we opened the bank's own fee page or the regulator's text when we could, and serious national press otherwise. We copied the figure, the card or rule it applies to and the date of the source. Every row was checked on October 12, 2026. We do not estimate, average or score. A row that we could not source is not in the table: for example, we found no published Vietcombank fee, so Vietcombank is not listed. When two sources disagree, we keep the newer one and say so on the country page. In August 2026 Legit.ng gave Stanbic IBTC a limit of $100 a month; Nairametrics gave $8,000 a quarter one month later. ## What are the limits of this index? It is a sample, not a census. It covers one to six banks per country, and most countries have dozens of card issuers. Fees change by card product, so the rate on your own card can differ. Exchange rate spreads are not included, because banks rarely publish them. Caps and fees change often, especially in Nigeria. The index is not financial, legal or tax advice. Check your own bank's fee schedule before you pay. > **Who publishes this index** SatFares (TravelGoat LLC, United States) sells airline tickets paid in crypto. We are not neutral: we sell flights paid in crypto, and this index is about card payments. That is why every row links to a bank, regulator or press source, with its date. It is also why we list the countries where cards cost little. ## What does card friction mean for a flight paid in crypto? No card is used to pay SatFares. Buying crypto, network fees and exchange spreads have their own costs, explained in [the real cost of paying in crypto](https://satfares.com/real-cost-of-paying-in-crypto/). Your country's tax and exchange rules still apply, for example the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) in India. Paying in crypto may be a taxable event in your country. With SatFares, the total is held at checkout, and our team books the ticket on request. Your balance is charged only when the airline issues the e-ticket number. If the ticket can't be issued in time, the amount is released. Country by country: [Nigeria](https://satfares.com/flights/from/nigeria/), [Brazil](https://satfares.com/flights/from/brazil/), [Argentina](https://satfares.com/flights/from/argentina/), [India](https://satfares.com/flights/from/india/), [Vietnam](https://satfares.com/flights/from/vietnam/), [South Korea](https://satfares.com/flights/from/south-korea/), [the Philippines](https://satfares.com/flights/from/philippines/), [Mexico](https://satfares.com/flights/from/mexico/) and [Colombia](https://satfares.com/flights/from/colombia/). ## How can I reuse this data? The index is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (CC BY 4.0). You may copy, adapt and republish it, including for commercial use, if you credit the source. Suggested credit: Card Friction Index, SatFares, October 2026, https://satfares.com/card-friction-index/. Please keep the source date of each row when you quote it. ## Card Friction Index: questions ### Why are Nigerian naira cards capped abroad? Nigerian banks set their own limits for dollar spending on naira cards, depending on their access to foreign currency. Several banks raised their limits in August and September 2026 as foreign exchange scarcity eased, according to Nairametrics. In August and September 2026 the limits we found ranged from $2,000 a month to $50,000 a year. ### Which Nigerian bank had the highest card limit abroad? In the Nairametrics report of September 7, 2026, Zenith Bank had the highest yearly limit, $50,000 a year on naira cards. GTBank had the highest quarterly limit, $40,000 a quarter, double the $20,000 limit in place on August 10, 2026. Among the banks in that report, Stanbic IBTC had the lowest, $8,000 a quarter. ### Is Argentina's 30% card perception a tax I lose? Not always. The RG 5617 perception is a payment on account of income tax or personal assets tax. Taxpayers deduct it in their annual return, and people who pay neither tax can ask ARCA for a refund. It is still paid up front, at the moment of the purchase. ### What is the IOF on international card purchases in Brazil? 3.5% on purchases and withdrawals abroad with a credit or prepaid card. The rate rose from 3.38% after the fiscal measures announced on May 22, 2025, according to a Nubank page updated on August 25, 2026. The IOF comes on top of the exchange rate and spread of the card issuer. ### Do Indian banks charge GST on the forex markup? Yes. SBI Card applies 18% GST to its fees, including the 3.5% foreign currency transaction fee on most cards. The total cost is therefore about 4.13% of the transaction on those cards, before any exchange spread. Premium cards with a 1.99% fee pay about 2.35% with GST. ### Does paying in crypto remove these costs? Not all of them. No card is used to pay SatFares, but buying crypto, network fees and exchange spreads have their own costs. Your country's tax and exchange rules still apply when you pay in crypto. Paying in crypto may be a taxable event in your country. The costs are explained in [the real cost of paying in crypto](https://satfares.com/real-cost-of-paying-in-crypto/). ### How often is the index updated? This is the October 2026 edition. Each row keeps the date of its source and the date of our check. A row's date changes only when we check it again, and a change of figure is written on the page with its new source. ### Can I reuse the Card Friction Index? Yes. It is published under CC BY 4.0. You may copy and adapt it, including for commercial use, with a credit to SatFares and a link to this page. Please quote each figure with its source date, because card limits and fees change often, especially in Nigeria. ## Sources 1. [GTCO, FirstBank, others raise dollar spending limits as FX scarcity eases](https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/07/gtco-firstbank-others-raise-dollar-spending-limits-as-fx-scarcity-eases/) — Nairametrics (checked 2026-10-12) 2. [Nigerian banks increase international card spending limits](https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/money/1724047-nigerian-banks-increase-international-card-spending-limits/) — Legit.ng (checked 2026-10-12) 3. [Qué hay detrás del dólar tarjeta: el número que el Gobierno no quiere resignar](https://www.cronista.com/economia-politica/que-hay-detras-del-dolar-tarjeta-el-numero-que-el-gobierno-no-quiere-resignar/) — El Cronista (checked 2026-10-12) 4. [ARCA: percepción de Ganancias en operaciones en moneda extranjera (RG 5617)](https://blogdelcontador.com.ar/arca-percepcion-ganancias-operaciones-en-moneda-extranjera) — Blog del Contador (checked 2026-10-12) 5. [Sin impuesto PAIS: cómo impacta el nuevo esquema del dólar tarjeta](https://www.sitioandino.com.ar/economia/sin-impuesto-pais-como-impacta-el-nuevo-esquema-del-dolar-tarjeta-el-bolsillo-n5715551) — Sitio Andino (checked 2026-10-12) 6. [IOF no cartão de crédito](https://blog.nubank.com.br/iof-cartao-credito/) — Nubank (checked 2026-10-12) 7. [Most Important Terms and Conditions](https://www.sbicard.com/en/most-important-terms-and-conditions.page) — SBI Card (checked 2026-10-12) 8. [Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)](https://www.icici.bank.in/personal-banking/cards/debit-card/liberalised-remittance-scheme) — ICICI Bank (checked 2026-10-12) 9. [Credit card service fee schedule (non-tier customers)](https://techcombank.com/content/dam/techcombank/public-site/documents/techcombank-credit-card-service-fee-penalty-schedule-applicable-to-non-tier-customers.pdf) — Techcombank (checked 2026-10-12) 10. [Hana Card and MG Saemaeul Geumgo launch MG+ Travelog Hana Card](https://view.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2026081008391105229) — Asia Economy (checked 2026-10-12) 11. [Credit card rates and fees](https://www.bpi.com.ph/personal/cards/credit-cards/rates-and-fees) — BPI (checked 2026-10-12) 12. [Tarjeta Azul BBVA: fact sheet](https://bbva.mx/content/dam/public-web/mexico/documents/personas/tarjetas/TCR-Azul.pdf) — BBVA México (checked 2026-10-12) 13. [¿Si hago compras en otras divisas debo pagar comisión?](https://www.bancolombia.com/centro-de-ayuda/preguntas-frecuentes/comision-por-compras-en-otras-divisas) — Bancolombia (checked 2026-10-12) --- SatFares: SatFares is a flight booking site paid only in crypto (USDT on TRC-20 or ERC-20, USDC, BTC, ETH, SOL, LTC). The airline issues the ticket in the traveller's name, and your balance is charged only when the e-ticket number is issued.