Accessing Money Abroad (Semester)

Information for Admitted and Arriving Students

ATM/Debit Cards in Sweden

DIS recommends that you use a debit/ATM card that is either a Visa or MasterCard during your stay in Sweden. Students often run into issues with American Express and Discover cards.

Taking Your Debit Card Abroad

  • Tell your bank you are traveling abroad and might take money out from various countries
  • Inquire about the fee per ATM withdraw as well as your daily withdrawal limit, so you can strategize how often you will take out money
  • ATMs (such as ‘Bankomat’) are widely available in Stockholm where you can withdraw Swedish kronor
  • Occasionally, some shops in Sweden will not accept cards without a four-digit pin code; make sure your debit/ATM card has a four-digit pin code you can use

Credit Cards Abroad

DIS recommends that you use a debit/ATM card that is either a Visa or MasterCard during your stay in Sweden. For best results in using a credit card in Sweden, follow these guidelines:

  • Use a credit card with a chip
  • Ask your bank if you can add a four-digit pin number to your credit card. This is not required, but could help with some transactions.
  • If you use a credit card without either a chip, pin, or both, you may need to tell the employee at the cash register that you wish to sign for the payment and do not have a pin
    • Using a credit card through Apple Pay (or similar) can bypass the requirement for a pin or signature
  • Check with your company for fee information on international purchases. There are many credit cards available without international fees.