ICICI Debit Card: Foreign Fees Rise to 3.5%

ICICI Bank is increasing its foreign currency transaction fee on debit cards to 3.5% from June 21. If you shop online from foreign sites or travel abroad using your ICICI debit card, every transaction will become more expensive starting that date.

Here's what happened: ICICI Bank will raise its Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) charge on debit cards to 3.5% effective June 21, 2025.. This fee applies when you pay in a foreign currency — whether travelling abroad or shopping on international websites from India.. Cross-border debit card transactions are already subject to forex markup fees; this hike adds to the total cost of each foreign payment..

What you should do: Switch to a zero or low forex-markup credit card for all international transactions — several options charge 0–1.5% versus 3.5%.. Check your ICICI Bank debit card terms before any upcoming international travel or foreign website purchase after June 21.. Compare multi-currency travel cards from banks like Niyo, IndusInd, or IDFC First that offer lower or nil forex charges for overseas use..

Pro tip: Always choose to pay in the local foreign currency (not INR) when abroad — selecting INR triggers the expensive DCC rate, which is almost always worse.