Originally published at: How To Use Your Wise Account in Europe | Go VisaFree
Using Wise for travel is a practical alternative to managing your money in Europe. With the company’s services, you can make payments, receive and send money to more than 50 countries around the world without paying a high fee.
In this article, you’ll discover how Wise works and how you can use it in Europe.
Wise in Europe
The economic rates, speed, and security make Wise, formerly TransferWise, one of the best alternatives for traveling and receiving and sending international transfers. The company currently has partner banks in major European countries, making money transfers more efficient.
This method is preferred by frequent travelers as transfers are usually completed within 1 or 2 business days. It also charges low rates, making your trip more affordable.
Wise Debit Card
Wise card is a practical alternative for travelers traveling abroad. It works as a multi-currency account that provides personal account numbers and bank codes for countries in the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, and more.
With Wise, you’ll check your balance in multiple currencies and receive international payments. If you have an address in Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States, you can request the Wise debit card for withdrawals and purchases.
If not, you can still send money through the company’s international transfer services, for that you will only need an account in Europe.
At the moment, Wise debit card is only issued to people who are in the UK, US, or Europe. They’re asked for proof of residence with the location where the card should be sent.
Available Countries
Wise, formerly TransferWise, is available in over 50 countries around the world and you can send and receive money in over 40 currencies. Check out the list of countries in Europe where Wise operates:
- Germany
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Netherlands
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- United Kingdom
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- San Marino
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Is Wise Card Worth the Hype?
If you have an address in Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States, you can also request a debit card when you open your Wise account. It is accepted in many countries for withdrawals and purchases.
In addition, it is also possible to send money in more than 50 currencies and make payments using the real exchange rate, without excessive fees.
When requesting the card, you have access to a fast and economical service that only Wise offers its users. For these and other reasons, we can say that it is worth taking this card to travel, as Wise is safe, reliable, and efficient.
How it works
The Wise Card works like any debit card. This means you can make international payments, withdrawals, and purchases. But the big difference with this card is the fact that it is multi-currency and you use the balance as you want.
For example, if you want to buy an item for €50 and your card balance is in dollars, Wise converts it to euros and charges a low fee for the conversion.
Fees and Prices
The opening of the account Wise is 100% free. Wise does not charge fees for you to have the account and receive your debit card. The platform only discounts fees during the conversion of currencies on the digital account, which ranges from 0.35% to 2%.
But rest assured, these rates are displayed before you perform any operations. Wise uses the commercial exchange to convert currencies.
The platform also charges a flat fee of €0.60 on money transfers from your Wise account to another in the same currency.
Advantages
The Wise travel card is preferred by travelers because it is practical and offers many advantages. The main one is the facility to send and receive money abroad, after all, you can do this from anywhere in the world through your online account.
Another advantage is that this card is economical, as the fees charged for converting currencies are cheap and the exchange rate used is commercial. In addition, there is the possibility to make payments and purchases in different currencies and countries around the world. You can also top up the card with a balance of more than 40 coins.
Withdrawals
With the Wise debit card, you can make free withdrawals of up to £200 per month for free. If you exceed this amount, you will pay a 2% fee for each withdrawal. For more information, make sure you check out our Withdrawal with Wise article.
Conclusion
Using Wise’s services when traveling within Europe is an excellent option for those who want convenience and speed when sending or receiving transfers. It is economic and helps travelers not to spend too much on exchange rates. If you still have questions about how Wise works, read our Wise review and find out more.