Credit Card Rewards for Expats: Full Guide (2026)
When I first moved to the US, credit card rewards weren't even on my radar. I was focused on building credit from zero — just trying to get any card to approve me. But once my score crossed 700, a whole new world opened up. I still remember the moment I booked a hotel stay entirely with points and thought: "Wait... this is free?" That feeling never gets old.
Of course, I also made mistakes along the way. I applied for too many cards in one year (hello, 5/24 rule), and I once let a pile of airline miles expire because I didn't read the fine print. Live and learn.
Credit card rewards — including cash back, travel points, and airline miles — can return hundreds or thousands of dollars per year for expats who use them strategically. The key is matching your card strategy to your credit-building stage: start with flat-rate cash back, then graduate to category and travel cards as your score grows.
Over the past few years, I've written about rewards programs, the Bilt credit card, and travel cards. This guide brings it all together with a clear strategy for each stage of your expat journey — so you can skip my mistakes and go straight to the good stuff.
The golden rule before we start: Credit card rewards only make sense if you pay your balance in full every month. If you carry a balance, the interest (often 20%+) will destroy any rewards you earn. Period.
Where Do Rewards Come From?
Every time you swipe your card, the merchant pays an interchange fee — typically 1.5% to 3.5% of the transaction. The card issuer takes a cut and gives you part of that as rewards.
This is why:
- You should never overspend for points. The rewards are a small percentage of what you spend. Buying something you don't need to earn 2% back means you're losing 98%.
- Premium cards have higher interchange fees. Merchants pay more when you use an Amex Platinum vs a basic Visa — that's how Amex funds those travel perks.
- Some merchants add surcharges. A few merchants now add credit card surcharges (legal in most states). In those cases, use cash or debit.
Types of Reward Programs
Cash Back
The simplest type. You earn a percentage back on every purchase, deposited as a statement credit or to your bank account.
- Flat-rate: 1.5% to 2% on everything (e.g., Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash)
- Category-based: Higher rates in specific categories (e.g., 3% on dining, 5% on groceries)
- Best for: Beginners, people who don't want to think about optimization
Travel Points & Miles
Points programs from major issuers that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: Each point is worth 1-2 cents. Transfer to United, Hyatt, Southwest, and more.
- Amex Membership Rewards: Each point is worth 1-2 cents. Transfer to Delta, ANA, Hilton, and more.
- Capital One Miles: Each mile is worth ~1 cent. Transfer to several airline partners.
Best for: Frequent travelers, especially those who fly home to Asia/Europe regularly.
Co-Branded Cards
Cards tied to a specific airline or hotel chain (e.g., United Explorer, Marriott Bonvoy). You earn points directly in that loyalty program.
Best for: People loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain. Not recommended as your first rewards card because the points have limited flexibility.
The Expat's Credit Card Strategy by Stage
This is the framework I wish I had when I started. It would have saved me from applying for a premium travel card way too early (got denied, learned my lesson):
| Stage | Timeline | Recommended Approach | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| New arrival | Month 0-6 | Secured card or credit-builder card | Build credit, not rewards |
| Building | Month 6-12 | First rewards card: flat-rate cash back (1.5-2%) | Easy rewards, no complexity |
| Established | Year 1-2 | Add a category card + consider no-annual-fee travel card | Maximize everyday spending |
| Optimizing | Year 2+ | Premium travel card if spend justifies annual fee | Sign-up bonuses, transfer partners |
Stage 1: New Arrival (Month 0-6)
I know it's hard to hear, but: don't worry about rewards yet. Seriously. Your priority is building credit. Get a secured credit card, use it for small purchases, and pay in full every month. The rewards will come — I promise.
Stage 2: Building (Month 6-12)
Once your FICO score crosses ~670, apply for a flat-rate cash back card. Something like 1.5% or 2% back on everything. No categories to track, no annual fee. Just automatic cash back.
Key checklist before applying:
- Check your 5/24 status (especially important if you plan to get Chase cards later)
- Check for pre-approval offers first
- Compare sign-up bonuses — a typical bonus is worth $200-$500+
Stage 3: Established (Year 1-2)
Now you can start optimizing. Add a card with higher rewards in your biggest spending categories:
- Groceries: Some cards offer 3-6% back at US supermarkets
- Dining: Many cards offer 3-4% back at restaurants
- Gas: Category cards often offer 3-5% back at gas stations
- Rent: This is where Bilt comes in
Stage 4: Optimizing (Year 2+)
Premium travel cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/year) or Amex Platinum ($895/year) can be worth it if your annual travel spend justifies the fee. More on this in the "annual fee break-even" section below.
Earning Points on Rent: Bilt Rewards (Updated for Bilt 2.0)
Rent is often the single largest monthly expense for expats. Bilt Rewards is unique because it lets you earn transferable points on rent payments with no transaction fees. I originally loved this card and wrote about it in 2023 — back then, it was a genuine no-brainer for anyone paying rent.
But Bilt 2.0 changed things significantly. In February 2026, Bilt overhauled its entire program, and the reaction from the points community was not great. I need to be honest about where things stand now.
What Changed: Bilt 1.0 vs Bilt 2.0
Bilt 1.0 (the old card, issued by Wells Fargo):
- One card, $0 annual fee
- 3x dining, 2x travel, 1x rent, 1x everything else
- 1x on rent with just 5 transactions per month (of any size)
- Rent points capped at 100,000/year
- No sign-up bonus
Bilt 2.0 (launched February 2026, now issued by Cardless):
- Three new cards: Bilt Blue ($0/yr), Bilt Obsidian ($95/yr), Bilt Palladium ($495/yr)
- The simple 5-transaction rule is gone
- Rent points cap removed (no annual limit)
- Now supports mortgage payments too (new)
- Sign-up bonuses introduced for the first time
- Transfer partners expanded (Southwest added at 1:1)
The catch? Earning points on rent is no longer free. You now need significant everyday spending on the card to unlock rent rewards.
How Rent Points Work Now
You choose one of two options each month (source):
Option A: Tiered Spending — your everyday spending unlocks a multiplier on rent:
| Everyday Spend (% of Rent) | Points Earned on Rent |
|---|---|
| Less than 25% | 250 points flat |
| 25% of rent | 0.5x |
| 50% of rent | 0.75x |
| 75% of rent | 1.0x |
| 100%+ of rent | 1.25x |
Option B: Bilt Cash — you earn 4% Bilt Cash on everyday spending, then redeem $30 Bilt Cash for 1,000 rent points.
Both options require you to be a heavy everyday spender on the Bilt card. For a $2,500/month rent, you'd need to spend $1,875/month on the card just to get back to the old 1x rate on rent. That's a big ask.
The Three New Cards
| Bilt Blue | Bilt Obsidian | Bilt Palladium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 | $495 |
| Everyday earn | 1x everywhere | 3x dining OR grocery, 1x else | 2x everywhere |
| Bilt Cash | 4% on everyday | 4% on everyday | 4% on everyday |
| Rent/mortgage | No fee | No fee | No fee |
| Perks | Basic | $100 hotel credit | Priority Pass, $1,000+ credits |
Why the Controversy?
The backlash was swift and widespread:
- NerdWallet titled their analysis "Bilt 2.0 Promises Rewards, Delivers Confusion"
- Thrifty Traveler called it going from "No-Brainer to Head-Scratcher"
- The Wells Fargo to Cardless transition resulted in unexpected denials and reduced credit limits for longtime cardholders
- Bilt CEO Ankur Jain had to post a course correction letter just two days after launch
The core issue: Bilt 1.0's value proposition was beautifully simple — "earn points on rent with 5 small transactions." That's dead. The new system requires you to make Bilt your primary everyday card and spend proportionally to your rent. For many people (including me), that doesn't make sense when you have other cards optimized for dining, groceries, and travel.
My Honest Take: Is Bilt Still Worth It?
For most expats, Bilt is no longer the no-brainer it used to be. Here's my breakdown:
- Still worth considering if you're a heavy spender who would use Bilt as your primary card AND pay rent. If you naturally spend 75-100% of your rent on everyday purchases, the math works — you can earn up to 1.25x on rent with no cap.
- Not worth it if you were a "rent-only" user who made 5 small transactions and collected free points. That use case is effectively dead.
- The transfer partners are still excellent: 18 airlines and 5 hotels, all at 1:1 ratios. Hyatt transfers remain one of the best value propositions in the points world. Southwest was added as a 1:1 partner.
- The complexity is real: I spent an hour reading about the Bilt Cash conversion math, and I still had to use a third-party calculator to figure out if it made sense for my situation. That's not a good sign.
For more background on the original program, see my Bilt credit card guide and Bilt rewards overview — though note those reflect the Bilt 1.0 structure.
How to Compare Cards
Effective Earn Rate
Don't just compare the advertised "points per dollar." Calculate the effective cash back rate:
Effective rate = (points earned × point value) ÷ amount spent
Example: A card earning 3x Chase points on dining:
- 3 points × ~1.5 cents per point = 4.5% effective return on dining
Annual Fee Break-Even
For cards with annual fees, calculate how much value you need to extract:
Break-even spending = Annual fee ÷ Effective earn rate
Example: Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/year, but includes $300 travel credit):
- Net fee: $795 - $300 = $495
- At 3x on dining/travel (~4.5% effective): $495 ÷ 0.045 = $11,000 in dining/travel spend to break even
- Plus the sign-up bonus (often 60,000+ points worth ~$900+) covers the first year easily
Foreign Transaction Fees
Critical for expats who travel home or send money abroad. Many cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. Cards to look for with no foreign transaction fee:
- Most Chase Sapphire and Amex cards
- Capital One cards (all cards, no FTF)
- Bilt Mastercard
Always check the card's fee schedule before applying.
Sign-Up Bonus Valuation
A strong sign-up bonus is typically worth $500 or more in value. For example:
| Card | Typical Sign-Up Bonus | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 60,000-75,000 points | $750-$1,125 |
| Amex Gold | 60,000-100,000 points | $600-$2,000 |
| Amex Platinum | 80,000-175,000 points | $800-$3,500 |
| Capital One Venture X | 75,000-100,000 miles | $750-$1,000 |
Values depend on redemption method. Transfer to partners typically yields the highest value.
Important: Sign-up bonuses usually require minimum spending (e.g., $4,000 in 3 months). Only go for a bonus if you can meet the spending requirement through normal purchases — never overspend just for a bonus.
Maximizing Redemption Value
Here's something I learned the hard way: the way you redeem your points matters as much as how you earn them. Redeeming 60,000 points for a $600 statement credit vs a $2,000 business class flight? That's more than 3x the value for the same points.
Lowest Value: Statement Credits
Using points for statement credits typically gives you 1 cent per point. This is the floor.
Medium Value: Travel Portal Bookings
Chase and Amex have their own travel portals where points are worth 1.25-1.5 cents each. Better than cash, but not the best.
Highest Value: Transfer to Partners
Transferring points to airline and hotel partners often yields 1.5-2+ cents per point. The sweet spots:
- Hyatt: Consistently the best hotel transfer. A $300/night Hyatt stay might cost 15,000 points (2 cents per point).
- Airlines for premium cabins: 60,000 Chase points can get you a business class flight to Asia worth $2,000+ through United or partner airlines (~3.3 cents per point). (That's how my family flew to visit relatives without spending a fortune.)
- Transfer ratios: Chase, Amex, and Bilt all offer 1:1 transfer ratios to their best partners.
I've also used points for hotel stays near Yellowstone and Zion, and to fund road trips across the Southwest. This is where travel rewards really shine — turning everyday grocery and dining spend into family adventures.
The key is to research availability and transfer before booking. The Points Guy publishes monthly point valuations if you want the latest estimates.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Carrying a balance for rewards: At 20%+ APR, a $1,000 balance costs you $200/year in interest. No rewards program returns that much.
- Chasing every new card: Focus on 2-3 cards that complement your spending. More cards means more complexity and potential credit score impact.
- Ignoring the 5/24 rule: Chase will deny you if you've opened 5+ cards in 24 months. Plan your Chase applications strategically.
- Letting points expire: Some programs have expiration policies. Keep your accounts active with at least one transaction every 12-18 months.
- Overspending for a sign-up bonus: If the minimum spend is $4,000 in 3 months and your normal spending is $1,000/month, this card isn't for you right now.
If you're still building your credit foundation, start with my Credit Building Guide — rewards will wait for you. For managing the cash you earn (and save through rewards!), see my Savings & Investing Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a rewards card with limited credit history?
Most premium rewards cards require a FICO score of 670+ and at least 6-12 months of US credit history. Start with a secured card or credit-builder card, then graduate to a flat-rate cash back card. See my credit building timeline for the full roadmap.
Is a card with an annual fee worth it?
It depends entirely on your spending patterns. Calculate the break-even point: subtract any fixed credits (like the $300 travel credit on Chase Sapphire Reserve) from the annual fee, then divide by your effective earn rate. If you travel frequently and spend $10,000+ on dining/travel annually, a premium card often pays for itself. If not, stick with no-annual-fee cards.
How do I earn points on rent?
The Bilt Rewards cards are the main option for earning points on rent with no transaction fees. However, as of Bilt 2.0 (February 2026), earning points on rent now requires significant everyday spending on the card — the old "5 transactions per month" rule is gone. You need to spend 75-100% of your monthly rent on everyday purchases to earn 1x-1.25x on rent. Transfer partners (Hyatt, United, American Airlines, Southwest, and more) remain excellent at 1:1 ratios. See the full Bilt 2.0 analysis above for details on whether it still makes sense for your situation.
What happens to my points if I leave the US?
It varies by program. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are tied to your card — if you close the card, unused points may be forfeited (or you can transfer them to a partner program first). Amex Membership Rewards points can be kept as long as you have at least one active Amex card enrolled in the program. Airline and hotel loyalty points (once transferred) are generally safe in your loyalty account regardless of your location.
Should I get Chase cards first because of the 5/24 rule?
Many experienced points enthusiasts recommend prioritizing Chase cards early because of the 5/24 rule — Chase will generally deny applications if you've opened 5 or more cards across all banks in the past 24 months. However, this only matters if you plan to apply for multiple cards. If you're just getting started, focus on building credit first and don't stress about 5/24 until you're ready for your second or third card.
Credit card rewards can feel overwhelming at first — trust me, I know. But once you understand the basics, it becomes second nature. Start simple (flat-rate cash back), learn as you go, and before you know it, you'll be booking flights with points and wondering why you didn't start sooner.
If you have a favorite rewards hack or want to share your points journey, I'd love to hear about it!
Chandler
Disclaimer: This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice or credit card recommendations. Credit card terms, rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, and annual fees change frequently. Always review the latest terms and conditions from the card issuer before applying. This site may reference specific financial products but is not affiliated with or endorsed by any card issuer. Your individual financial circumstances may vary significantly from the examples discussed here.