A dual currency card lets you spend in taka at home and make permitted foreign payments abroad or online. Travel-quota spending uses your taka balance or credit limit after conversion. An ERQ-linked card uses retained export earnings. Bangladesh Bank's annual private travel quota is $18,000 for adult resident Bangladeshi nationals.
For the bank accounts these cards attach to, see our comparison of the best banks for freelancers.
Two sources for foreign currency card spending
1. Your travel quota
A travel-quota card lets you make permitted foreign payments against your taka account or credit limit.
The limit: Bangladesh Bank sets private travel entitlement at $18,000 per calendar year for adult resident Bangladeshi nationals. Children under 12 receive $9,000. Within the entitlement, a traveler can take up to $5,000 in US dollar notes. Other foreign currency notes have separate rules.
How it works: The bank endorses your travel entitlement on your passport and enables international card spending within that amount. Card payments are charged against the linked balance or credit limit after currency conversion.
Calendar year: The quota runs January to December, and unused amounts do not carry over.
Airline tickets: Bangladesh Bank's September 28, 2026 circular permits eligible foreign-airline tickets outside the travel quota. The airline must operate in Bangladesh. You need a valid visa where required. The bank verifies the airline merchant code and replenishes the card for eligible ticket spending, including tickets settled abroad. The overseas-settlement facility excludes Bangladeshi airlines' tickets for travel from Bangladesh.
2. Your ERQ balance (freelancer cards)
If you earn in foreign currency, your bank can issue a card against your ERQ account. Bangladesh Bank's rules also allow dual currency Freelancer Cards for receiving eligible earnings. The government Freelancer ID is an identity document, not a payment card.
You can use the retained balance for foreign travel, software registration, domain and hosting fees, server maintenance and equipment imports, as listed in the circular.
The retained share of qualifying foreign earnings funds the ERQ card: up to 50% for ICT and 30% for other legitimate service exports. Our ERQ account guide explains how the bank calculates that share.
Freelancer card options at major banks
Bank | Card on the USD account | Card for local spending | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Freelancer FCY debit card | Separate card needed | The FCY card cannot be used at ATMs or shops in Bangladesh | |
Free international debit card | Dual currency debit card on the savings account, no first-year charge | Freelancer ID required | |
International debit card | Dual currency debit card on the savings account | Two cards from one application | |
International debit card | Local debit card | Zero balance opening | |
Foreign currency debit card, zero card fee | Domestic card not specified on the product page | For legitimate business purposes |
The table uses the banks' official freelancer product pages, reviewed on October 2, 2026. BRAC Bank's card charges come from its September 1, 2026 retail fee schedule.
Online payments without a trip abroad
Bangladesh Bank's September 30, 2026 rules permit legitimate online purchases with ordinary international cards up to $300 per transaction. Examples include downloadable software and e-books. The annual allowance is your unused travel quota plus $1,000. Applicable taxes must be paid, and you must receive the goods or services.
Professional membership, examination and visa fees have separate permissions in the same circular. ERQ cards use the permitted business and travel spending rules for the retained balance.
How the card charges your account
Annual fees: City Bank's ERQ international debit card is free, and its savings-account dual currency card has no first-year charge. Standard Chartered lists zero fee for its freelancer foreign currency card. BRAC Bank's ERQ Visa card is free in year one, then costs up to $10 annually under its September 1, 2026 schedule.
Currency conversion: A euro bill paid from a USD balance requires conversion. BRAC Bank's September 1, 2026 schedule applies a 3% foreign currency factor when an overseas transaction is in a currency other than USD, in addition to the Visa or Mastercard exchange rate.
Where the card works: EBL's freelancer card, for example, works abroad and online but not at domestic ATMs.
Funding source: Travel-quota spending uses the linked taka balance or credit limit after conversion. An ERQ card uses the foreign currency already retained in the ERQ account.
Enable international and online payments, keep sufficient funds or credit available, and use the card for its permitted payment categories.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best dual currency card in Bangladesh?
For local and foreign spending from one freelancer bundle, City Bank or MTB provides both an ERQ card and a dual currency card on the taka savings account. EBL's FCY card serves spending abroad and online from retained export earnings. City Bank's ERQ international card and Standard Chartered's foreign currency card have no card fee.
Can I pay for software subscriptions with a dual currency card?
Yes, for permitted software payments. ERQ rules explicitly list software registration, domains and hosting. Ordinary international cards permit legitimate online purchases within the $300 transaction limit and the unused travel quota plus $1,000 annual allowance. The card must also have online international spending enabled.
Do I need a passport for a dual currency card?
A passport is required for travel-quota endorsement. An ERQ balance is a separate source of foreign currency, but it does not replace the identity and card-application documents required by the issuing bank.
Does the new $18,000 quota include card spending?
Yes. The $18,000 entitlement includes foreign exchange released for private travel in a calendar year, whether through cards, cash or other permitted forms. The $5,000 sublimit applies specifically to US dollar notes.
Get your card set up
Use a travel-quota card for permitted travel spending against taka. Use an ERQ-linked card for permitted expenses paid from retained export earnings. City Bank and MTB offer both cards within their freelancer packages.
Receive USD and send money home with Elevate Pay
Receive client and platform earnings in USD by ACH for free through Elevate Pay. Send money to your Bangladeshi bank for $1.50. Bank payouts sent before 12 PM Sunday to Thursday arrive the same business day; later payouts arrive the next business day. bKash payouts with correct recipient details arrive in real time.
Bloom Financial Technologies Inc, trading as Elevate Pay, is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Merchants Commercial Bank, Member FDIC.
How we checked this
We reviewed Bangladesh Bank's July 22 and July 30 freelancer rules, September 6 travel circular, September 28 airline circular and September 30 outward-remittance circular on October 2, 2026. Card features and charges come from bank product pages and BRAC Bank's September 1 fee schedule. We did not apply for cards.
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