# What Are the Best Credit Cards in Portugal? (2026) > Best credit cards in Portugal for expats and residents: free cards, cashback cards, travel cards, and low-APR cards compared. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.how-to-portugal.com/finance/credit-cards **Updated August 2026.** The best free credit cards are Unibanco Clássico, WiZink Flex, and ActivoBank Classic. For cashback, Universo+ and Cetelem Black Plus lead. Most Portuguese credit cards are revolving cards with TAEG around 16% to 19%. Approval requires a local IBAN, address, income, and a CRC credit check. ## How Do Portuguese Credit Cards Compare? Portuguese credit cards are mostly revolving cards. Free cards such as Unibanco Clássico, WiZink Flex, and ActivoBank Classic charge no annual fee. Cashback cards such as Universo+, Cetelem Black Plus, and Banco CTT Credit Card reward spending at supermarkets, restaurants, or partner networks. Premium cards such as Millennium TAP Platinum charge high annual fees but include travel perks. ## What Are the Best Credit Cards? Our top credit cards are based on annual fee, APR, cashback, and approval accessibility from the August 2026 catalogue. Banco ActivoBank, S.A. (grupo Millennium BCP) ### Cartão de Crédito Classic ActivoBank 4.3No availability fee, in every year EligibilityPortuguese IBAN requiredSupportEnglish support is limited[Apply](https://www.activobank.pt/pt)Card(1) - Cartão de Crédito Classic ActivoBankEUR 0Visa revolving_credit / annual fee · No availability fee, in every year Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG 17,9% (TAN 17,400%)Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. n/aCashbackActivo+ points club; cashback promos up to 10% at restaurants; NOS cinema 2-for-1 tickets; Pestana hotel discountsEnglish supportYesMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardup to about 7 days by postBest for ActivoBank customers who want a free revolving card Universo, IME, S.A. (Grupo Sonae) ### Cartão Universo+ 4.25% on Continente and Meu Super purchases, in end-of-month mode EligibilityPortuguese IBAN required[Apply](https://universo.pt/cartao-de-credito-universo/)Card(1) - Cartão Universo+EUR 0Mastercard revolving_credit / annual fee · 5% on Continente and Meu Super purchases, in end-of-month mode Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG 18,5% (TAN 18,00%)Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. MastercardLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. n/aCashbackIn Fim do Mês mode: 5% in Cartão Continente balance at Continente/Meu Super/Wells/ZU and 1% everywhere else (1.5% on first EUR 250, 0.5% above EUR 750 per statement); Cartão Continente promotions and vouchersEnglish supportNoMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardabout 5-10 business daysBest for Supermarket and fuel cashback hunters BNP Paribas Personal Finance, S.A. – Sucursal em Portugal (Cetelem) ### Cetelem Black Plus 4.03% em supermercados, restaurantes, gasolineiras, TVDE e streaming EligibilityPortuguese IBAN required[Apply](https://www.cetelem.pt/cartao-de-credito/black-plus)Card(1) - Cetelem Black PlusEUR 0Mastercard revolving_credit / annual fee · 3% em supermercados, restaurantes, gasolineiras, TVDE e streaming Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG ~19,0%Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. MastercardLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. n/aCashback3% cashback in six chosen categories (supermarkets, restaurants, fuel, EV charging, TVDE, streaming); EUR 50 joining voucher (promo 16 Jun–30 Sep 2026, min EUR 300 spend in 45 days)English supportNoMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardabout 5-10 business daysBest for High cashback on everyday spend WiZink Bank, S.A. – Sucursal em Portugal ### WiZink Flex 4.0No availability fee in any year EligibilityPortuguese IBAN required[Apply](https://www.wizink.pt/public/cartoes-de-credito)Card(1) - WiZink FlexEUR 0Visa revolving_credit / annual fee · No availability fee in any year Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG ~19,0% (desde)Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. n/aCashbackNone on Flex (rewards sit on the WiZink Rewards sibling)English supportNoMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardabout 5-10 business daysBest for Standalone free card without changing bank Unicre ### Cartão Unibanco Clássico 4.0No availability fee, in year 1 or any year after EligibilityPortuguese IBAN required[Apply](https://www.unibanco.pt/cartoes/cartao-unibanco/)Card(1) - Cartão Unibanco ClássicoEUR 0Visa revolving_credit / annual fee · No availability fee, in year 1 or any year after Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG 18,9% (TAN 18,400%)Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. an international fee per the Unicre price listCashbackCashback tiers up to EUR 200 in the first 12 months (EUR 5/10/20 per month bands by monthly spend); Trividir 3x 0% instalmentsEnglish supportNoMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardabout 5-10 business daysBest for Free classic card with no bank switch Banco CTT, with credit through its partner BNP Paribas ### Cartão de Crédito Banco CTT 4.0No annual fee and no availability fee EligibilityPortuguese IBAN required[Apply](https://www.bancoctt.pt/particulares/cartoes/cartao-de-credito)Card(1) - Cartão de Crédito Banco CTTEUR 0Mastercard revolving_credit / annual fee · No annual fee and no availability fee Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG 18,9% (TAN 15,11%)Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. MastercardLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. n/aCashback2% cashback on supermarkets, restaurants, mobility apps, food delivery and CTT storesEnglish supportNoMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardabout 7-10 business daysBest for CTT customers and online applicants Banco BPI, S.A. (emissor: CaixaBank Payments & Consumer) ### Cartão BPI Now 3.8No availability fee in any year EligibilityPortuguese IBAN required[Apply](https://www.bancobpi.pt/particulares/cartoes/cartoes-credito/cartao-bpi-now)Card(1) - Cartão BPI NowEUR 0Visa revolving_credit / annual fee · No availability fee in any year Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site. More detailsAnnual feeEUR 0APR?APR The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast. TAEG 18,5% (TAN 15,06%)Network?Network The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it. VisaLocal IBANRequiredFX fee?FX fee What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad. n/aCashbackNenhumEnglish supportNoMin age18 yearsMin incomen/aCredit check?Credit check Whether the issuer queries the CRC, the Banco de Portugal credit register, before approving you. A check can fail on a thin Portuguese record, however solid your finances are. CRC Banco de PortugalTime to cardn/aBest for Bpi customers wanting digital onboarding [View all credit card plans→](/finance/credit-cards-price-research) ## How Do Credit Cards Work in Portugal? Most cards offer 20 to 50 interest-free days if you repay the full balance. If you pay in instalments, TAEG interest applies, capped quarterly by Banco de Portugal at around 19% in mid-2026. Cash withdrawals and transfers usually start accruing interest immediately and carry fees. ## How We Compared These Cards We ranked the cards using the catalogue data in this repo: annual fee, APR, cashback or rewards, FX fees, network acceptance, English support, and approval requirements such as local IBAN, address, income and CRC check. We update the catalogue whenever issuers change fees or terms. ## Related Guides [### Credit Card Fees Annual fees, cash, FX, and other charges.](/finance/credit-card-fees)[### Credit Card Interest Rates How TAEG works.](/finance/credit-card-interest-rates)[### Credit Card Requirements Documents and approval.](/finance/credit-card-requirements)[### Credit Card Price Research Full price table.](/finance/credit-cards-price-research) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the best free credit card in Portugal? Unibanco Clássico, WiZink Flex, and ActivoBank Classic are the strongest free options, depending on whether you already bank with ActivoBank. ### Do I need a Portuguese bank account for a credit card? Most local cards require a Portuguese IBAN for direct debit. Some direct issuers like WiZink accept IBANs from other Portuguese banks. ### What is the CRC check? CRC is the Central de Responsabilidades de Crédito at Banco de Portugal. Card issuers check it to assess your repayment history and existing debt. ### Can I get a Portuguese credit card as a newcomer? It is harder without a CRC history and local income. Start with a debit card or a fintech card, then apply after a few months of local banking. --- Source: https://www.how-to-portugal.com/finance/credit-cards Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.