Can I use Revolut in Canada?

Planning to visit Canada soon from the UK? Whether you’re heading there for work or play, you’ll need to get your travel money sorted.

Revolut is one option for spending and managing your money abroad, but does it work in Canada?

We’ll cover everything you need to know about using your Revolut account in Canada here in this guide. This includes whether you can spend in Canadian dollars using your Revolut card, and if there are any fees you need to know about.

And while you’re comparing travel spending solutions, make sure to check out the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. It’s truly international, as you can use it in over 150 countries. Whenever you spend, this clever contactless card automatically converts your money to the local currency at a great exchange rate, only adding a small, transparent currency conversion fee.

Can I use Revolut in Canada?

Yes, you can use your Revolut account and card in Canada.

The card can be used anywhere that Visa and Mastercard are accepted¹. This includes shops, transport hubs, restaurants, bars and ATMs too.

Are Canadian dollars (CAD) supported for spending?

Yes, the Canadian dollar (CAD) is one of the many major currencies that Revolut supports.

There are two options available for spending in Canada using Revolut:

1. Convert your GBP to CAD before your trip. You can pre-load your account with CAD in advance, converting as much GBP as you plan to spend. Then, spend on your Revolut card in the local currency and the transactions will be deducted from the CAD balance in your Revolut account.
2. Spend on your Revolut card without converting currency first. The card will automatically convert the currency for you².

How much does it cost to use a Revolut card in Canada?

It’s generally fee-free to use your Revolut card abroad. However, it depends when, how much you spend or withdraw - and whether a currency conversion is involved.

Here are some of the potential Revolut fees you need to know about when using the Standard plan (fees can differ for other tier plans):

Transaction	Revolut fee (Standard plan)³
Additional merchant surcharge fees (for paying by card)	Set by the merchant (if applicable)
Currency exchange transactions above £1,000	1%
Currency exchanges on weekends	1%
ATM withdrawals over £200 (or more than 5 withdrawals)	2%⁴

Alongside fees, it’s also important to factor in the exchange rate when comparing travel spending solutions.

Revolut uses their own Revolut exchange rate⁴ when you convert your GBP to CAD which can be different from the mid-market exchange rate. But more crucially, this is only for converting currency during the week. If you do it on a weekend, an additional 1% charge will apply to whatever you spend or convert.

Can I get a Revolut account in Canada?

If you are planning to stay in Canada for a while, you might be thinking of opening a Revolut account there. Unfortunately though, Revolut accounts, cards and the app aren’t available for customers in Canada at the moment.

Revolut had previously launched a beta version of its offering in Canada, but made the decision to withdraw from the country in March 2021. It promised to relaunch when the company had “more resources”, but there’s been no news of this yet.⁵

However, you can still send money from the UK to Canada, and use your UK-issued Revolut card when you travel to Canada.

A great alternative for low-cost spending in Canada - the Wise card

You shouldn’t have to worry about spending on the weekends, not when you’re on holiday.

This is why alternatives providers like Wise offer the mid-market exchange rate all the time, with no extra charges for spending in CAD at weekends.

Open a Wise multi-currency account online and you can get a Wise card which you can use to spend in the local currency in over 150 countries, including Canada.

Your money is automatically converted to CAD at the mid-market exchange rate, so you don’t have to worry about pre-loading your account or converting cash. There’s only a small, upfront conversion fee to pay, or it's free if you already have CAD in your Wise account.

Need cash? You can even withdraw up to £200 a month from Canadian ATMs for free (although double-check that the ATM operator doesn’t charge its own fee).

Sign up with Wise today

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Sources used:

1. Revolut Help - What currencies are supported for spending?
2. Revolut Help - Which currency balance will be deducted for spending?
3. Revolut Help - What Fees Will I Be Charged for Making Card Payments?
4. Revolut - Standard Fees
5. BetaKit - Revolut plans to relaunch in Canada in 2022

Sources last checked on date: 12-Apr-2024