Question
I was just thinking - how do you go about getting a credit card based in a country where you don't live?
Answer
In Germany, if you have a German bank account you can usually get a German credit card.
The bill will be sent for payment to your bank (of course, a copy will be sent to your address as well).
Answer
NatWest Offshore has some excellent arrangements for overseas banking. Extremely private. At least this is what I have heard from a friend.
http://www.natwestoffshore.com/expat/expat_frame.htm
Answer
It depends on your purpose. It certainly can be useful to have use of a card with an overseas address, so as to get around certain restrictions. (eg. priceline.co.uk not liking US-issued cards; most US sites not liking anything but US-issued cards)
If that's all you need, if you have friends or relatives overseas that trust you, one possibility is to get a secondary card added to their accounts for you.
Answer
Switzerland is difficult as they want to see a copy of your residence permit.
Answer
Ok - so how do I go about getting a foreign checking account?
Answer
Natwest Offshore also offers a chequing account
Answer
If you live in the United States I would advise against obtaining a non-us credit card unless you want to check answer yes to that question that appears on your annual 1040 tax return every year.
Answer
Originally posted by Centurion:
If you live in the United States I would advise against obtaining a non-us credit card unless you want to check answer yes to that question that appears on your annual 1040 tax return every year.
Unless you take the extraordinarily uncommon step of parking US$10k in that overseas credit card earning no interest, you don't need to do that at all.
According to IRS instructions,
"Check the 'No' box if any of the following applies to you.
* The combined value of the accounts was $10,000 or less during the whole year."
Answer
Originally posted by Kremmen:
Unless you take the extraordinarily uncommon step of parking US$10k in that overseas credit card earning no interest, you don't need to do that at all.
Concur on the $10K point. If you don't have a credit of more then $10K filing the form's not required.
But non-concur on the "earning no interest" point. Many European credit cards allow you to use them as a sort of money market account, and pay interest competitive with a bank's savings account when you have a positive balance. Lufthansa's German Miles and More VISA card, for example.
Answer
For germany:
Just go to any bank and open an account. I would use the Raiffeisenbank as they are small groups with a few branches always, but work together in the Raiffeisen-network, so you can use all their german ATMs for free and they are also more trying to please the individual customer.
Stadtsparkasse is the easiest one to get a checking account at, but they suck in service.
Deutsche Bank 24... well... lets just put it that way, I yet have to see someone who actually feels welcomed as a client there.
If you have a certain amount of money available you can get a creditcard. Usually they require a monthly income, but if you have funds available (say, stockportfolio at their bank), it usually works too. Uh, and you need a german adress...
Answer
I moved to POrtugal a couple of years ago, and simply told my credit card issuer in the UK that my new address was in Portugal. I now have a UK credit card in sterling, that's registered in Portugal, so I can get tickets online from BA that start in Lisbon.
Could you do something similar with a US card issuer? If so, find someone you trust in a foreign land, borrow their address, and then ask them to forward your bills to you- perhaps give them some SAEs to make is easier?
Answer
I have a US bank based visa card that I just applied for over their 1-800 number. I do not live in the states so I assume this would be reciprocal with many companies in different countries. I know I could have also received a card from a different British bank in pds sterling.
I know a few Americans who carry Canadian based cards that give FF miles.