10 Best Credit Cards for Travel in South Africa

The 10 Best Credit Cards for Travel in South Africa (2025) – Reviewed. We have Rated and Reviewed the 10 Best Credit Card Options that Offer Rewards, Perks, Cashback, Benefits, Savings, Discounts, and points on Travel, Traveling Internationally (Overseas), Travel Miles, Lounge Access, Travel Insurance, and Travel Medical Insurance for Beginners, Students, Business and Young Professionals.

In this in-depth guide, you will learn:

1. The Best Credit Cards for Travel in South Africa (2023) – a List.
2. Which Bank or Provider (Discovery Bank, Standard Bank, Capitec, FNB, Absa, Nedbank, American Express) offers the Best Credit Cards for International Travel from South Africa to Europe, India, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
3. What is considered as travel for Credit Cards and is Getting a Travel Credit card worth it?
4. The Best Credit Cards for Travel with a low or no annual fee, travel insurance, medical travel insurance, and more.

And much, MUCH more!

10 Best Credit Cards for Travel in South Africa – a Comparison

10 Best Credit Cards for Travel in South Africa (2025)

1. ☑️ Discovery Bank Gold Card – Overall, The Best Credit Card for Travel in SA
2. ☑️ Standard Bank World Citizen Card – Travel Perks and Concierge Assistance
3. ☑️ Capitec Global One Card – Both Travel and Lifestyle Benefits
4. ☑️ FNB Private Wealth Card – Most Exclusive Credit Card in SA
5. ☑️ Standard Bank Diners Platinum Card – Automatic Travel Insurance
6. ☑️ Absa British Airways Card – Best Credit Card for Business Travel
7. ☑️ Standard Bank Gold Card – Best Credit Card for International Travel
8. ☑️ FNB Premier Card – Automatic Debt Protection
9. ☑️ Nedbank SAA Voyager Card – Hotel and Car Rental Rewards
10. ☑️ American Express Platinum Card – High Reward Potential 

Discovery Bank Gold Credit Card

Those who pay the annual charge of R350 to activate the Discovery Miles benefit on their Discovery Card will be eligible to earn Discovery Miles on transactions made with their card that meet certain criteria.

Discovery Miles can be converted to Avios and Voyager Miles, used to pay for travel on Kulula, or used to pay for purchases made through the online Discovery retail portal for a variety of commodities such as entertainment products, flights, and house and home supplies. In addition, Discovery Miles can be used to pay for travel on Kulula.

Discovery Bank Gold Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Monthly account fee: R30
• ✅ Monthly Vitality Money premium: R25
• ✅ Monthly single credit facility fee: R35
• ✅ Total monthly account fee: R90

Interest rate:

• ✅ Up to 2% interest on your positive balances in your everyday accounts.
• ✅ Up to 6.75% interest on demand savings accounts.
• ✅ Up to 4% less interest on your borrowing rate.

Discovery Bank Gold Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

Download the Discovery Bank app to apply for any product and establish an account in less than five minutes. Additionally, you can leave your contact information on the Discovery website and they will call you back.

Your credit utilization rate, also known as your credit utilization ratio, is the amount of revolving credit you’re utilizing divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available. In other words, your total debt is divided by your credit limit.

Discovery Bank Gold Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Great Assitance.

I had trouble logging into the Discovery Bank app. This kind man helped me set up my app for more than an hour. He was so patient with me. He was the most helpful person I have talked to on the phone in a long time. – Erica

Discovery Bank Gold Credit Card Pros and Cons

Standard Bank World Citizen Credit Card

The Standard Bank World Citizen credit card is designed for frequent travelers and offers non-travel incentives as well. The credit card is only available to individuals with a minimum monthly income of R25,000.00. The credit card interest rate is variable, and if you establish a six-month budget, you will not incur any interest charges.

Travel benefits are the most notable aspect of the World Citizen credit card. Travel bonuses are available when purchasing hotel accommodations, airline tickets, cruise tickets, and other travel services.

Standard Bank World Citizen Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Monthly fee: R199
• ✅ Initiation fee: R180

Personalized interest rates begin at a minimum of 11.75 percent (prime minus 0.25 percent).

Standard Bank World Citizen Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

The following requirements must be met in order to apply for a Standard Bank World Citizen Credit Card:

• ✅ Certified South African identification copy or valid passport (if not a South African citizen)
• ✅ Verification of residential address (utility receipt no older than three months)
• ✅ Most recent income tax return copy (IRP5) or
• ✅ Three months of original bank statements; if duplicates are provided, they must bear a bank stamp and not be Internet printouts (if no salary information is available).
• ✅ Tax ID/SARS payslip/salary information
• ✅ If living with another person and has no confirmation of residential address, an affidavit from the other person stating that the applicant resides with them and the nature of their relationship with the applicant.

Your credit utilization rate, also known as your credit utilization ratio, is the ratio of the amount of revolving credit you are using to the total amount of revolving credit you have available. In other terms, it is the ratio of your total debt to your credit limit.

Standard Bank World Citizen Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Travel Advantages.

The travel advantages are exceptional and apply to a variety of items, including hotels, airline tickets, and cruises. – Meghan

Standard Bank World Citizen Credit Card Pros and Cons

Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card

The Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card is a hybrid offering travel and recreational perks. The monthly fee for the credit card is R40.00, and the variable interest rate begins at 7.25%. The credit card has a maximum credit limit of R500,000, but the actual limit is based on the cardholder’s income and capacity to pay.

To qualify for the Capitec Bank Global One credit card, you must be gainfully employed and earn a minimum of R5,000 per month. Self-employed individuals must have a monthly income of at least R10,000.00 in order to qualify for the credit card. Additionally, you must have a good credit score to qualify for the account.

Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Initiation fee: R100
• ✅ Monthly fee: R40

The interest rate will begin at 7.25 percent (depending on your credit profile).

Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

To apply for the Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card, the following are required:

• ✅ Original identification document (must be 18 or older)
• ✅ The minimum salary requirement for a credit card application is R5,000, or R10,000 for self-employed applicants.

Your credit utilization rate, also referred to as your credit utilization ratio, is the amount of revolving credit you are using divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available. It is the total amount of your current debts divided by your credit limit.

Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Great Customer Service

Consistently good customer service. – Matt

Capitec Bank Global One Credit Card Pros and Cons

FNB Private Wealth Credit Card

Undoubtedly, the FNB Private Wealth Credit Card is the most desired credit card in South Africa. The Private Wealth Credit Card now features a metal design and tap functionality.

To be eligible for the FNB private wealth credit card, you must have a minimum annual income of R1,800,000.00 or assets of R15,000,000.00. The monthly service fee for the credit card is R529.00.

As a credit creditor, you are automatically enrolled in FNB’s rewards program, where you can earn up to 40% in eBucks. Purchases such as airline tickets, car rentals, hotel reservations, Netflix, and Spotify subscriptions are eligible for earning points.

The credit card provides a 55-day interest-free grace period on purchases. Customers with a linked credit facility are eligible for up to 30 days of interest-free credit on card purchases.

FNB Private Wealth Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Monthly fees: from R575

You will receive an interest rate that is unique to your credit profile.

FNB Private Wealth Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and Utilization Rates

To apply for the FNB Private Wealth Credit Card, the following items are required:

• ✅ South African ID card (barcoded) or valid South African passport (resident of South Africa)
• ✅ Passport with legitimate work/retirement permit (non-resident of South Africa)
• ✅ Residence documentation (in your name and no older than three months)
• ✅ Most recent pay stubs or bank statements for the past three months

Qualifying criteria include:

• ✅ Have an income of 1 800 000 or more per year to qualify
• ✅ OR has a net asset value of more than R15 million.

Your credit utilization rate, also known as your credit utilization ratio, is the amount of revolving credit you are presently using divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available. In other terms, it equals your credit limit divided by the total amount of your debt.

FNB Private Wealth Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Great Interest Rates.

My ex-spouse was a private client, and he got better interest rates, which can make the price difference worthwhile if you have a lot of items on credit and if you use e-bucks excessively.  – Leo

FNB Private Wealth Credit Card Pros and Cons

Standard Bank Diners Platinum Credit Card

Standard Bank and Diners Club International, an American credit card company, have come up with the Diners Club Platinum Credit. The credit card is one of the best ones for travel on the market right now.

You might want to get the Diners Club Platinum Credit Card if you want a travel credit card in 2025 that gives you some of the best travel credit card experiences in the world.

A credit company that operates in more than 200 countries is almost never a bad bet. If you need help with your credit card in almost any place you want to visit, you can be sure that you will be able to find it. The service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and takes calls from South Africans and people from other countries.

Standard Bank Diners Platinum Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Monthly card fee: R120

Individualized interest rates begin at a minimum of 11.75 percent (prime minus 0.25 percent), but are fixed once determined.

Standard Bank Diners Platinum Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

You’ll need the following to apply for a Standard Bank Diners Platinum Credit Card:

• ✅ A certified copy of a South African ID or a valid passport if you are not a SA resident.
• ✅ Proof of address (energy bill from the last 3 months or less)
• ✅ Latest copy of income tax return (IRP5) or
• ✅ Original bank bills from the last 3 months. If they are copies, they must have a bank stamp and not be online printouts.
• ✅ Tax number, SARS pay stub, or salary information
• ✅ If living with someone else and doesn’t have proof of address, an affidavit from that person saying that the applicant lives with them and what their relationship is.

Your credit utilization rate also called your credit utilization ratio, is the amount of revolving credit you are currently using divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available. In other words, it is the total amount of your current debt split by the most credit you are allowed to have.

Standard Bank Diners Platinum Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Top Travel Card.

This is one of the best credit cards I’ve ever had for travel. – Eric

Standard Bank Diners Platinum Credit Card Pros and Cons

Absa British Airways Credit Card

The Absa British Airways Visa Credit Card is designed to reward you for spending; you’ll accrue Avios for every purchase, so as a frequent shopper and traveler, you’ll be on your way to seeing more of the world in no time.

For every R7.50 spent, simply scanning your credit card will earn you one Avios point. Earn more rapidly by collecting one Avios for every R5 spent on British Airways alone.

Absa British Airways Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Credit card monthly facility fee: R30,00 pm
• ✅ Credit card monthly account fee: R65,00 pm
• ✅ Secondary card (per plastic): R16,50 pm

The rate is 25.40 percent per year. You don’t pay any interest for 55 days.

Absa British Airways Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

Follow these easy steps to sign up for the online service for the ABSA British Airways Credit Card:

• ✅ To sign up for Online Banking, you will need to give your new credit card number, PIN, email address, ID number, title, name, and last name.
• ✅ You’ll have to agree to the Terms of Use.
• ✅ You’ll have to write down and confirm your password.
• ✅ Once you’ve done all of these things, SureCheck will be sent to your cell phone number. If you don’t get this, you can ask for a SureCheck repeat.
• ✅ TVN will be sent to you if you don’t get SureCheck. To sign up, go to Online Banking and choose “Registration” from the menu.

The ratio of the amount of revolving credit you are now utilizing to the total amount of revolving credit you have available is the ratio that is used to calculate the credit utilization rate, which is also known as the credit utilization ratio.

To put it another way, it is the entire amount of your outstanding debt stated as a percentage of your total credit that is accessible to you.

Absa British Airways Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Unquestionably Useful

The British Airways Visa Signature card is unquestionably useful. The 50,000 additional miles are the primary feature that I enjoy. The low APR is another excellent feature of this card. I dislike the costly annual fee associated with this card. – Francios

Absa British Airways Credit Card Pros and Cons

Standard Bank Gold Credit Card

The Standard Bank Gold Credit Card comes with moderate annual fees and a variety of travel benefits, such as air miles, discounted flights with Emirates, offers in cities all over the world, cash back on Booking.com, and savings on car rentals of up to 10%.

Standard Bank Gold Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Monthly card fee: R23
• ✅ All secondary cards: R25
• ✅ Cash withdrawal at ATM: R8 per R1 000 up to R3 000 thereafter R2.20 per R100

As per NCA regulation, Standard Bank Gold Credit Card interest rates range from a minimum of 11.75 percent (prime minus 0.25 percent) to a maximum of 22.2 percent (Repo rate plus 14 percent).

Standard Bank Gold Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

To apply for a Standard Bank Gold Credit Card, follow the steps below:

• ✅ Sign in to your Internet Banking profile to apply online.
• ✅ On the top navigation menu, select Borrow and enter your information.
• ✅ Follow the on-screen instructions to determine which credit card you are eligible for.

Your credit utilization rate, also known as your credit utilization ratio, is calculated by dividing the total amount of available revolving credit by the amount of revolving credit that is currently being utilized. In other words, it is the sum total of all of your previous debts divided by the entire amount of money that you are eligible to borrow.

Standard Bank Gold Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Wonderful Flight Discounts.

Because of the frequency of my travels with Emirates, I am entitled to wonderful flight discounts. – Maryke

Standard Bank Gold Credit Card Pros and Cons

FNB Premier Credit Card

Customers who have FNB Credit Cards and have signed up to earn eBucks on their credit card purchases are able to use their eBucks to book flights, hotels, and vehicle rentals through eBucks Travel. Customers must have signed up to earn eBucks on their credit card transactions.

Customers who meet the requirements can receive an additional discount of up to 40% on select flights operated by Kulula and Emirates, depending on the level of their eBucks discount.

FNB Premier Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

• ✅ Monthly account fee: R250

Customized interest rates are applied to the FNB premier credit card.

FNB Premier Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

To be eligible for the FNB Premier Credit Card, you must satisfy the following criteria:

• ✅ You must earn between R350 000 and R849 999 per year
• ✅ You must provide a copy of your most recent pay stub
• ✅ Three months’ worth of bank statements
• ✅ A copy of your South African ID book or card
• ✅ Proof of domicile

Your credit utilization rate, also known as your credit utilization ratio, is calculated by dividing the total amount of revolving credit you have available by the amount of revolving credit you are now using. In other terms, it is your total debt divided by the maximum amount that you are allowed to borrow.

FNB Premier Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Best Service.

Some of the best service I’ve gotten was from FNB. – Joe

FNB Premier Credit Card Pros and Cons

Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card

Every R6,50 that you charge to your SAA Voyager credit card with this gold credit card will earn you one mile if you have that card. If you fly with South African Airways (SAA) or any of its other global partners, like Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, or Turkish Airlines, you may be able to earn more money in a shorter amount of time.

Your reward rate will also improve if you use any of their partnered lodge, hotel, or resort groups, as well as any of their partnered rental car providers, such as Europcar or Budget Car Rentals. This applies to both domestic and international travel.

Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card Fees and Interest Rate

• ✅ Monthly maintenance fee: R700
• ✅ Credit facility service fee: R21

On the Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card, the interest rate can be adjusted to suit your needs.

Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and, Utilization Rates

To qualify for the Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card, you must satisfy the following criteria:

• ✅ You must be at least 18 years old.
• ✅ You must be a resident of South Africa and possess a valid South African identification card or a valid passport and work permit.
• ✅ You must earn a minimum of R17,000 per month before taxes and have a good credit score.

The amount of revolving credit you are currently utilizing divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available yields your credit utilization rate, also known as the credit utilization ratio. In other terms, it is the sum of your outstanding debt divided by your credit limit.

Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Very Happy!

I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve redeemed my South African Airways Voyager Miles. I adore it. – Nick

Nedbank SAA Voyager Gold Credit Card Pros and Cons

American Express Platinum Credit Card

The Platinum card from American Express offers rewards for all purchases. Membership benefits are accumulated, and for every R5 spent, 1.5 points are conferred. Bills for groceries, petrol, and even electricity can earn points. When redeemed for flights, there are no restrictions on who you can travel with or when you can fly.

You may also transfer points to the frequent traveler programs of six airline partners, including British Airways, EL AL, Kulula, Mango, South African Airways (SAA), and Virgin Atlantic.

American Express Platinum Credit Card Fees and Interest Rates

The American Express® Platinum Credit Card:

• ✅ Credit facility service fee* (monthly): R32
• ✅ Primary Card (monthly): R458
• ✅ Additional Card (monthly): Free

At the time of writing, the average interest rate across all Amex credit cards is 19.75%.

American Express Platinum Credit Card Conditions, Application, Limits, and Utilization Rates

Nedbank offers the ability to register for an Amex card in South Africa. To enroll, you must meet the following conditions and requirements:

• ✅ You must be at least 18 years old.
• ✅ You must be a resident of South Africa and possess a valid South African identification card or a valid passport and work permit.
• ✅ You must earn a minimum of R17,000 per month before taxes and have a good credit score.

Your credit utilization rate, sometimes referred to as your credit utilization ratio, is the amount of revolving credit you are utilizing divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available. This number is expressed as a percentage.

American Express Platinum Credit Card Customer Review

🥇 Best Exchange Rates.

American Express Foreign Exchange offers the best exchange rates for foreign currencies. International travel has been made simpler. – June

American Express Platinum Credit Card Pros and Cons

Factors to consider when choosing credit cards for travel.

Here are some helpful tips for choosing the best travel credit card for your needs:

• ✅ Decide whether you want a co-branded or general travel card. If you frequently fly with the same airline or stay with the same hotel chain, a co-branded card is a sensible way to get more of your expenses reimbursed. If not, a general travel card will provide you with even more options.
• ✅ Look for high rewards. A solid travel credit card will give you 1.5% to 2% back on your purchases. The reward rates for cards with higher annual fees can be even higher. Consider sign-up bonuses as well. This is a bonus amount of points you can get by spending a specified amount on the card in the first few months.

Some credit card benefits and protections are especially useful when traveling. Some credit card companies and networks, for example, provide rental car coverage, lost luggage insurance, travel delay and accident insurance, concierge services, and emergency support.

Pitfalls to avoid when using a credit card for travel.

Whether you’re a travel card veteran or a total newbie, there are some pitfalls to avoid when using a travel credit card:

• ✅ Redeeming travel rewards for cashback. Although your travel credit card may allow you to exchange miles or points for cash back, this does not mean you should. In most circumstances, redeeming reward points for cash is seldom worthwhile because the trip you can acquire with those points or miles is significantly more valuable.
• ✅ Losing the value when transferring rewards. Some travel credit cards allow you to transfer points to hotel and airline loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. The disadvantage is that you may end up transferring points or miles for less money.
• ✅ Letting your points expire. Use-it-or-lose-it incentive programs are available on some travel credit cards. If you don’t put your incentives to work, you’re effectively wasting money.

Finally, Buying points you don’t need. Even when points or miles are on sale, purchasing them rarely benefits you. The exception may be if you’re just a few hundred points away from being able to book a trip or hotel stay with points and need a little extra push.

Why get a credit card for travel?

There are many occasions when getting a credit card for travel is a clever idea, including the following reasons:

• ✅ You get specific travel rewards. Many travel credit cards provide bonus points or miles for expenditures such as airlines, hotels, vehicle rentals, railways, taxis, and rideshares. For frequent travelers, these bonus categories can be incredibly enticing — and simple to maximize.
• ✅ Benefits of traveling. Anyone who travels frequently (or even seldom) may appreciate benefits such as airport lounge access or elite status through an airline or hotel loyalty program. Many travel cards include these kinds of benefits, which can make long layovers and hotel stays much more bearable.

Finally, greater value in rewards. While many people swear by cash-back cards, travel credit cards may offer more options to save money on travel, which might be even more appealing.

In Conclusion

 Now it is your turn to participate:

 Which Credit Card for Travel from this list do you intend to test out?

 What was the determining factor in your decision to engage with a certain broker?

 Was it because of the Fees, Interest Rates, or, the Pros and Cons?

 Regardless, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do travel credit cards work?

With each usage of a travel rewards credit card, you move one step closer to your next getaway. Each transaction earns you points or miles that can be used to offset your travel expenses. If you have a soft spot for a specific airline or hotel company, look into their branded credit cards.

How many travel credit cards should one have?

This will be determined by the type of traveler you are. If you want elite bonuses and rewards from many airlines, get more than one travel credit card.

Should I use a credit card to pay for travel?

Absolutely, if you’ve saved the money and can pay off the credit card debt right immediately. However, if you plan to finance the trip with a card, it could be pricey in various ways.

Is a travel card better than a credit card?

International costs on a travel credit card are typically lower than those on a regular credit card. This means lower international transaction fees and broad acceptance at foreign ATMs.

Can travel credit cards be used anywhere?

Reward credit cards, cash-back cards, and a variety of travel cards are available. Carrier-branded cards can be used anywhere, but they generate rewards miles that can only be redeemed for flights on that airline.

How many points do flights cost?

A one-way domestic flight will typically cost between 6,000 and 20,000 miles, depending on the airline.

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