How to pay abroad?

Verified 09 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

If you are traveling abroad, you can use several means of payment: cash, credit card and check. However, their rules of use are different in countries with the euro as their official currency and in other countries. Here is the information you need to know.

Payment in euros is accepted within Next 27 countries :

  • Germany
  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus (except in the north of the island, on the territory under Turkish military occupation)
  • Croatia
  • Spain
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (except New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna)
  • Greece
  • Ireland
  • Italy (except in the Campione enclave in Switzerland)
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands (except in the islands corresponding to the former Netherlands Antilles)
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Vatican.

Countries using the euro

In these countries, you can use the following payment methods:

  • Species. You can perform a withdrawal by credit card in the country with bank charges identical to those paid in France.
  • Credit card International. Bank charges are the same as those paid in France.
  • Check. However, due to the risk of non-payment and high bank charges to recover the amount due, few institutions accept it.

The euro shall not be used as legal tender in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom. As an exception, in these countries, some shops located in tourist regions (stations, airports, ferries) can accept payments in species in euro. However, this is not an obligation and exchange rates or additional fees may be applied.

Other countries

You can use the following payment methods:

  • Species. You must pay in foreign currency.
  • Credit card. You can use your credit card if it is international. A foreign exchange transaction is carried out and a commission is applied. The exchange rate and commission must be shown on your account statement. The exchange rate taken into account shall be that of the day of the exchange of information between the banking institutions. The commission is made up of a variable share and in some cases a fixed share. Check with your bank before your departure to find out the rates charged.
  • Check. However, due to the risk of non-payment and high bank charges to recover the amount due, few institutions accept it. Your bank may charge you fees when they are presented for payment.

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