Survey: Where credit cards are most accepted in the world

Filed Under:

Research and Statistics

Summary

A MasterCard study reveals where business credit cards are most likely — and least likely — to be accepted internationally.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards, or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs.

In a May 2012 MasterCard survey, more than 200 business travelers were questioned to find out where their business credit cards were most accepted internationally — and where they were not. According to the study, the business travelers — who made at least four international trips over the 12 months prior to the survey — found that Canada seemed to be the most accepting of credit cards outside of the United States, giving it a score of 4.82 out of 5. Travelers perceived Europe as also mostly accepting of their credit cards, giving it a score of 4.46. Coming in last was Africa, scoring only a 3.29.

See related: Best travel credit cards

According to the report that included the survey, most of the respondents’ companies (78 percent) required their traveling employees to use a business credit card for expenses. Problematically, these cards weren’t always

accepted. In fact, 73 percent of respondents said some vendors declined their corporate credit cards, but accepted another card brand — often their personal credit cards. The study’s respondents reported Europe, Asia and Canada as the countries they traveled to the most for business, so even the countries rated highest for card acceptance still have vendors who are not so card-friendly.

Additionally, most of the respondents (95 percent) said they came across vendors who did not accept any credit card of any kind — a fact that stresses the importance of having cash on hand during international travel.

To use this CreditCards.com graphic on your site, use the following code:

See more infographics

Editorial Disclaimer

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Juan Rodriguez is a former CreditCards.com personal finance contributor

Join the Discussion

We encourage an active and insightful conversation among our users. Please help us keep our community civil and respectful. For your safety, do not disclose confidential or personal information such as bank account numbers or social security numbers. Anything you post may be disclosed, published, transmitted or reused.

The editorial content on CreditCards.com is not sponsored by any bank or credit card issuer. The journalists in the editorial department are separate from the company’s business operations. The comments posted below are not provided, reviewed or approved by any company mentioned in our editorial content. Additionally, any companies mentioned in the content do not assume responsibility to ensure that all posts and/or questions are answered.

Survey reveals where in the world credit cards are most accepted

Summary

What’s up next?

Join the Discussion