Can Visa gift cards be used internationally?

By Zach Links4 min. readMay 20, 2025

A Visa gift card and a globe, signifying how Visa gift cards can be used internationally.

Visa gift cards offer almost as much flexibility as cash, but with much of the same convenience as a debit card. But you might be wondering whether they can be used in other countries.     

The short answer is yes, but it depends on the card. You’ll need to check either your physical card or the cardholder agreement to know for sure. If your Visa gift card can be used internationally, the back of the card will say something like, “valid worldwide where Visa is accepted.” 

But even with global-enabled Visa gift cards, there are a few limitations you should consider. 

Here’s what you need to know about using Visa gift cards abroad and sending them to recipients in other parts of the world.

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Using Visa gift cards internationally

Virtual Visa gift cards (that are enabled for global use) can be used in over 200 different countries and territories. They work just like regular credit/debit cards at any merchant that accepts prepaid Visa cards. Although if you want to use a virtual Visa gift card in a physical store, you’ll need to load it onto a digital wallet (like Apple Pay or Google Pay). 

When you use a gift card for purchases in a foreign country, the currency conversion happens automatically. This means you don’t need to worry about tracking down the exchange rate or finding a local currency exchange.

Visa prepaid gift cards also work for many types of purchases online, like a regular debit card. (Just keep in mind not all merchants accept prepaid cards.) 

It's important to note that while Visa gift cards are widely accepted, they're not reloadable. Once the balance is spent, the card can't be topped up. However, this feature makes them an excellent choice for budgeting while traveling or for sending a specific amount as a gift.

Where can Visa gift cards be used?

Visa gift cards enabled for global use can be accepted in over 200 countries and territories (at merchants that allow prepaid cards). The digital Tremendous Visa® Rewards Card can be used in the following countries: 

AlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngola
AnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmenia
ArubaAscension IslandAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijan
BahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelgium
BelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia
BotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei Darussalam
Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

CambodiaCameroonCanada
Cape VerdeCayman IslandsChadChileChristmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta Rica
Cote d'IvoireCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmark
DjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuador
EgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstonia
Falkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFrance
French GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambia
Georgia (Sakartvelo)GermanyGhanaGibraltarGreece
GreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemala
GuernseyGuinea

Guinea-Bissau

GuyanaHaiti

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

HondurasHungaryIcelandIreland
Isle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapan
JerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribati
Korea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatvia
LesothoLiberiaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourg
MacauMadagascarMalawiMaldivesMalta
Marshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotte
MexicoMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongolia
MontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueNamibia
NauruNepalNetherlands

Netherlands Antilles

New Caledonia
New ZealandNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk Island
Northern Mariana IslandsNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPalau
Palestinian TerritoriesParaguayPeruPitcairnPoland
PortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomania
RwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and The GrenadinesSamoa
San MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbia
SeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSlovenia
Solomon IslandsSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpainSri Lanka
St. HelenaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSurinameSvalbard and Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland
SwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic of
TogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisia
TurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Minor Outlying Islands
UAEUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistan
Vatican CityVietnamVirgin Islands (British)Virgin Islands (U.S.)Wallis and Futuna Islands
Western SaharaZambia

Which countries don’t accept Visa gift cards?

While Visa gift cards are accepted in over 200 countries, they might not work in these countries due to economic sanctions and other restrictions:

AfghanistanEthiopiaRussia
BalkansIranSomalia
BelarusIraqSouth Sudan
Myanmar (Burma) LebanonSudan and Darfur
Central African RepublicLibyaSyria
ChinaMaliUkraine
CubaNicaraguaVenezuela
Democratic Republic of the Congo North KoreaYemen

Guidelines and considerations for employers issuing Visa gift cards internationally

Sending international customers, prospects, employees, or research participants a Visa prepaid gift card allows them a lot more flexibility in how they can use their reward or incentive.

International recipients can use Visa gift cards online at many of the same retailers that accept regular Visa cards. As a result, Visa gift cards are a much more attractive option than a gift card to a specific retailer, which significantly limits how recipients can spend their reward. 

While Visa gift cards are a great option for recipients in and outside of the U.S., there are some limitations and restrictions to consider.

Regional restrictions

Some Visa gift cards work only in the country where they're purchased. Check the cardholder agreement before sending rewards internationally.

Transaction fees

For international purchases, currency exchange rates vary and foreign transaction fees may apply. You can check the current exchange rate on Visa’s exchange rate calculator.

How to buy gift cards in bulk

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FAQs on Visa prepaid gift cards

Published August 7, 2024
Updated May 20, 2025

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