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Setting Up Your Wise Account for Cruising

Whether you're planning your departure or already halfway around the world

Two Paths: Which One Are You?

✅ Still in Your Home Country?

Perfect! This is the easy way.

Setting up Wise before you leave is straightforward, stress-free, and takes about 15-20 minutes. You'll have everything verified, your card in hand, and be ready to use it the moment you cross into international waters.

→ Strongly recommended if you're still planning your cruise

🌍 Already Out Cruising?

No problem—it's still doable.

Many cruisers discover Wise after they've already left home. You can absolutely sign up from anywhere in the world, but you'll need a few extra steps (like using a VPN). We'll walk you through it below.

→ Takes a bit more planning but totally worth it

What You'll Need (Both Situations)

✓ Essential Requirements

  • Phone number from your home country that can receive SMS texts
  • Your "official" residential address (must match your bank records)
  • Active bank account in a Wise-supported country (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, etc.)
  • Government-issued ID (passport works best for cruisers)
  • Email address
  • Internet connection (WiFi or mobile data)

💡 About Your Address

Critical: Use the exact same address your bank has on file—even if you haven't lived there in years. This might be:

  • Your parents' or family member's address
  • A mail forwarding service address
  • Your house/apartment address (even if you're renting it out while cruising)
  • Any permanent address your bank recognizes as yours

Wise may cross-check this with your bank records, so consistency is key.

🏠 Path A: Setting Up BEFORE You Leave (Easiest!)

Why This Is the Best Time

When you're still in your home country, everything just works smoothly:

  • ✅ No need for VPN tricks
  • ✅ Your phone receives SMS instantly
  • ✅ Physical card ships directly to you
  • ✅ You can test everything before you leave
  • ✅ Load up multiple currencies before departure
  • ✅ One less thing to worry about once you're cruising

1Phone Number Verification

The first thing Wise asks for when you start registration:

  • Enter your home country phone number
  • Receive SMS verification code immediately
  • Enter the code to proceed

This is your gateway—you cannot proceed without this step.

2Email Address

Provide an email you'll have access to while cruising. Wise sends account updates and transaction notifications here.

3Your Address

Enter the address that matches your bank records. This is where your physical Wise card will be mailed.

4Link Your Bank Account

Connect your existing bank account so you can transfer money into your Wise account. This lets you:

  • Fund your Wise account in your home currency
  • Convert to 50+ different currencies at real exchange rates
  • Withdraw back to your bank if needed

5Identity Verification

Upload a photo of your passport or driver's license, and take a selfie. Approval usually takes a few hours to 1-2 days.

6Receive Your Card & Test It

Your physical Wise debit card arrives in 7-10 days. Before you leave:

  • Activate the card
  • Transfer some money into Wise
  • Convert to a foreign currency
  • Make a test purchase
  • Try an ATM withdrawal

Much better to troubleshoot issues at home than in a foreign marina!

Set Up Wise Now (Takes 15 Minutes)

⛵ Path B: Setting Up WHILE Already Cruising

Discovered Wise while anchored in Fiji? Currently hauled out in Turkey? No problem—you can still sign up, but there are extra considerations.

⚠️ The Phone Number Challenge

Many cruisers cancel their home phone service to save money. But you need that home country number to receive the SMS verification code.

Options if you've canceled your number:

  • Reactivate temporarily: Contact your old carrier and reactivate for one month
  • Google Voice (US only): Get a US number that receives SMS via internet
  • Skype number: Purchase a number in your home country
  • Family/friend: Use a trusted person's number (they'll need to give you the code)

If you kept your number: Make sure WiFi calling is enabled so you can receive SMS over internet.

🌍 The VPN Requirement (Important!)

Here's the quirk: Wise detects your location based on your internet connection. If your phone number, bank, and address are all in the USA, but your IP address shows you're in New Zealand, Wise's system may flag this or reject the application.

The solution: Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) set to your home country when you register.

Example: You're a Canadian cruiser currently in Greece

  • You have: Canadian phone, Canadian bank account, Canadian address
  • But you're using Greek marina WiFi
  • What to do: Install a VPN app → Connect to a Canadian server → Sign up for Wise
  • Wise sees Canadian IP matching your Canadian details → Smooth approval! ✅

Recommended VPNs for cruisers:

  • NordVPN (good for limited bandwidth)
  • ExpressVPN (reliable, works in restrictive countries)
  • Surfshark (affordable, unlimited devices)

Is this silly? Yes. Should international travelers be able to sign up from anywhere? Absolutely. But this is Wise's current system. The good news: once approved, you can use Wise from anywhere without needing the VPN.

Step-by-Step When Registering from Abroad

  1. Connect to VPN → Set server to your home country
  2. Go to Wise signup page (while VPN is active)
  3. Enter phone number → Make sure you can receive the SMS (WiFi calling enabled)
  4. Enter SMS code to verify
  5. Provide email
  6. Enter your address (matching your bank records)
  7. Link your bank account
  8. Upload ID photo and take selfie
  9. Wait for approval (usually 1-2 days)
  10. Start using digital card immediately via Apple Pay or Google Pay!

📬 Getting Your Physical Card

Wise mails the card to your registered address. If you're cruising:

  • Mail forwarding service: Have them send it to a marina where you'll be
  • Family/friends: Ask them to forward it to a reliable port
  • Use digital card first: Don't wait! Add the digital card to your phone's wallet and start using it immediately
  • Pick up when you're back: If you return home seasonally, grab it then
Sign Up for Wise (Remember the VPN!)

Real-World Example: US Yacht in Australia

Situation: American couple currently cruising Australia discovers they're losing $150+/month in bank fees. They want Wise NOW.

What they have:

  • ✅ US phone number (kept active through T-Mobile international plan with WiFi calling)
  • ✅ Chase bank account with their sister's Florida address on file
  • ✅ Sister receives their mail and can forward things
  • ✅ Currently in Sydney marina with decent WiFi

What they do:

  1. Download NordVPN app, subscribe, connect to US server
  2. While VPN active, go to Wise signup
  3. Enter US phone number → receive SMS instantly via WiFi calling → verify ✅
  4. Enter email address
  5. Enter sister's Florida address (matches Chase bank) ✅
  6. Link Chase bank account ✅
  7. Upload passport photo and selfie ✅
  8. Approved in 18 hours! 🎉
  9. Add digital Wise card to Apple Pay immediately
  10. Transfer $3,000 USD from Chase to Wise
  11. Convert $2,000 to AUD at real exchange rate (save $60 vs bank rate)
  12. Use Apple Pay at Woolworths supermarket same day—works perfectly!
  13. Physical card arrives in Florida → sister mails to Port Denarau marina in Fiji where they're headed next month

Result: Saving $60-120/month on Australian expenses. Over 6 months cruising Pacific: $360-720 saved!

After Setup: Using Wise While Cruising

Pro Tips for Currency Management

  • Watch the rates: Wise app shows real-time exchange rates—convert when they're favorable
  • Load currencies in advance: Before arriving in French Polynesia? Convert to XPF when the rate is good
  • Keep multiple balances: Hold USD, EUR, GBP, AUD simultaneously—no fees to keep balances
  • Use the card everywhere: Supermarkets, fuel docks, marine stores, restaurants
  • ATM withdrawals: Free up to $100-200/month (depending on account type), then small fee
  • Track spending by currency: See exactly what you spent in each country

Ready to Stop Losing Money to Bank Fees?

If you're still home: Set up Wise today—it's quick, easy, and you'll be ready to go.

If you're already cruising: Grab a VPN, follow the steps above, and start saving this week.

Get Started with Wise Now

The links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission from Wise at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Questions? Email us—we're cruisers too!