Best Forex Cards for Indian Students in the UK (2024)

From choosing the right accommodation to arranging finances and managing cash, there’s a lot to look at when pursuing higher education in the UK. Students studying there might encounter issues related to remittances, inactive travel cards, or money exchange. Thus, carrying Forex Cards is the solution to overcome these hassles to simplify the study abroad experience for international students. These cards can be loaded with foreign currencies allowing them to make transactions in the UK’s local currency and help them save additional transaction costs.

Continue reading to find out more about forex cards, their usage, benefits and the best forex cards for students in the UK which include the Axis Bank forex card, HDFC Bank forex card, and ICICI Bank forex card.

Also Read: All banks offer a wide range of remittance services like sending money abroad, receiving funds from foreign countries etc. Learn about HDFC Bank remittance services in our blog.

What are Forex Cards?

Since it is not always possible to carry cash when you are in an abroad country, carrying forex cards is an ideal option. These cards are students’ travel partners that help them in making seamless transactions without worrying about cash. They are prepaid travel cards that can be loaded with single or multiple currencies and allow one to withdraw cash, pay for the purchase of necessary items, and combat any financial emergency when not in native land. Here are some benefits of choosing to carry forex cards when studying abroad-

• The cards allow you to make transactions at the exchange rates fixed at the time of deposits. Even if the value of GBP increases in the near future, students do not have to worry about the changes in exchange rates.

• Forex cards are safer and more convenient to carry than cash. They are protected by two-factor authentication and can be blocked easily (just like credit and debit cards) if misplaced or stolen.

• Multi-currency Forex cards can be loaded in more than one currency. So if you are carrying a multi-currency FX Card, you can use it in other European countries as well other than the UK. Also, they are globally accepted and act as identity proof.

• While transactions related to debit and credit cards are subject to additional charges of up to 2.5%-3.5% by the banks, transactions made through Forex cards do not charge any additional fees if made in the currency loaded in the card.

• FX Cards are easy to refund. Once your studies are over and you return to your home country, the balance can be easily transferred

Best Forex Cards for Students in the UK

Now that we know about what are forex cards and their benefits, let’s have a look at some of the most preferred and best forex cards for students in the UK. In this section, we will discuss the features of many FX Cards that are available that will help you make informed decisions and choose the best one that suits your requirements.

Axis Bank Forex Card

Axis Bank provides many Forex Card options. Students can choose as per their needs and requirements. Students planning to study in the UK can consider this as one of the best and greatest Forex Cards. Besides GBP, it can be loaded with 15 more widely used currencies and can be reloaded multiple times. You can make payments at the exchange rate fixed during loading/ reloading the Axis Bank Forex Card. In case you lose the card, it can be blocked immediately and complete support is provided by TripAssist in case of emergency.

HDFC Bank Forex Cards

HDFC Forex cards are considered one of the best Forex cards for students in the UK and offer you a worry-free study abroad experience. These are easy and convenient to use. These Forex cards have multiple card options and an individual can choose the Forex card as per their requirements. These include ISIC Student Forex cards, multi-currency Forex cards, and regalia currency Forexplus cards. Apart from loading the card in the national currency of the UK, it can be loaded in 22 more currencies. The card gets activated within 4 hours of receiving funds from the user and can be purchased 60 days in advance of your travel plans.

Note: HDFC Bank charged additional costs including issuance fees, reloading fees, currency conversion fees, and ATM fees.

Also Read: Know all about the cheapest forex cards for students to send money internationally with low transfer fees.

ICICI Forex Cards

ICICI Bank Forex cards for students in the UK are the best card options, providing various benefits. There are five different cards to choose from based on your travel needs. These cards offer advantages like student insurance and discounts. The features include contactless payments, emergency support, online reloading, access to exclusive deals, and 24/7 customer service. Keep in mind that there’s a fee for foreign currency transactions with these cards.

Also Read: Interested in studying abroad but a bit worried about the finances? Escalate your career to the next level with HDFC Bank personal loans for education.

FAQs on Best Forex Cards for Students in the UK

This was all about the best Forex cards for students in the UK. You can load them with foreign currencies allowing you to make transactions in the UK’s local currency and save additional transaction costs. With various choices available, it is important to compare the exchange rates, and additional charges asked by the banks. Besides, always consider your needs and requirements before choosing which forex cards suit your study-abroad needs.

We at Fly.Finance help with the best Forex services that are cost-efficient, safe and secure. Our hassle-free application process helps you transfer funds in less than 10 minutes. To know more about the education loan, the best bank accounts for students, forex and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.

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