Picking the right foreigner credit card for your needs and spending habits isn’t rocket science. Here, we’ve sussed out credit cards deserving of your attention.
Whether you’re looking to settle in Singapore for good or for just a couple of years, using the right credit card can help each hard-earned dollar of yours go further. As it stands, all credit cards aren’t created equal. Some are more rewarding than others, while some require no effort at all when it comes to usage.
Depending on what you’re looking for, there are different foreigner credit cards for different types of expats. Their income eligibility requirements vary, too. This is why it’s important that you choose the right credit card for your own spending habits and needs.
Here’s the lowdown on the best foreigner credit cards worth their salt.
Table of contents
- Card #1: UOB Absolute Cashback
- Card #2: HSBC Revolution
- Card #3: DBS Altitude Visa Signature
- Card #4: AMEX Platinum Credit Card
- Card #5: Citi Cash Back
- Which credit card should you pick?
- Why apply for credit cards with SingSaver?
Best Foreigner Credit Cards To Add To Your Wallet
1. UOB Absolute Cashback Credit Card: Best for unlimited cashback with no spend exclusions
The UOB Absolute Cashback Card is one of the best unlimited cashback cards on the market right now – offering fuss-free 1.7% cashback on literally everything and anything you spend so long as the merchant accepts American Express credit card payments. There’s no minimum spend and no category restrictions to deal with.
[Update!] However, from 6 May onwards, the cashback earned on charity, education, government, healthcare, utilities, and other professional services will be clawed back from the bonus 1.7% to the mere 0.3% cashback.
How else does the UOB Absolute Cashback Card stand out? Well, cardholders can even earn 1.7% cashback on transactions frequently excluded from earning cashback, such as insurance premium payments, mobile or e-wallet top-ups, and rental payments.
With a cashback rate of 1.7%, this unlimited cashback credit card is also a tad more generous than its competitors’ 1.5% and 1.6%.
Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$40,000 or Fixed Deposit Collateral of at least S$10,000
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive S$50 cash on top of welcome offers when you apply for select UOB Credit Cards and fulfil promo criteria. Limited to the first 1,000 new-to-card applicants only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
✨Daily Lucky Draw✨: Plus, get a chance to win an additional S$1,000 cash when you spend S$1,000 in the first 30 days of card approval. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
UOB Absolute Cashback Card Welcome Offer: Get up to S$50 Cashback on the transactions charged within thirty days from card approval date when you successfully apply for a UOB Absolute Cashback Card. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Plus, get a Samsonite EVOA Z Spinner 25” Exp (worth S$730) when you apply, spend a min. of S$1,000 per month for two consecutive months from card approval date and pay the annual fee for the 1st year of your card membership. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Alternatives: American Express True Cashback Card, Citi Cash Back+ Card
AMEX True Cashback Card product summary:
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Cashback rate
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1.5% unlimited cashback
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Minimum spend requirement
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N/A
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Cashback cap
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N/A
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Annual fee
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S$174.40 (First year waived)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Subject to AMEX's approval
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⭐ Earn 3% unlimited cashback on up to S$5,000 eligible spend within first 6 months of card approval
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⭐ Receive cashback within same statement month
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Citi Cash Back+ Card product summary:
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Cashback rate
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1.6% unlimited cashback
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Minimum spend requirement
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N/A
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Cashback cap
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N/A
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Annual fee
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S$196.20 (First year waived)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$42,000 annual income
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⭐ Up to S$1 million complimentary travel insurance coverage when you charge full travel fare to card
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⭐ Bonus 0.4% cashback on eligible spend for Citi Plus customers who are Primary Account Holders of a Citi Interest Booster Account
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See also: Best Unlimited Cashback Credit Cards in Singapore
2. HSBC Revolution Credit Card: Best for online purchases and contactless payments
If you want a rewarding, easy-to-use credit card that lets you earn 10X rewards points (or 4 mpd) on all your online purchases and contactless payment transactions, look no further than the HSBC Revolution Credit Card. All other types of spending will earn 1X rewards points.
With no annual fee, no minimum spend and no cap on the number of rewards points you can earn, this rewards credit card is fantastic for expats who enjoy shopping online, ordering food deliveries, and booking travel and activities for the family over the internet.
Additionally, expats who like to dine out or shop in-store can take advantage of contactless payments to enjoy the generous 10X rewards points, too. That’s not all, all cardholders are entitled to free ENTERTAINER with HSBC membership. Simply download and log in to the lifestyle app to lay your hands on over 1,000 curated selections of 1-for-1 dining, lifestyle and hotel deals.
[Update!] Starting from 1 January 2024, HSBC Revolution will be removing MCC 4722 (Travel Agencies & Tour Operators) and MCC 7011 (Lodging - Hotels, Motels, and Resorts) from its whitelist of eligible merchants.
[Update!] Unfortunately, the nerfs don't just stop there. Starting 1 May 2024, three more MCCs will be removed from the list: MCC 5411 (Supermarkets), MCC 5499 (Miscellaneous Food Stores), and MCC 5814 (Fast Food).
Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$40,000 or have a Fixed Deposit Collateral of at least S$10,000
⭐ Read our full HSBC Revolution Credit Card review here.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Enjoy the following rewards when you sign up for an HSBC Revolution Card:
Receive a Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or an Apple Watch SE (GEN 2) GPS 44mm (worth S$389) or an Apple Bundle - Apple AirPods 4 w/ ANC + AirTag 4 Pack (total worth S$398) or 17,000 Max Miles or S$199 cash via PayNow upon activating and spending min. S$500 by end of the following calendar month from the card account opening date. Valid till 1 December 2024. T&Cs apply.
Alternative: Citi Rewards Card
Citi Rewards Card
3. DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card: Best for expiry-free DBS Points and bonus miles
There are plenty of ways you can earn and accumulate flexible DBS Points:
- 3.25 DBS Points for every S$5 spent or 1.3 mpd spent locally, including bus and train rides
- 5.5 DBS Points for every S$5 spent or 2.2 mpd spent in foreign currency
- 7.5 DBS Points for every S$5 spent or up to 3 mpd spent on Agoda bookings
Of course, there’s no limit to how many DBS Points you can earn on your local and overseas transactions, making this card a fabulous choice if you have big-ticket items to pay for.
Additionally, you have the option of earning 5,000 bonus DBS Points (equivalent to 10,000 miles) when you pay the S$196.20 annual fee. If you choose to waive the fee, the DBS Points credited will be reversed within 3 working days thereafter.
This card offers two free Priority Pass lounge visits within each 12-month period of your membership and up to S$1 million travel accident insurance coverage when you charge your full travel fare to this card.
⭐ Read our full DBS Altitude Visa Signature Credit Card review here.
Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$45,000
Alternatives: Citi PremierMiles Card, HSBC TravelOne Card, Standard Chartered Journey Card, OCBC 90°N Card, UOB PRVI Miles Card
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Citi PremierMiles Card product summary:
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Local spend
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1.2 mpd
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Overseas spend
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2 mpd
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Dedicated travel spend
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Up to 7 mpd with Agoda bookings
Up to 10 mpd with Kaligo bookings |
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Airport lounge access
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2 visits per year
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Travel insurance
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Up to S$1 million coverage
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Annual fee
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S$196.20 (First year waived)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$42,000 annual income
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⭐ Citi Miles never expire
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⭐ Card renewal bonus of 10,000 Citi Miles when you pay annual fee
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HSBC TravelOne Card product summary:
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Local spend
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1.2 mpd
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Overseas spend
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2.4 mpd
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Airport lounge access
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4 visits per year
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Travel insurance
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Up to US$100,000 coverage
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Annual fee
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S$196.20
(Waived second year onwards with min. S$25,000 annual spend) |
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$40,000 annual income
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⭐ No conversion fee for air miles or hotel points until 31 Dec 2023
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⭐ 5 free supplementary cards
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Standard Chartered Journey Card product summary:
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Local spend
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1.2 mpd
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Overseas spend
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2 mpd
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Bonus miles
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3 mpd on selected online transactions across groceries, food delivery, and transportation
(Capped at S$1,000 spend per statement month) |
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Airport lounge access
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2 visits per year
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Travel insurance
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Up to S$1 million coverage
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Annual fee
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S$196.20 (First year waived)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$60,000 annual income
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⭐ 360° Rewards Points never expire
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OCBC 90°N Card product summary:
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Local spend
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1.3 mpd
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Overseas spend
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2.1 mpd
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Dedicated travel spend
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Up to 6 mpd on Agoda accommodations booked in local currency Up to 7 mpd on Agoda accommodations booked in foreign currency |
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Airport lounge access
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2 visits per year
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Travel insurance
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Up to S$1 million coverage
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Annual fee
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S$196.20 (First year waived)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$45,000 annual income
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⭐ 90°N Miles never expire
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UOB PRVI Miles Card product summary:
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Local spend
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1.4 mpd
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Overseas spend
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2.4 mpd
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Dedicated travel spend
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6 mpd on major airlines and hotels booked on Agoda, Expedia, and UOB Travel |
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Travel insurance
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Up to S$$500,000 coverage
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Annual fee
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S$261.60 (First year waived)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$40,000 annual income
or Min. S$10,000 fixed deposit collateral |
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⭐ 2 complimentary airport transfers per quarter with min. S$1,000 overseas spend
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4. American Express Platinum Credit Card: Best for luxurious lifestyle and dining perks
The American Express Platinum Credit Card is the card for the expat who enjoys the finer things in life. While its S$327 annual fee is on the higher side, this American Express card’s slew of luxurious perks will pay for itself in no time.
Besides sipping on free drinks at fancy bars, foodies will adore the ability to scoop up dining discounts of up to 50% at select restaurants peppered across the island and within some of the best luxury hotels in Singapore.
There are wellness and golf privileges available, too. You’ll also enjoy 90-days return guarantee and 90-days purchase protection, along with travel accident insurance coverage, fraud protection and American Express Global AssistTM.
What about rewards on purchases? You’ll earn 2 Membership Rewards Points per S$1.60 spent, wherever that may be. That goes up to 10 Membership Rewards Points per S$1.60 spent at Platinum 10Xcelerator Partners like Laneige and The Hour Glass. Your Membership Rewards Points also have no expiry whatsoever.
Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income subject to regulatory income requirement and internal assessment
See also: AMEX Platinum Charge Card Review
5. Citi Cash Back: Best for dining, groceries and petrol
Do most of your monthly expenses revolve around dining, groceries and petrol? If so, the Citi Cash Back Card could be perfect for your lifestyle.
One of Citibank’s most popular credit cards, Citi Cash Back lets you earn 6% cashback on grocery shopping online and in-store; 6% on dining at restaurants, cafes and more; and 8% cashback on petrol (up to 20.88% savings at Esso and Shell). [Update] It also offers up to 8% bonus rate for private commute.
All these apply whether you’re in Singapore or back in your home country. You’ll earn unlimited 0.20% cashback on all other spend. You’ll also enjoy up to S$1 million coverage when you charge your travel tickets to the card.
The only catch is that you’ll have to meet the minimum spend requirement of S$800 per statement month in order to earn the high cashback, capped at S$80 across categories per statement month. The fact that the cashback cap isn’t split across categories is great, because it won’t matter if you tend to spend more on a specific category, say, dining.
⭐ Read our full Citi Cash Back Credit Card review here.
Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$42,000
🪙SingSaver Cash Quest🪙: Get 10x chances to win S$50,000 when you apply for participating Credit Cards. Applying for multiple products means more Cash Quest Chances! Plus, download the SingSaver App and log in with the same email used during product application to earn 20 additional chances! Valid till 22 December 2024. T&Cs apply.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you sign up for a Citi Cashback Card.
Receive a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$649) or an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$499) or a Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408) or S$400 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 25 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
🚀Fastest Rewards Fulfilment🚀: Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! T&Cs apply.
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⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top as low as S$100. Valid until 25 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$980 for a MacBook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
- S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 16 Pro 256GB (worth S$1,1,749.00)
- S$1,586 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Gray 12+512GB 5G (worth $2,128.00)
Alternatives: UOB EVOL Card, OCBC 365 Card, Maybank Family and Friends Card
UOB EVOL Card product summary:
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Bonus cashback
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8% cashback on online & mobile contactless spend
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Base cashback
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0.3% cashback on all other spend
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Minimum spend requirement
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S$600 per statement month
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Cashback cap
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S$60 per statement month:
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Annual fee
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S$196.20 (waived with min. 3 monthly purchases in statement year)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$40,000 annual income
or Min. S$10,000 fixed deposit collateral |
OCBC 365 Card product summary:
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Bonus cashback
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Up to 6% cashback
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Base cashback
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0.3% cashback on all other spend
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Minimum spend requirement
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S$800 / S$1,600 spend per calendar month
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Cashback cap
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SS$80 / S$160 per calendar month
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Annual fee
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S$196.20 (Waived for first 2 years)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$45,000 annual income
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⭐ Variable bonus cashback earned across many categories
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Maybank Family & Friends Card product summary:
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Bonus cashback
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8% cashback on five preferred categories:
8% cashback on Malaysian Ringgit too |
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Base cashback
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0.3% cashback on all other spend
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Minimum spend requirement
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S$800 spend per calendar month
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Cashback cap
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SS$125 per calendar month, S$25 per category
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Annual fee
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S$181.80 (Waived for first 3 years)
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Eligibility for foreigners
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Min. S$45,000 annual income (Malaysians)
Min. S$60,000 annual income (Other nationalities) |
6. UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card: Best for rapid miles accumulation
Are you a big spender who’s keen on accumulating miles rapidly? Consider the UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card. You can snag the generous up to 50,000 loyalty miles when you pay the first year's annual fee and fulfil its minimum spend requirements — a feature that’s exclusive to this card.
What about your ability to chalk up miles on everyday expenses? Fret not, this card's got you settled too. Enjoy 1.4 mpd on local spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend) and 2.4 mpd overseas spend (UNI$6 per S$5 spend), including online shopping on overseas websites. There’s no minimum spend and cap on miles earned at all times either.
When the time comes for you to go on that well-deserved vacation or visit family and friends back home, you can expect to earn 6 mpd (UNI$15 per S$5 spend) on major airlines and hotels worldwide when you charge your Agoda, Expedia or UOB Travel purchases to the UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card. While you’re at it, remember to utilise complimentary airport transfers to Changi Airport, capped at eight trips per year!
⭐ Read our full UOB PRVI Miles Credit Card review here.
Eligibility for foreigners: Minimum annual income of S$40,000 of Fixed Deposit Collateral of at least S$10,000
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive S$50 cash on top of welcome offers when you apply for select UOB Credit Cards and fulfil promo criteria. Limited to the first 1,000 new-to-card applicants only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
✨Daily Lucky Draw✨: Plus, get a chance to win an additional S$1,000 cash when you spend S$1,000 in the first 30 days of card approval. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
UOB PRVI Miles Amex Card Welcome Gift: Get up to 58,000 miles when you successfully apply for a UOB PRVI Miles Amex Card, pay the annual fee, and spend a minimum of S$2,000 per month for two consecutive months. SMS registration is required. Valid for new-to-UOB credit cardmembers only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Or, receive up to 38,000 miles when you successfully apply for the card, spend a minimum of S$2,000 per month for two consecutive months, and waive the annual fee. Capped at first 50 eligible cardmembers monthly. Valid for new-to-UOB credit cardmembers only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Alternatives: Refer to above
Which credit cards should you pick?
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Credit Card
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Best For
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Annual income Requirement
|
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UOB Absolute Cashback Card
 |
Unlimited cashback with no spend exclusions, no minimum spend
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S$40,000
|
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HSBC Revolution Credit Card
 |
Online purchases and contactless payment transactions
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S$40,000
|
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DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
 |
Expiry-free DBS Points with no minimum spend and bonus miles
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S$45,000
|
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American Express Platinum Credit Card
 |
Luxurious lifestyle and dining perks
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Subject to internal assessment and approval
|
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Citi Cash Back Card
 |
Dining, groceries, petrol, and private commute
|
S$42,000
|
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UOB PRVI Miles Amex Card
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Rapid miles accumulation
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S$40,000
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The right foreigner credit card for you may very well be different from the one most suited to another expat.
For instance, an expat who enjoys living it up can benefit from the luxe lifestyle and dining perks offered by the American Express Platinum Credit Card. On the other hand, a more frugal expat who tends to only spend on essentials may prefer the Citi Cash Back Card.
For those who want to earn fuss-free cashback on everything they spend on, including insurance payments and bills, you can’t go wrong with the UOB Absolute Cashback Card.
Consider your own lifestyle and spending habits, annual income as well as preference for earning rewards points, miles, or cashback. It really pays to do your homework if you want to maximise each dollar of yours with a credit card.
Why apply for a credit card with SingSaver?
Here at SingSaver, you can find exclusive credit card promotions for virtually every credit card you sign up for – provided you're new-to-bank or new-to-card and satisfy all the sign-up requirements.
To benefit from any of our attractive credit card offers, simply click on the 'Apply Now' button of your preferred credit card in this article and complete the application form on our SingSaver site accordingly.
Do note, that as a foreigner, you'll need to prepare extra documents to fill up the application manually since you don't have a SingPass account.
Here are the exclusive SingSaver credit card promotions we currently offer:
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive S$50 cash on top of welcome offers when you apply for select UOB Credit Cards and fulfil promo criteria. Limited to the first 1,000 new-to-card applicants only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
✨Daily Lucky Draw✨: Plus, get a chance to win an additional S$1,000 cash when you spend S$1,000 in the first 30 days of card approval. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
UOB Absolute Cashback Card Welcome Offer: Get up to S$50 Cashback on the transactions charged within thirty days from card approval date when you successfully apply for a UOB Absolute Cashback Card. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Plus, get a Samsonite EVOA Z Spinner 25” Exp (worth S$730) when you apply, spend a min. of S$1,000 per month for two consecutive months from card approval date and pay the annual fee for the 1st year of your card membership. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
🪙SingSaver Cash Quest🪙: Get 10x chances to win S$50,000 when you apply for participating Credit Cards. Applying for multiple products means more Cash Quest Chances! Plus, download the SingSaver App and log in with the same email used during product application to earn 20 additional chances! Valid till 22 December 2024. T&Cs apply.
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive the following rewards when you sign up for a Citi Cashback Card.
Receive a Dyson Supersonic (worth S$649) or an Apple iPad 10th Gen 10.9 wifi 64GB (worth S$499) or a Dyson Micro 1.5kg Vacuum (worth S$599) or an Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 + Magsafe Charger (worth S$408) or S$400 Cash via PayNow upon activating and spending a minimum of S$500 within 30 days of card approval. Valid until 25 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
🚀Fastest Rewards Fulfilment🚀: Get the cash rewards within four (4) weeks after successful application — the fastest rewards fulfilment yet! T&Cs apply.
⬆️Reward Upgrade Campaign⬆️: Upgrade your rewards when you top as low as S$100. Valid until 25 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
- S$980 for a MacBook Air 13" 256GB M3 (worth S$1,599.00)
- S$1,200 for an Apple iPhone 16 Pro 256GB (worth S$1,1,749.00)
- S$1,586 for a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Gray 12+512GB 5G (worth $2,128.00)
SingSaver Exclusive Offer: Receive S$50 cash on top of welcome offers when you apply for select UOB Credit Cards and fulfil promo criteria. Limited to the first 1,000 new-to-card applicants only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
✨Daily Lucky Draw✨: Plus, get a chance to win an additional S$1,000 cash when you spend S$1,000 in the first 30 days of card approval. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
UOB PRVI Miles Amex Card Welcome Gift: Get up to 58,000 miles when you successfully apply for a UOB PRVI Miles Amex Card, pay the annual fee, and spend a minimum of S$2,000 per month for two consecutive months. SMS registration is required. Valid for new-to-UOB credit cardmembers only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Or, receive up to 38,000 miles when you successfully apply for the card, spend a minimum of S$2,000 per month for two consecutive months, and waive the annual fee. Capped at first 50 eligible cardmembers monthly. Valid for new-to-UOB credit cardmembers only. Valid till 30 November 2024. T&Cs apply.
Tip: If you are a Permanent Resident in Singapore and are worried about incurring medical expenses, consider signing up for an Integrated Shield Plan (IP). Unlike a MediShield Life plan, an IP provides additional benefits such as coverage for B1/A hospital wards and pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. Click on the button below to compare the best Integrated Shield Plans in Singapore.
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