Credit Card Fees in Australia Explained
The interest rate is only part of what a card costs. Fees are charged whether or not you carry a balance, so they matter most to people who pay in full every month.
The main fees
| Fee | When it is charged |
|---|---|
| Annual or monthly fee | Every year or month the account is open. Some cards waive it in the first year or when a spending target is met. |
| Rewards program fee | On some rewards cards, in addition to the annual fee. |
| Late payment fee | When the minimum repayment isn’t received by the due date. |
| Cash advance fee | On cash withdrawals and similar transactions, usually a percentage of the amount with a minimum. |
| Foreign transaction fee | On purchases in a foreign currency or processed overseas, usually a percentage of the amount. |
| Balance transfer fee | Once, when debt is moved to the card, as a percentage of the amount transferred. |
| Additional cardholder fee | On some cards, for each extra card on the account. |
Annual fees in context
Among the cards we list, annual fees run from $0 to several hundred dollars. A fee isn’t automatically poor value: it can pay for a lower rate, rewards points or insurance. The useful question is whether you would use what the fee pays for. Moneysmart’s caution is that extras such as insurance “are usually not free”.
Our no annual fee comparison lists cards without a yearly fee and the conditions attached to some of them.
Fees that are easy to trigger by accident
- Cash advance fees can apply to gambling transactions, some gift card and foreign currency purchases, and transfers from the card to a bank account. See cash advances.
- Foreign transaction fees can apply to online purchases billed in Australian dollars when the merchant is overseas. See foreign transaction fees.
- Late payment fees are avoided by a direct debit for at least the minimum repayment.
Where to find a card’s fees
Every provider publishes the fees for each card on its product page and in a key facts sheet, a standard one-page summary of the rates, fees and interest-free period. The full list is in the card’s terms and conditions.
Surcharges are a separate thing
A surcharge is charged by the business you are paying, not by your card provider. The rules on surcharges changed on 1 October 2026. See the card surcharge ban.
Related guides
Cash advances
What counts as a cash advance on an Australian credit card, the fee and interest that apply from day one, and the transactions people don't expect.
Read the guideForeign transaction fees
When Australian credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee, why it can apply to purchases in Australian dollars, and how checkout conversion works.
Read the guideThe card surcharge ban
From 1 October 2026 surcharges are being removed on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards in Australia. What the Reserve Bank decided and what it means.
Read the guide