Youth traveling with school

How old is she? Did the school provide any advice?

Can you request your credit card to add her to account with lower limit? Then she would have her own card. We did that for our child in the US.

Wise is another option. It works like a debit card but international, and you can add money to it in different currencies. But you will pay some set up fees, etc.

Another option is to add a credit card to Apple wallet (if she has an iPhone with her) which can be used for payment.

Sweden was pretty much cashless when I visited in 2024. Everywhere was “tap and pay”.

It would be wise to have more than one option for her. I was able to get my nephew a credit card attached to my account, so I suggest checking with your bank to see if that is an option in Canada. You'd have to do that very quickly as you don't have much time, it can take several weeks to process a card if your bank doesn't do so in house. Just be sure it's a contactless/tap to pay card.

If you can't get that sorted out quickly enough, is her debit card tap to pay/contactless? If not she will need to sort out where to get cash on arrival (make sure she knows the PIN). Be sure to notify your bank that she is going to use it overseas.

And as already suggested, the school program should have information about this, so be sure to ask them what they are advising students to do. You're likely not the only parent in this situation.

You say it’s a school trip, what advice have they given you?

Does she have an iPhone?
Our 15 year old grandson is an exchange student in Switzerland this school year. We’ve been able to send him money using Apple cash . He doesn’t have any CC. I’m not sure if he has any local currency.

We traveled to Sweden last year and used our Visa debit cards for everything without any problems at all. The other option of adding her on to your credit card account. This worked well for us when our daughter traveled to Europe with her school some years back, she used it mostly as a back up card, but we did make sure that we had a chat before she went about would pay the bill when she got home again. Wonderful opportunity for your daughter.

For example Skansen and Vasa museum don't accept cash so don't bother with that. Having at least two Visa/Mastercard options would be a good idea, but it might not be a necessity in a group where you can borrow from others.

Thanks everyone.

The school suggested she have a card and some cash. I can't get cash and I feel uncomfortable her only having 1 form of payment. I will probably add my card to her google wallet so she has something else.

The school only had a parent meeting this week now that details are finally settled. Im feeling so overwhelmed with making sure she has everything she needs and is ready to go. She only just turned 16 and thankfully has travelled to the states and mexico enough to have a general sense of what to do but she did admit to me she didnt realize how much I do when we travel.

She will do great. Talk to your credit card company ASAP to see if you can add her and get new card.
Also, I would have her bring some Euro or US dollar in cash for emergency. I always carry some cash with me. In the worst case, she can exchange it for local currency.

You can set up Wise payment quickly and use the app/card on mobile phone but a physical card may not arrive in time.

Is her passport in order?

Is your bank one of the major full service Canadian banks? If it is, you should be able to order Swedish Krona and it should be delivered to the branch within a week. They may not (probably wouldnt) keep it on hand, but can order it in. Otherwise, if your daughter has a bank debit card, she can use an ATM to get cash once she arrives, or use it to make purchases. But I agree that getting her a credit card on your account should be done ASAP. Putting it in her Google wallet is a good idea. BTW, my daughter has led many international trips for her school over the years, and helping her students manage things like accessing an ATM is something they always have to do. So she wont be on her own with that.

In Sweden we typically use the pay app Swish, and the kids here will use it all the time for smaller purchases. Though last I checked I think you need a Swedish bank to use it so might not be too helpful...

My Visa debit card works just fine in Sweden. Just check there's no geo-blocking on her card.

Sweden is a very cashless society, to the point where more and more places simply don’t accept cash anymore. Card really is the way to go.

When I travel internationally, I usually bring a second card as backup. I’ve never had to use the backup, but it gives peace of mind. Maybe you can give her that?

In the worst case scenario, wouldn’t a teacher/another student be able to pay, and then she can transfer via a mobile app (never been to Canada, so I don’t know which app is the go-to for this type of transfer)? Worst case scenarios are not ideal, but at least she won't get stranded.