🏠 Credit Cards» Best Business Credit Cards for Travel in the UK
23 MIN READ
Advertising Disclosure
Business Expert is an independent comparison site. Some partners may compensate us for promotion. This never affects our impartial evaluations based on fees, customer service, and product features.
Best Business Credit Cards for Travel in the UK
A travel business credit card needs low FX fees, usable travel insurance, and rewards that convert to flights. We assessed the current UK travel cards; most fail at least one.
You need to start with FX fees, not rewards. At £10,000 of overseas spend, a standard 2.99% bank card costs you £299 a year. Every card on this page either waives that fee or earns rewards that offset it.
Your best fit depends on which of three travel benefits matters most: FX fee waivers (NatWest Business Plus, Capital on Tap), travel insurance and lounge access (Amex Platinum), or rewards that convert to flights (BA Amex, Amex Gold).
What Does Your Business Need From a Travel Credit Card?
What Does Your Business Need From a Travel Credit Card?
Your travel pattern
Priority
Card to look at
Frequent overseas card spend, no rewards needed
No FX fee
NatWest Business Plus or Capital on Tap
Want to earn flights on business spend
Avios earn rate
BA Amex Accelerating or Amex Gold
International travel with lounge access
Travel perks
Amex Business Platinum
Rewards flexibility, accepts an FX cost
Transferable points
Amex Gold (2.99% FX; MR points transfer to Avios)
Limited company that banks elsewhere
No FX, any bank
Capital on Tap (Ltd/LLP; needs a business account)
Verified 24 July 2026.
Choose your best fit from the six travel-suitable cards, ranked on the three decisions that matter: FX fees, travel insurance, and rewards that convert to flights or hotels. Verified July 2026.
Quick Compare
Compare Travel Cards at a Glance
Compare Travel Cards at a Glance: Best For · Key Feature · Annual Fee
Provider
Best For
Key Feature
Annual Fee
Apply
Capital on Tap0% FX Fee
Limited companies with overseas card spend that want no FX or ATM fees and already hold a business account
Fees and rates verified 24 July 2026 from public sources.
The Three Things a Travel Card Needs
You need to prioritise no FX fee above everything else. A 2.99% charge on every overseas transaction erodes any reward earn before you’ve started. Among high-street bank cards, NatWest Business Plus is the standout that waives it; the standard NatWest card charges 2.95%.
Capital on Tap charges no FX fee and no ATM fee of its own, useful if your overseas trips run on cards more than cash. If you do withdraw cash, interest accrues immediately, so it’s cheap rather than free.
Travel insurance is worth having on the card rather than buying separately, but only if the policy covers your trip type and employee count. The Amex Platinum policy is the most comprehensive available on a UK business card. Check the exact terms before relying on it.
A standalone business travel policy is a separate annual cost that varies with the traveller, destinations and level of cover. If your card includes equivalent cover, you can weigh that saving against the annual fee.
Rewards that convert to flights only work if you clear your balance monthly. Interest wipes out any Avios earned. BA Amex and Amex Gold offer the highest earn rates on any UK business card for air travel, but only where Amex is accepted.
If you’re choosing a single travel card, prioritise: no FX fee first (saves on every transaction), then travel insurance (replaces a separate cost), then rewards (value only when the first two are covered).
A card with no FX fee and no travel insurance saves more than a card with great rewards and a 2.99% FX charge.
Travel Card FX Fee Calculator: What You Actually Save
You can save hundreds of pounds per year by choosing a no-FX card. We ran the numbers at four spend levels and compared them against the zero-fee cards on this page.
Travel Card FX Fee Calculator: What You Actually Save
Annual overseas spend
FX cost at 2.99% (Barclaycard, Amex, most banks)
FX cost at 2.95% (Lloyds, standard NatWest)
FX cost at 2% (Moss)
FX cost at 0% (NatWest Business Plus, Capital on Tap)
£5,000
£150
£148
£100
£0
£10,000
£299
£295
£200
£0
£20,000
£598
£590
£400
£0
£50,000
£1,495
£1,475
£1,000
£0
Verified 24 July 2026.
At £10,000 of overseas spend, the gap between a 2.99% card and a 0% card is £299, more than the Amex Gold annual fee (£195) or the NatWest Business Plus cardholder fee (£30, waivable).
An e-commerce business importing from European suppliers at £3,000/month pays £90/month in FX charges on a 2.99% card: £1,076 per year. A 0% card such as NatWest Business Plus or Capital on Tap saves the full amount.
We verified these FX terms against the provider pages in July 2026. If your overseas spend exceeds £5,000 a year, a no-FX card pays for itself.
The 0% FX fee means no markup above the card network exchange rate: Visa for NatWest Business Plus and Capital on Tap, Mastercard for Funding Circle. The network rate still carries a small margin above the interbank mid-market rate, so you aren’t getting the raw interbank rate on any card.
What About ATM Withdrawals Overseas?
Most business credit cards charge a cash advance fee on ATM withdrawals: typically 2.5–3% of the amount, plus interest from the date of withdrawal with no grace period.
If you need cash abroad, Capital on Tap is the cheapest option on this list: no ATM fee of its own and no FX fee on overseas withdrawals.
Interest still accrues daily from the moment the cash is debited, with no interest-free period, and a third-party ATM operator may add its own charge, so it’s cheaper than most cards, not free.
Avoid using credit cards at ATMs unless you have a card with no ATM fees. The cash advance fee plus immediate interest makes it one of the most expensive ways to access cash.
Card-by-card reviews
Travel Business Credit Cards, Ranked
Ordered by travel utility: best all-round travel card first, then by specific use case. We applied three filters to each: FX fee, insurance, and rewards.
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Best fintech option for overseas spend
Annual Fee£0 / £299
Best fintech option for overseas spend
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
No FX fee and no Capital on Tap ATM fee make it genuinely useful for international travel, with a high credit ceiling (up to £250,000) for big trips.
Best for: Limited companies with overseas card spend that want no FX or ATM fees and already hold a business account
Watch out: Cash withdrawals accrue interest daily from the moment they’re debited, and ATM operators may add their own charge. Average rate offered Oct–Dec 2025 was 46.05% per Capital on Tap’s own data. Sole traders excluded.
Not ideal if: You’re a sole trader, don’t yet have a business account, or want travel insurance and rewards on top of the FX saving
Floor APRFrom 13.86% variable
Headline rate“Rates from” floor, not a single representative APR Risk-based; most applicants pay well above 13.86%
Annual Fee£0 (free card) / £299 (Pro card)
Business Bank AccountRequired to apply (any UK business account)
Eligibility: UK limited companies, LLPs and PLCs; existing business bank account required. CoT’s comparison page cites a £24,000 turnover minimum (omitted from its main eligibility page). Companies House registration required.
Not ideal if: You’re a sole trader, don’t yet have a business account, or want travel insurance and rewards on top of the FX saving
Watch out: Cash withdrawals accrue interest daily from the moment they’re debited, and ATM operators may add their own charge. Average rate offered Oct–Dec 2025 was 46.05% per Capital on Tap’s own data. Sole traders excluded.
Credit limits up to £250,000
Works with any UK business bank account (not tied to one bank)
1% cashback on all spend
No FX fees on overseas purchases
Instant virtual card on approval
No annual fee (free tier)
Average offered rate is 46.05% (source: CoT credit agreement data Q4 2025), far above the 13.86% floor
Sole traders and partnerships excluded (Ltd, LLP and PLC only)
Pro card carries £299/year annual fee
Requires an existing business bank account to apply
1% cashback on all spend (uncapped)
Credit limits £1,000 to £250,000
Instant virtual card issued on approval
No FX fees on overseas spend
British Airways Accelerating Business Card
Best overall for business travel
Annual Fee£250
Best overall for business travel
British Airways Accelerating Business Card
The only UK business card that earns Avios directly on every pound of spend, with travel benefits built in.
Best for: High-spend businesses (£10k+/month) with frequent international travel who value airport lounge access
Watch out: Highest annual fee on this list. Charge card: full balance due monthly. Amex acceptance gaps overseas.
Not ideal if: Monthly spend under £5k, or you rarely travel internationally
Annual Fee£650/yr (+£295 supplementary)
RewardsMR points + 10k bonus per £10k/month
Card TypeCharge card with Flexible Payment Option
Existing AccountNo existing account required
Eligibility: Limited companies and LLPs only (sole traders and partnerships excluded since Jan 2026). Requires a UK bank/building-society account. Check americanexpress.com/uk.
Not ideal if: Monthly spend under £5k, or you rarely travel internationally
Watch out: Highest annual fee on this list. Charge card: full balance due monthly. Amex acceptance gaps overseas.
Centurion lounge access worldwide
Highest reward earn rate among UK business cards
Comprehensive travel insurance
MR points transferable to Avios, hotel, and airline partners
£650/year annual fee (£295 for supplementary cards)
Not accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard, so check your regular suppliers take Amex
Charge card for cards opened up to 27 January 2026 (paid in full monthly); new applicants from 28 January 2026 get a Flexible Payment Option at 29.1% variable
Only viable at high monthly spend volumes (£10,000+/month)
£650/year (£295 supplementary card)
MR points + 10,000 bonus per £10,000/month
Centurion lounge access
Transfer to 18+ airline and hotel partners
American Express Business Gold Card
Best flexible rewards for travellers
Annual Fee£0 yr 1, then £195/yr
Rewards1 MR point per £1
Best flexible rewards for travellers
American Express Business Gold Card
Membership Rewards points transfer to BA Avios at 1:1, making this effectively an Avios-earning card with the flexibility to switch to hotels or statement credit if your travel plans change.
Best for: Businesses spending £3k+/month that clear monthly and want flexible travel reward redemption
Watch out: Charge card by default; new applications (from Jan 2026) include a Flexible Payment Option. A 2.99% non-sterling fee applies, so it earns rewards on overseas spend but isn’t a no-FX card. Amex acceptance isn’t universal.
Not ideal if: You need a no-FX card for overseas spend, or your suppliers don’t accept Amex
Annual Fee£0 yr 1, then £195/yr
Rewards1 MR point per £1 (2x on Amex Travel)
Card TypeCharge card with Flexible Payment Option (from Jan 2026)
Existing AccountUK bank/building-society account required (personal or business) Amex-wide criterion; not a dedicated business account
Eligibility: Limited companies and LLPs only (sole traders and partnerships excluded since Jan 2026). Requires a UK bank/building-society account. Check americanexpress.com/uk.
Not ideal if: You need a no-FX card for overseas spend, or your suppliers don’t accept Amex
Watch out: Charge card by default; new applications (from Jan 2026) include a Flexible Payment Option. A 2.99% non-sterling fee applies, so it earns rewards on overseas spend but isn’t a no-FX card. Amex acceptance isn’t universal.
Flexible Membership Rewards, transfer to Avios, hotel programmes, or statement credit
£0 annual fee in year 1
1 MR point per £1 (2x on Amex Travel)
Flexible Payment Option on new applications (from 28 Jan 2026) lets you carry a balance
Available to limited companies and LLPs (sole traders excluded since Jan 2026)
£195/year annual fee from year 2
Not accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard, so check your regular suppliers take Amex
Charge card, balance must be paid monthly (unless using Pay Over Time at 29.1% APR)
Supplementary cards at additional cost
£0 year 1, then £195/year
1 MR point per £1 spent (2x on Amex Travel)
Transfer to Avios, Hilton, Marriott, and other partners
Pay Over Time option available at 29.1% APR
NatWest Business Plus Credit Card
Best bank card for overseas spend
Rep. APR29% variable
Annual Fee£70 per cardholder
Best bank card for overseas spend
NatWest Business Plus Credit Card
The fee-free NatWest card, and the standout high-street bank card for overseas spend: no non-sterling transaction fee, plus tiered cashback.
Best for: Businesses wanting cashback and no FX fees without a bank account requirement
Watch out: 34.9% representative APR. 0% FX fee applies, but the high APR makes carrying a balance expensive.
Not ideal if: You need travel insurance or rewards alongside the FX saving. This card offers cashback only
Representative APR34.9% variable
Annual Fee£0 No annual fee
Cashback2% for the first 6 months (up to £2,000), then 1% uncapped
Existing AccountNo existing account required
Eligibility: UK limited companies only. Min 1 year trading. No existing account required.
Not ideal if: You need travel insurance or rewards alongside the FX saving. This card offers cashback only
Watch out: 34.9% representative APR. 0% FX fee applies, but the high APR makes carrying a balance expensive.
2% cashback for the first 6 months (up to £2,000), then 1% uncapped
No need to switch your existing business banking
No annual fee
Online application with soft-search eligibility check
34.9% representative APR, significantly higher than traditional bank cards
Limited companies only, sole traders and partnerships excluded
Minimum 1 year trading and £30,000+ turnover required
2% intro cashback runs for the first six months, capped at £2,000 total
2% cashback for the first 6 months (up to £2,000), then 1% uncapped
No annual fee
Limited companies only
Soft-search eligibility check available
Cards Not Recommended for Travel or Overseas Use
Skip these cards if you travel overseas. The FX fees or lack of travel features make them the wrong tool for the job, though they appear on other comparison pages and you may be considering them.
Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card
High FX fee. Not recommended for overseas use
Rep. APR25.5% variable
Annual Fee£0
High FX fee. Not recommended for overseas use
Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card
Barclaycard is a solid open-access card for UK spend, but the 2.99% FX fee makes it an expensive choice for overseas purchases.
Before you apply, confirm the FX fee details directly with your chosen provider. We verified these in July 2026 where confirmed. All rates variable and subject to change.
The Amex Travel Card Acceptance Problem
You should not rely on Amex as your only travel card. Amex dominates on rewards and perks, but overseas acceptance is inconsistent.
We checked the main travel spend categories: most major hotels, airlines, and business services accept it. Many smaller suppliers and restaurants don’t. For the full range, see our Amex business card comparison.
If Amex is your primary travel card, carry a no-FX Visa or Mastercard as backup. NatWest Business Plus is the obvious pairing for NatWest customers. Capital on Tap serves the same function without a NatWest account.
Your destination matters. Amex acceptance is strong in the US and at major hotels, airlines and online services, but it still trails Visa and Mastercard with smaller suppliers and in parts of Europe, Asia and South America. Check your key destinations before relying on it.
If you travel frequently, the two-card approach maximises value: use Amex Gold or BA Amex for flights and hotels where acceptance is reliable. Carry a NatWest Business Plus or Capital on Tap Visa for your ground-level expenses: taxis, restaurants, local suppliers, small purchases.
You earn no Avios on Visa card spend, but pay no FX fee and have universal acceptance. This split maximises total value across both rewards and FX savings.
Do You Need a Separate Travel Insurance Policy?
If you choose Amex Platinum, you get bundled travel insurance: up to £2m medical expenses, £7,500 trip cancellation, and £2,000 baggage cover, for trips up to 120 days. No cover for cardholders aged 80 or over. Pre-existing medical conditions and geographical restrictions also apply.
Before treating card-based cover as primary insurance, verify the exclusions and destination restrictions match your travel pattern. It can be competitive with standalone annual policies.
If you choose NatWest (either card), Capital on Tap, Barclaycard, or Lloyds, you need a separate travel policy. None include cover.
A standalone annual policy is a separate cost that scales with the number of travellers, destinations and level of cover. Factor it into your total travel-card decision, since a premium card that bundles equivalent cover can offset its annual fee.
Which UK business credit card has no foreign transaction fee?
NatWest Business Plus, Capital on Tap, and Funding Circle Cashback all charge 0% FX fees on overseas purchases (verified July 2026). NatWest Business Plus is the high-street bank card with no FX fee; the standard NatWest card charges 2.95%. Capital on Tap also charges no ATM fee, though cash withdrawals still accrue interest. Check current terms with each provider before applying.
How much does the FX fee cost on a standard business credit card?
Most UK bank cards charge 2.95%–2.99% on non-sterling transactions. At £10,000 of overseas spend per year, that adds up to roughly £299 in FX charges alone, more than many annual card fees.
Do business credit cards include travel insurance?
Most don’t. The Amex Business Platinum includes travel insurance covering the cardholder and, in most cases, employees travelling on business. NatWest (either card), Capital on Tap, Barclaycard, and Lloyds don’t bundle travel cover. Check policy terms directly with the provider before relying on card-based insurance.
Can I use my business credit card at overseas ATMs?
You can, but most cards charge a cash advance fee of 2.5%–3% plus interest from the date of withdrawal with no grace period. Capital on Tap is the exception. It charges no ATM fee and no FX fee on overseas cash withdrawals. Avoid ATM use on other cards unless absolutely necessary.
Is Amex widely accepted overseas for business travel?
Amex acceptance is good in the US, Australia, and Japan, and works for most hotels, airlines, and major online services. It’s patchier in Western Europe and limited in parts of Asia and South America. We recommend carrying a Visa or Mastercard backup for ground-level expenses.
Does the 0% FX fee mean I get the interbank exchange rate?
No. A 0% FX fee means no markup above the card network exchange rate (Visa or Mastercard). The network rate itself carries a small margin above the interbank mid-market rate, so you pay less than a standard card but not the raw interbank rate.
Should I get separate cards for UK and overseas spending?
If your main card charges FX fees, yes. Many businesses use a low-APR or cashback card for UK spending and a 0% FX fee card (NatWest Business Plus or Capital on Tap) for overseas purchases. This maximises rewards or minimises interest at home while avoiding FX charges abroad.
Methodology and Disclosure
How we reviewed this
What we covered. We assessed 10 currently available UK business credit and charge cards on their FX and annual fees, eligibility, rewards and travel benefits: six we rank as travel-suitable, four as not recommended for overseas use. Terms checked against provider pages.
Data sources. All product claims were checked against primary sources in July 2026, including provider websites and published card terms. We do not cite comparison-site summaries or affiliate aggregator data.
Update cadence. We re-verify this page at least monthly, and whenever a provider changes pricing, eligibility, or terms. The verification date on the page reflects the most recent full review. Some links on this page are affiliate links, see our editorial policy.