How to use the Wise card in Singapore
Hopping over to Singapore is super easy to do - and well worthwhile, with some world class attractions, delicious food from all over the globe, and amazing shopping. However, it’s not a cheap travel destination - so if you’re planning to head over the causeway or pick up a flight to Singapore, you’ll need to work out smart ways to manage your travel money.
This guide walks through how you can use the Wise card in Singapore to cut the costs of currency conversion from MYR to SGD. We’ll look at how the Wise card works, what it costs, and the limits which apply when spending and making ATM withdrawals. Let’s dive right in.
Is it possible to use my Wise card in Singapore?
Yes. You can use your Wise card in Singapore, and anywhere else you see the network logo (visa or Mastercard), in 150+ countries globally. You’ll be able to use your physical card to tap and pay in stores and restaurants, and to make cash withdrawals in Singapore dollars - plus you can get a virtual Wise card to add to a wallet like Apple Pay, for mobile payments.
Wise cards support payments in dozens of currencies, which means you can add money in MYR and pay conveniently wherever in the world you happen to be, without needing to worry about dynamic currency conversion (DCC). DCC is where you’re asked if you’d prefer to pay for something in your home currency when you’re abroad - which sounds simple enough, but actually usually means you’re stuck with a bad exchange rate and high fees. Instead, pay with Wise and the card can instantly make the payment in the currency you need in your destination - with no hidden costs and no hiked up exchange rates.
About the Wise card
The Wise card is an international debit card linked to a multi-currency Wise account. You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account, and it’s free to spend any currency you hold.
If you don’t have the currency needed in your destination that’s fine too - the card’s autoconvert technology will switch over for you, using the currency balance that incurs the lowest fees, and the mid-market exchange rate. That means you don’t pay a foreign transaction fee, which can bring down your overall costs compared to using a bank card abroad.
How does the Wise card work?
To order a Wise card you’ll first need to open a Wise account online or in the Wise app. There’s no account opening fee for personal customers, and no monthly or annual charge - you can just use your account as and when you need to, and only pay for the services you use.
Once you have your account opened, you can add a balance in MYR or the currency of your choice, and order your Wise card for a low, one time fee. If you’re headed over to Singapore you’ll then be able to either convert your balance to SGD in advance to see how much you have to spend, or just leave it in MYR and let the card convert when you pay or make a cash withdrawal.
Use your Wise card to make contactless payments, add your virtual card to a mobile wallet, and make ATM withdrawals when you need SGD in cash. In fact you’ll be able to use your card just like you do your bank card, but you’re likely to find you pay less overall thanks to the low Wise currency conversion fees.
Read also: Wise debit card review
Fees for using the Wise card in Singapore
You’ll pay a low one time fee to order your Wise card, and can then access your virtual card right away - even before your physical card arrives in the mail.
There’s no fee to spend a currency you hold in your account, and if you need to convert from one currency to another to make a payment or withdrawal, your card will convert automatically from the balance you hold which attracts the lowest possible fee.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important costs of using a Wise card - we’ll look at the ATM fees and limits in detail in just a moment:
| Service | Wise card fee |
|---|---|
| Order a Wise card | 13.7 MYR |
| Spend a currency you hold | Free |
| Spend in a currency you don’t hold | Currency conversion fees from 0.43% |
| Order a replacement card | No fee to replace an expiring card 13.7 MYR for a replacement at any other time |
Fees correct at time of writing - 9th January 2024.
How to withdraw money in Singapore with a Wise card
Once your physical Wise card has been delivered you can start to use it to make cash withdrawals at home and abroad. The process is much the same as when you use your bank card - but if you’re withdrawing internationally, there’s no foreign transaction fee to pay, which may mean your withdrawal costs you less overall.
Here’s how to withdraw money in Singapore with a Wise card:
Find a convenient ATM which supports the network your Wise card is issued on (Visa or MasterCard)
Insert your card and select the option to make a withdrawal
Enter the amount you want to withdraw
Enter your PIN for security
Your money will be dispensed and your card will be returned
Wise ATM withdrawal limits
With your Wise card you can make some free ATM withdrawals every month, with low, transparent fees after that. There are also some withdrawal limits on your Wise card, for security reasons and to make it easier to manage your money.
When you first get your card, you’ll see that the Wise ATM withdrawal limit for cards issued in Malaysia is 23,000 MYR per month. It’s possible to adjust the monthly limit down, or set a separate daily limit if you’d prefer. You can also view your limits and what you have left to withdraw in your app at any time.
To view and change your Wise card ATM withdrawal limits in the Wise app:
Log in on the Wise app and select the Cards tab
Tap Account limits and the type of transaction - ATM withdrawals
Select the button to change the limit within the Wise maximum available limit range
Learn more: Wise limits
Wise card ATM withdrawal fees
We mentioned that some ATM fees may apply when using your Wise card, depending on how often and how much you withdraw. Here’s a low down of the Wise ATM withdrawal fees you should know about:
| Service | Wise card fee |
|---|---|
| ATM withdrawals | 2 withdrawals, to the value of 1,000 MYR a month fee free After that a fee of 5 MYR + 1.75% of the withdrawal value applies |
Fees correct at time of writing - 9th January 2024
Another important point if you’re about to head over to Singapore - DCC, which we discussed earlier, can apply at an ATM, as well as when paying in a store or restaurant. You may find a message is displayed on the ATM screen asking you if you'd prefer to pay for your withdrawal in MYR. It’s best to say no, to make sure your currency is converted using the best available rate and without the extra costs that can creep in when you run into DCC.
How to get a Wise card: step by step
Ordering your Wise card is easy to do - all you’ll need is your laptop or your smart device. It’s a good idea to have your passport or MyKad to hand, as you’ll need one of these documents to prove your identity. You may also be asked to take a selfie using your device camera, to show your ID document is really yours. Here’s how to get a Wise card, either online or in the Wise app:
On the app
Here’s how to get your Wise debit card on the Wise app:
Download the Wise app and tap Sign up
Open a Wise account by following the prompts to enter your personal information
Top up your Wise account in the currency of your choice
Order your Wise card for a one time 13.7 MYR fee
Complete the verification step, uploading an image of your ID document and taking a selfie
Your card will arrive in the mail
On the site
Open the Wise desktop site and select Register
Open a Wise account by following the prompts to enter your personal information
Top up your Wise account in the currency of your choice
Order your Wise card for a one time 13.7 MYR fee
Complete the verification step, uploading an image of your ID document and taking a selfie
Your card will arrive in the mail
How do I activate my Wise card?
There’s no separate activation step once you have your Wise card - but if you want to use your card for contactless payments you’ll need to use your card PIN for a transaction first. This proves that the same person has both the physical card and access to the PIN which is available in the Wise app, increasing security.
To make contactless payments just use your physical card and PIN to make a transaction in a store, make a cash withdrawal or check your balance at an ATM.
How do I add money on the Wise card?
Your Wise card is a debit card, which means you need to add a balance before you can use it to make a payment or withdrawal. MYR and around 20 other currencies are supported for account top ups - and you can get everything sorted with just your phone if you’d like to. Just follow the steps below, and add a balance to Wise with a bank transfer or FPX.
Here’s how to add money to Wise for spending with your Wise card:
Log into your Wise account online or in the Wise app
Select the currency balance you want to top up
Tap Add
Confirm the currency you want to pay with
Enter the amount you want to top up and select a payment method
Check everything over, confirm and follow the prompts to complete the payment
Is it safe to use the Wise card in Singapore?
Wise is regulated in Malaysia by Bank Negara Malaysia, and also by the Monetary Authority of Singapore in Singapore. As a global business it’s overseen by a selection of other regulators in the countries it operates in - so you can rest easy knowing it’s a safe option to use, at home or abroad.
As well as meeting or exceeding regulatory standards, Wise cards have their own safety features like easy ways to freeze, unfreeze or cancel your card, and instant transaction notifications in the app.
Use Google Pay or Apple Pay and spend with your phone
When you order your Wise card you’ll be able to instantly generate a virtual card which you can add to your preferred mobile wallet to pay on the go and online. That means there’s no waiting around - just generate your virtual card in the Wise app, add it to an e-wallet like Google Pay or Apple Pay, and start spending right away.
Advantages of using the Wise card in Singapore
Using the Wise card is easy and secure. There’s no need to head to a money changer before you cross the causeway or hop on a flight, and no need to carry too much in cash when you’re sightseeing. Just add some money to Wise to spend and make withdrawals conveniently and with the mid-market exchange rate.
Here are another couple of tips to make your money work for you when you’re in Singapore or beyond:
Add money to your account in ringgit and you can switch over to SGD in advance to see your travel budget instantly
Leave your balance in MYR for automatic conversion at the point of payment, with no penalty and no extra fee
Remember to always pay in the local currency wherever you are, to avoid DCC costs
Conclusion: is it worth using your Wise card in Singapore?
The Wise card has been designed to make it cheaper and easier to spend in foreign currencies - making it the perfect card to pop in your purse before you travel to Singapore.
You’ll be able to conveniently convert from ringgit to dollars in advance if you’d like to - or just leave your balance in MYR and let the card do the hard work for you when you pay or make a withdrawal. There are some free ATM withdrawals every month, with low fees once you’ve used up your allowance - and no matter what type of transaction you make, you’ll get the mid-market rate and low conversion fees from 0.43%. That can mean your money goes further in Singapore - and wherever else your travels take you.
How to use a Wise card in Singapore: FAQ
How can I use my Wise card in Singapore?
Use your Wise card in Singapore to make contactless and mobile payments, and to withdraw cash in SGD. Top up in MYR, and spend and withdraw instantly in SGD when you arrive, with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%.
Where can I use my Wise card in Singapore?
Use your Wise card anywhere you see the Mastercard or Visa logo, at home and abroad. You can spot the logo on ATMs or at payment terminals in stores and restaurants in a total of over 150 countries globally.
How can I withdraw money with my Wise card in Singapore?
Make cash withdrawals in Singapore, by inserting your card into an ATM that supports your card network, entering your PIN and selecting the amount you want to withdraw. Remember to pay in the local currency to avoid extra costs due to DCC.