Many cards require you to notify the issuing bank of your travel dates and destinations, so that they can activate your card for overseas use. This is a precaution designed to prevent unauthorised overseas charges, so check your card’s Terms & Conditions to find out if this notification is needed. And even if it isn’t, it’s a good idea to let your card issuer know about your travel plans, to avoid having them freeze your card when they suddenly see unusual overseas transactions. You will normally be able to activate your card for overseas travel via online or mobile banking. Some banks ask you to notify them by SMS, or let you perform the activation at an ATM.