UBA AfriCard Fees and Limits: Complete Breakdown for Nigerian Users
One of the most common questions from new and existing UBA AfriCard holders is: what exactly will this card cost me, and how much can I actually spend?
The fees are documented in the cardholder agreement that comes with your card, but that A4 sheet is easy to misplace, and the terms aren’t always the most readable.
So, as someone who has used the UBA Prepaid card for more than 5 years now, in this guide, I’ve broken everything down clearly, covering every fee category and every transaction limit you need to plan around before you start using your card.
UBA Prepaid AfriCard Fees (Dollar Card Nigeria)
Card Issuance Fee
Getting the card itself is free.
There’s no charge for walking into a UBA branch and requesting the AfriCard. However, the card carries an issuance/activation fee once it’s processed.
The activation fee for the Naira-denominated card is ₦2,000, while the USD-denominated Dollar AfriCard activation fee is approximately $3.60.
Think of this as a one-time setup cost rather than something you pay repeatedly.
Also, this fee is not yearly – it is one-time (I get this question a lot).
UBA Dollar Prepaid Card Activation & Setup Online
Annual Convenience Fee
This is an ongoing yearly charge to keep your card active. The annual card convenience fee is $20 (VAT exclusive), meaning VAT is charged on top of this figure.
If you’re planning to use the card only occasionally, factor this into whether the card is worth maintaining year-on-year versus reapplying when needed.
Personal note – I haven’t noticed this yearly fee before on my card. But the above is the official note.
SMS Alert Fee
SMS transaction alerts cost $0.01 per message.
It’s a minor charge per notification, but if you’re doing high transaction volumes, especially if you’re running PayPal withdrawals or card-to-card transfers regularly, these small amounts can show up as unexplained balance discrepancies if you’re not aware of them.
Personal note – if you don’t frequently use the card-to-card option, then this is a negligible fee.
International ATM Withdrawal Fee
The international ATM withdrawal fee is 0.6% of the transaction amount, subject to a minimum charge of $3.50 per withdrawal (VAT exclusive).
Meaning, if you withdraw a small amount like $20 at an ATM abroad, the percentage will work out at just $0.12, but the minimum fee of $3.50 kicks in, making small withdrawals disproportionately expensive.
For this reason, it’s smarter to make fewer, larger ATM withdrawals rather than several small ones.
Personal note – this is for those abroad. And if you are in Nigeria, this does not concern you because no ATM can dispense USD via the Africard.
OCT Inflow Fee (PayPal and External Platform Transfers)
This is the fee most people don’t notice until it’s already deducted. The OCT (Original Credit Transaction) inflow fee, charged when funds arrive from external platforms like PayPal, is 1.5% of the transaction amount (VAT exclusive).
For instance, if you transfer $500 from PayPal to your AfriCard, expect roughly $7.50 to be deducted as an inflow fee before the balance is reflected.
This isn’t a PayPal fee but UBA’s charge for processing the inbound transfer.
Exchange Rate Consideration (Not a Fixed Fee)
The AfriCard is a dollar-denominated card, so there’s no currency conversion fee when you spend in USD internationally.
However, if you’re spending it on a platform that charges in a non-USD currency, a conversion applies.
The currency conversion charge is imposed by the Central Bank of the relevant country, while an administrative fee is imposed by the bank or the Visa card network, and Visa calculates blended exchange rates from wholesale currency markets, which are then adjusted further by the issuing bank.
Let’s look at the transaction limits.
UBA AfriCard Transaction Limits (Dollar Card in Nigeria)
Daily Spending Limit
The daily transaction limit on the UBA Dollar AfriCard is $1,500.
Once you hit this within a 24-hour window, you’ll be unable to receive or send further card-to-card transfers or make purchases until the window resets.
If you try to exceed this, the portal will show an error message indicating the transfer would exceed the 24-hour limit of $1,500.
UBA Dollar Prepaid Card Withdrawal Limit
Two things are involved in withdrawing from the card.
If you funded the card at the bank or the inflow is not from PayPal and other online processors, you can withdraw up to $10,000 over the counter.
However, if the inflow is online, mostly from PayPal/other payment platforms, the daily maximum withdrawal via card to card is $1,500.
After that, you can continue the next day.
Quarterly (3-Month) Limit
The quarterly limit on the UBA Dollar Prepaid Card is $10,000.
I have had many clients get confused due to the quarterly vs. monthly limits.
And yes, on the UBA’s official website, it describes this as a “monthly” limit of $10,000, but by usage, the limit is quarterly, and it resets after 3 months.
If you doubt, then when you max out $10,000 in one month, try to receive funds beyond this quarterly cap, you will see that the system will flag it with an error, noting the load amount would exceed the quarterly limit of $10,000.
What is the way forward to the $10,000 limit?
If you don’t spend up to that, then that is no issue. If yes, then you might want to get 2 to 3 cards using your friends’ and family’s profiles.
All they need to do is request the card at the bank and hand it over to you to use. Or even if they send the card details, it is the same.
Card-to-Card Transfer Limit
Card-to-card transfers via the portal are capped at a maximum of $300 per transaction.
If you need to move more than $300 between cards, you’ll need to split it into multiple separate transfers.
How to Transfer Funds from Card to Card with UBA Dollar AfriCard
Maximum Single Transaction (POS/Online)
For individual purchases via POS or online, individual transactions, and highest-value single transactions (like school fees, WES payments, or large ad spends), the limit is $2,500 per day.
Naira Prepaid Card Limits (For Comparison)
The UBA Naira Prepaid Card can handle up to ₦400,000 in transactions on local Nigerian platforms.
The CBN-imposed $20/month international limit that applies to regular Naira debit cards does not apply to the prepaid card in the same way, but the Naira card is not designed for international USD spending, which is why most freelancers and digital earners opt for the Dollar variant instead.
Complete Fees & Limits Summary Table
| Fee / Limit | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Card issuance | Free | No charge to get the card |
| Dollar card activation fee | ~$3.60 | One-time, at the point of issuance |
| Naira card activation fee | ₦2,000 | One-time, at the point of issuance |
| Annual convenience fee | $20 (+ VAT) | Charged yearly |
| SMS alert fee | $0.01 per SMS | Per transaction notification |
| International ATM withdrawal | 0.6% (min $3.50 + VAT) | Per withdrawal |
| OCT inflow fee (e.g., PayPal) | 1.5% (+ VAT) | On each inbound transfer |
| Insufficient funds penalty | $1.50 | Per declined transaction attempt |
| Daily spending/transfer limit | $1,500 | Resets every 24 hours |
| Quarterly card limit | $10,000 | Resets every 3 months |
| Card-to-card transfer cap | $300 per transaction | Via portal only |
| Naira card local spend limit | ₦400,000 | Nigerian platforms only |
Practical Tips to Minimize Fees
Account for OCT fees before sending from PayPal.
If a client owes you $1,000 and you transfer it directly to your AfriCard, you’ll net approximately $985 after the 1.5% OCT fee.
If you’re converting that to Naira afterwards, while it is not a big deal, you might still want to factor this into your rate calculation upfront rather than being surprised by the shortfall.
Keep a small balance buffer.
Running your card balance to exactly zero is bad. The $1.50 insufficient funds charge can trigger unexpectedly if a merchant attempts a small authorization before the actual transaction. Keeping even $5-10 as a buffer avoids this.
Time large spending around your quarterly reset.
If you’re planning a major spend, say a large WES payment, school fees, or a significant ad campaign, and you’re approaching your quarterly limit, it may be worth timing it after your quarterly window resets to avoid hitting the $10,000 cap mid-spend.
Alternatively, get another card in your fnf names.
Use card-to-card for small, fast top-ups.
The $300 per-transfer cap on card-to-card means it’s most practical for quick top-ups or splitting payments, not large fund movements.
And the cap is $1,500 a day. If you need more than $1,500 a day, then you might want to fund it manually over the counter at the bank.
For funding of $20-$1,500, do it with fnfSwap freelance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I increase my transaction limits?
If your business requires spending beyond the standard monthly or quarterly limit, you can apply to UBA to increase the threshold limit for your card account.
This isn’t guaranteed and typically requires justification, but it’s the official channel for high-volume users.
Are all fees charged in dollars, even for the Naira card?
No. The Naira card’s fees are typically denominated in Naira, while the Dollar card’s fees are in USD.
Does UBA charge for loading/funding the card?
No. No fee is attached for funding any amount.
Why did my balance drop by a few cents without a transaction?
This is usually the SMS alert fee ($0.01 per notification) or a small system authorization check by a previously linked merchant.
If the drop is more significant (around $1.50), it may be an insufficient funds penalty from a failed transaction attempt.
Also – How to withdraw Money from UBA Dollar Prepaid Card to Bank in Minutes
