Resident of Spain now, CC options?
 

Hi All,

I've been in Spain last few years as a part-time resident, but I've been able to get away with using US based cards (AA Barclay's and Chase Hyatt). I could continue to do so using my US placeholder address and GoogleFi for SMS on my US number. However, I now earn in Euros paid into a Spanish bank rather than USD paid into a US account. So, my question is- are there any relevant pts/rewards cards in Spain anyone has found? I wish Chase offered cards to European residents, but alas I don't think they do. I'll take any recommendations. PS: I know that credit cards are a bit different here since the fees that the cards charge are less it seems like there is less of a points "game" in the market- but still looking to findhing SOMETHING good. Cheers

Unless you have a permanent job contract and earn a significant amount, you are unlikely to get a Spanish credit card.

I've tried several times and been denied. If you say you are independently wealthy with money in the bank, they'll ask why you want a "credit" card. :confused:

Keep using your US cards...

I have a permanent contract and make enought to quality for whatever card would be availalbe. The question is, which card ;)

Part-time resident didn't sound like "full time permanent job". :D

The Iberia ICON is probably the only one really worth pursuing, because of the regular 50% discount on reward redemptions on Iberia...

But forget about any serious sign-up bonuses or big rewards on day to day spend...

Sorry I wasn't more clear. I have now permanently moved to Spain year-round and transferred to the Spanish branch of my company.

Iberia card, interesting. As an AA flyer it won't add a ton of value as I'll always accrue AA miles rather than Ibera when flyint OW. Howver, seems like slim pickens and I might end up staying with US cards even if it means large OFX transfers every month to pay my balance.

You can also consider the Amex ICC Platinum euro card if the fee/benefits/transfer partners align with your use case. No need to even go through a Spanish bank if you already have a U.S. Amex card.

Spain Amex couldn't have cared less when I tried to move my UK Amex over to Spain, despite all the nice words online about helping you move overseas. YMMV...

But if you can get the euro card you mention from the US that might work.

To be sure we're all on the same page, I am actually referring to this card: https://www.americanexpress.com/icc/...ency-card.html

The card is actually serviced and issued out of the UK, but available to many markets worldwide. An applicant must have an existing Amex card from another jurisdiction for six months prior to applying.

Now that I think of it, he may not be eligible as a resident of Spain (they excluded most, if not all EU countries recently), but perhaps this is solvable with some creative thinking, although most likely not.

Why do they have a Euro card if EU residents can't apply. Confusing.

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I believe they could until recently, but nowadays the card is probably only applicable to someone non-EU that has a high number of euro charges or maybe runs a business in Europe? The other common use case is getting the card for the benefits only, since the fee is lower than the fee for a domestic Amex Plat in many markets and includes more benefits (PP with free guest, free full authorized user card, multiple statuses, etc.).

I recall speculation around the time of the change being "because Brexit." American Express offers cards in other EU countries, either directly or through licensees (for example, "Swisscard AECH GmbH" issues the American Express card in Switzerland), and the International Currency Card is serviced via their United Kingdom branch. Seems probable to me that Amex decided this product is for people who transact in Euro or US Dollars but who are not resident in either of those areas for whatever reason. Someone resident in one of those regions can "simply" (in quotes because not every EU country has an Amex issuer) get an Amex from a local issuer.

So far keeping my US based cards is feeling ver attractive, or just not having a CC "shiver" and doing it all by Santander Debit (which does offer Iberia pts, even if I'll never credit a flight to Iberia in the future)

As an ex-pat also from the US, I'll pitch in my 0,02 € :

US credit cards have the unique benefit of lush rewards and benefits that practically no one else in the world has. Without going into too much details, don't expect much out of European based banks for credit cards (usually just a deferred debit, as the balance is deducted from your bank account at period-end).

But it's still good to have a local credit card for online purchases. In my experience, US credit cards won't work on certain merchant websites even if it's Mastercard/Visa, and when you earn in local currency it's just less hassle to not have to transfer funds/convert to pay bills in USD.

Another vote for sticking with US cards. I have Amex cards from Germany, the UK, and the US, and the only one I really use is the US card. Get the Platinum which has no forex fees.

No additional forex fee on a US card transaction abroad doesn’t necessarily mean a forex conversion at exactly the prevailing spot rate.

Depending on how you do and time money transfers, your liquid asset distribution profile and your risk tolerance, the forex-related dynamic may not even turn out to be a sting — it can even be a money-saving opportunity. But then you’re more or less playing in a de facto forex trading game with all the difficulty that there is in market timing.