Best Forex-Friendly Credit Cards in India

Cards that keep the cost of spending abroad down: lower forex markup, and often bundled with travel perks.

Best Forex Credit Cards in India 2026

HDFC Millennia Credit Card

4.3/5
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HDFC Millennia Credit Card by HDFC Bank
Joining Fee ₹1,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹1,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Urban Millennials & Online Spenders
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

5% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato & more; 2.5% all other online; 1% offline

Welcome Benefits

₹1,000 cashback on spending ₹1,000+ in first 90 days

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 5% cashback across 10 popular online platforms
  • ✓ Covers Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato, BookMyShow & more
  • ✓ 2.5% cashback on all other online transactions
  • ✓ 1 domestic lounge visit (or ₹1,000 gift voucher) per quarter on ₹1L spend
  • ✓ Straightforward cashback, credited directly as statement credit

Limitations

  • ✕ Only 1% cashback on offline/in-store purchases
  • ✕ 5% cashback capped at ₹750/month (₹9,000/year)
  • ✕ ₹1,000 annual fee (consistent spend needed for waiver)
  • ✕ Cashback credited quarterly, not immediately
Full Card Review →

AU Zenith+ Credit Card

3.5/5
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AU Zenith+ Credit Card by AU Small Finance Bank
Joining Fee ₹4,999 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹4,999 + Taxes
Best Suited For International Travel & Luxury Hotel Memberships
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Accelerated reward points; 0.99% low forex mark-up fee on international spends

Welcome Benefits

1,000 Reward Points on ₹75,000 monthly spends

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 0.99% forex markup, among the lowest available
  • ✓ 16 complimentary international airport lounge visits/year via Priority Pass
  • ✓ Buy 1 Get 1 Free movie tickets via BookMyShow (up to 16/year)
  • ✓ Air accident cover up to ₹2 Crore
  • ✓ Complimentary golf games & lessons (8/year)

Limitations

  • ✕ ₹4,999 annual fee (waived only on ₹8 Lakh spends)
  • ✕ Minimum income requirement of ₹2.5 lakh/month, a high eligibility bar
  • ✕ Complex rewards structure with monthly spend targets
  • ✕ Only available to Resident Indians
Full Card Review →

ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

4.6/5
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ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card by ICICI Bank
Joining Fee ₹12,499 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹12,499 + Taxes
Best Suited For Luxury Travelers & High Spenders
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

6 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (3% base rate) on all standard categories

Welcome Benefits

12,500 Reward Points + complimentary Taj Epicure Plus and EazyDiner Prime memberships on joining

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, including a generous guest allowance
  • ✓ 6 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (3% base rate) on all standard categories
  • ✓ 2% forex markup on international spends, lower than most premium cards
  • ✓ 1.99% monthly interest rate if you carry a balance, competitive for this card tier
  • ✓ Dedicated concierge service for travel and lifestyle bookings

Limitations

  • ✕ Premium standalone annual entry fee of ₹12,499 processed upfront
  • ✕ No programmatic direct point-to-mile transfer options to airline systems
  • ✕ Highly restrictive invitation-only or select wealth relationship requirement
Full Card Review →

Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card

4.8/5
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Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card by Axis Bank
Joining Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Axis Burgundy Private Banking Clients & Ultra-High Net Worth Travelers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

15 EDGE Reward points per ₹200 spent on retail and international transactions

Welcome Benefits

30,000 EDGE Reward points, or a luxury welcome gift, on activation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Points transfer at 5:4 to 20+ airline and hotel partners (5:2 for Lotusmiles, Finnair Plus & British Airways Club)
  • ✓ Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders, plus guests
  • ✓ Zero forex markup on international spends

Limitations

  • ✕ Massive upfront annual card fee barrier of ₹50,000 for standard applications
  • ✕ Requires strict adherence to multi-crore private banking wealth benchmarks with Axis Bank
  • ✕ Reward points collection excludes baseline routine categories like fuel and rent
Full Card Review →

Kotak Solitaire Credit Card

3.5/5
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Kotak Solitaire Credit Card by Kotak Bank
Joining Fee Nil (1st Year Free)
Annual Fee ₹25,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Frequent Travelers looking for Zero Forex Fees and Unlimited Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10 Air Miles per ₹100 spent on flight and hotel bookings via the Kotak Unbox platform; 3 Air Miles per ₹100 spent on all other purchase categories

Welcome Benefits

No disclosed joining bonus; value comes primarily from ongoing travel benefits

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 10 Air Miles per ₹100 on flights and hotels booked via Kotak Unbox, roughly 10% back in miles
  • ✓ Zero forex markup on international transactions
  • ✓ Unlimited domestic lounge access via DreamFolks and unlimited international access via Priority Pass, for primary and add-on cardholders
  • ✓ Discounted stays and free nights at ITC Hotels, Elivaas Villas and Alaya Stays

Limitations

  • ✕ High standard annual maintenance fee barrier of ₹25,000 if not a Solitaire Program account holder
  • ✕ Extremely weak value across non-travel lifestyle verticals like shopping, dining, and movies
  • ✕ Accelerated rewards optimization and prime 1:1 reward redemptions are exclusively locked inside the Kotak Unbox platform
Full Card Review →

Axis Bank Primus Credit Card

4.0/5
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Axis Bank Primus Credit Card by Axis Bank
Joining Fee ₹50,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹50,000* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), Elite Global Lifestyle, and High-Parity Travel Miles Conversion
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 spent, transferable at 1:5 to 20+ airline & hotel partners including Marriott, Qatar Airways & Singapore Airlines

Welcome Benefits

Choose any 1 option from: 25,000 EDGE Miles OR an ITC Hotels e-gift card worth ₹40,000 for participating properties

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Choice of a substantial welcome bonus: EDGE Miles or an ITC Hotels e-gift card
  • ✓ Airport meet-and-assist and luxury vehicle transfer services included
  • ✓ Generous guest allowance for lounge visits
  • ✓ Zero forex markup on international spends
  • ✓ Companion airfare offers on select bookings

Limitations

  • ✕ Requires high up-front membership fee parameters if not optimized via private banking program balances
  • ✕ Strictly restricted via specialized invitation parameters from the issuer
  • ✕ Optimized features are predominantly weighted into global premium travel and luxury hotel categories over domestic day-to-day shopping categories
Full Card Review →

BOBCARD Tiara Credit Card

3.5/5
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BOBCARD Tiara Credit Card by Bank of Baroda
Joining Fee ₹2,499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹2,499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Mid-range All-round Spends covering Lifestyle, Dining, and Domestic Travel
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

15 reward points for every ₹100 spent on dining, travel, and international transactions; 3 reward points for every ₹100 spent on other standard retail categories

Welcome Benefits

Complimentary annual memberships to Amazon Prime or Jio Hotstar, and Gaana Plus, plus a 3-month Swiggy One membership

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Unlimited complimentary domestic airport lounge access
  • ✓ 15 reward points per ₹100 on dining, travel and international spends
  • ✓ 2% forex markup on overseas transactions, better than most cards at this fee
  • ✓ Free annual subscription to Amazon Prime or Jio Hotstar plus 3 months of Swiggy One
  • ✓ Preventive health checkup package for women cardholders

Limitations

  • ✕ Low cash conversion reward redemption parity threshold set at 4 points = ₹1
  • ✕ Strict monthly capping limits enforced on accelerated 5X reward accumulations
  • ✕ Complete exclusion of automotive fuel purchases from generating any baseline reward points
  • ✕ Total absence of international lounge terminal access benefits
Full Card Review →

HSBC Premier MasterCard Credit Card

3.0/5
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HSBC Premier MasterCard Credit Card by HSBC Bank
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹12,000 + Taxes; 2nd Year Onwards: ₹20,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹12,000 + Taxes; 2nd Year Onwards: ₹20,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For HSBC Premier Banking Loyalists and Frequent Global Travelers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

3 reward points for every ₹100 spent across all standard categories; Accelerated travel spends include 12X rewards on hotel bookings and 6X rewards on flight tickets via HSBC Rewards Marketplace

Welcome Benefits

20,000 bonus reward points on making the first transaction within the first 30 days of card issuance

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 0.99% forex markup, among the lowest available on any Indian credit card
  • ✓ 1:1 point transfer to a wide range of global airline and hotel partners
  • ✓ Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge access, plus 8 guest visits a year
  • ✓ 12X points on hotel bookings and 6X on flights through HSBC's Rewards Marketplace

Limitations

  • ✕ Steep ongoing annual maintenance renewal fee barrier of ₹20,000 from the second year onwards
  • ✕ Base reward rate yield of 3% is less competitive compared to rival top-tier premium cards offering up to 4.5%
  • ✕ Strict monthly reward points accumulation caps applied across select routine lifestyle and payment categories
Full Card Review →

YES Bank Marquee Credit Card

4.5/5
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YES Bank Marquee Credit Card by YES Bank
Joining Fee Nil (1st Year Free)
Annual Fee ₹4,999 + Taxes
Best Suited For Online Shopping and High-Yield Value Back on Overseas Transactions
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

36 reward points per ₹200 spent on online shopping; 18 reward points per ₹200 spent on offline shopping

Welcome Benefits

40,000 Reward Points welcome benefit

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 36 reward points per ₹200 on online spends, one of the higher online earn rates available
  • ✓ 1% forex markup, among the lowest available
  • ✓ Points redeemable across airlines and a range of luxury vouchers
  • ✓ Allows a generous allocation of up to 3 separate complimentary add-on cards

Limitations

  • ✕ Lounge access benefits are restricted by a spend threshold of ₹1 Lakh in the preceding quarter
  • ✕ Core essential categories (fuel, cash advances, EMIs) are completely excluded from point accruals
  • ✕ ₹1 or 1% processing fee on wallet loads and rent payments
  • ✕ Reward points are capped at 1 lakh per statement cycle
Full Card Review →

Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card

3.5/5
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Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card by Standard Chartered
Joining Fee Rs. 5,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee Rs. 5,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Premium-type Reward Multipliers, High Base Points Accrual, and Golf Privileges
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5 reward points for every ₹150 spent across all standard categories (3.33% reward yield parity)

Welcome Benefits

Premium welcome benefits up to Rs. 5,000 value pack matching the upfront onboarding fees

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 5 reward points per ₹150 spent, a 3.33% return rate across all categories
  • ✓ 2% forex markup on international spends
  • ✓ Complimentary golf games and coaching sessions
  • ✓ Welcome benefits worth roughly ₹5,000, close to offsetting the joining fee

Limitations

  • ✕ Strict exclusions applied across key day-to-day categories including fuel and cash advances
  • ✕ Reward points accrued on card renewal are forfeited if fee payments are processed via promotional EMI conversions
  • ✕ No automatic ongoing lifestyle milestone benefits provided outside standard tier paths
Full Card Review →

PNB LUXURA Visa Credit Card

4.0/5
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PNB LUXURA Visa Credit Card by Punjab National Bank
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For High-income Travelers, Unlimited Lounge Access, and Zero Forex Spends
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

4 reward points per ₹100 spent on regular transactions; accelerated 3X reward points (12 points per ₹100 spent) on dining and travel spends; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 0% forex markup on international spends
  • ✓ Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access worldwide
  • ✓ 3X reward points on dining and travel
  • ✓ Issued as a metal card

Limitations

  • ✕ High minimum income requirement
  • ✕ Reward cash conversion ratio settles at a modest baseline floor of 4 points = ₹1 value
Full Card Review →

IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card

4.0/5
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IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹750* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹750* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Travel Spends, Zero Forex Markups, and New-to-Credit Builders
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 16.7% bonus rewards or value-back on travel booking allocations; features tiered multiplier reward rates across multiple spending categories

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Up to 16.7% value back on travel bookings
  • ✓ 0% forex markup on international spends
  • ✓ 25% discount on movie tickets
  • ✓ A useful option for building or repairing credit history, since it's FD-backed

Limitations

  • ✕ Requires upfront collateral commitment in an IDFC FIRST Fixed Deposit to back card limits
  • ✕ Standard joining fee applies, unlike the basic zero-fee unsecured variant cards
  • ✕ Top travel rewards only apply when booking through IDFC FIRST's own app or channels
Full Card Review →

IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card

3.0/5
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IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card by IndusInd Bank
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Weekend Shopping Spends, Low Forex Fees, and No Reward Expiry
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

2 reward points per ₹100 spent on weekends (Sat-Sun); 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on weekdays (Mon-Fri); 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on medical, automobiles, and telecom; 0.70 reward points per ₹100 spent on utility bill payments, insurance premiums, government services, educational fees, and rental payments

Welcome Benefits

Activation benefits in the form of a Luxe gift card or vouchers from premium brands like Montblanc, Postcard, and Vouchagram (Note: This specific feature is available at certain fee points only and not with standard lifetime-free variants)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 2X reward points on weekend spending
  • ✓ Lifetime free, with no joining or annual fee
  • ✓ Competitive low foreign currency markup handling fee of 1.8%
  • ✓ 1:1 points transfer to airline miles, and points never expire
  • ✓ Earns rewards on typically excluded baseline bills like rent, utility, and insurance premium payments

Limitations

  • ✕ Low base reward rate for weekday spending in comparison to rival options
  • ✕ Complimentary airport lounge access was discontinued as of March 2025
  • ✕ Automotive fuel purchases are entirely excluded from the rewards program
  • ✕ Fewer partner airline mileage transfer options compared to other premium cards
Full Card Review →

IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card

3.5/5
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IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For High-earning individuals seeking a Lifetime Free Card with Premium Travel Perks & Golf Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10X reward points on Dining, Travel and International spends; 3X reward points on other online & offline spends; 1X reward points on insurance, utilities, railways and FASTag recharges; 1X = 1 reward point per ₹200 spent

Welcome Benefits

Gift vouchers worth ₹500 on spending ₹15,000 within 90 days of card set-up; 5% cashback (up to ₹1,000) on your first EMI transaction within 90 days of card set-up

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Lifetime free, with no onboarding or annual fee
  • ✓ 10X reward points on dining, travel and international spends
  • ✓ 1.5% forex markup
  • ✓ Earns points on categories many cards exclude, like rent, education, utilities and insurance
  • ✓ Lounge access, spa visits and golf rounds included

Limitations

  • ✕ Low base reward redemption conversion metric locked at 1 point = ₹0.25
  • ✕ Base reward rate yield (3X on other spends) underperforms for a premium-tier card segment
  • ✕ Lounge, spa and movie privileges depend on hitting monthly spend milestones
Full Card Review →

IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card

3.0/5
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IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee ₹5,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee ₹5,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For High-Income Individuals, Frequent International Travel, and Airport Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 10X reward points on monthly spends above ₹20,000; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25

Welcome Benefits

12,000 Reward Points (4,000 on joining + 4,000 each on ₹20,000 spend in statement cycles 2 & 3) + up to ₹4,000 cashback on first 4 transactions within 60 days

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Premium metal card design offering high status value
  • ✓ Zero foreign exchange markup fee applied on international spends
  • ✓ Generous international airport lounge policy providing 16 complimentary visits per year
  • ✓ Accelerated 10X reward point multiplier easily unlocked via a ₹20,000 monthly spend threshold

Limitations

  • ✕ Low cash conversion reward redemption parity threshold set at 1 point = ₹0.25
  • ✕ Low net effective value-back yield of just 1.66% even at the maximum 10X reward point accumulation rate
  • ✕ High upfront annual maintenance card fee barrier of ₹5,999 with an absolute absence of a spend-based fee waiver
Full Card Review →

IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card

3.5/5
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IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹2,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹2,999* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For Premium Multi-category Rewards, Low Foreign Exchange Markups, and Domestic Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Up to 10X rewards on every spend

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ High-frequency reward potential offering up to 10X reward multipliers on everyday spends
  • ✓ Highly competitive, low foreign exchange markup fee optimized at just 1%
  • ✓ Generous domestic travel integration providing up to 16 complimentary lounge visits per year

Limitations

  • ✕ Upfront joining and annual fee barrier of ₹2,999
  • ✕ Value yield is mostly optimized around domestic lounge networks over international variants
Full Card Review →

HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card

3.0/5
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HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card by HSBC Bank
Joining Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee 1st Year Fee: ₹499* Plus Applicable Taxes
Best Suited For UPI Payments, Dining Spends, and Everyday Household Groceries via Direct Cashback
Rewards Type Cashback

Rewards Rate

10% cashback on dining, grocery, and food delivery spends; 1% cashback on other eligible spends, including UPI transactions; Cashback is capped at ₹400 per month

Welcome Benefits

₹500 cashback upon downloading and logging into the HSBC India mobile banking app and spending ₹10,000 within 30 days of card issuance (applicable till 31 Mar 2026); Complimentary 2-month EazyDiner Prime membership on card activation (if activated between 15 July 2025 and 31 Mar 2026)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 10% cashback on dining, groceries and food delivery
  • ✓ 1% cashback on UPI payments via the RuPay network
  • ✓ Zero foreign exchange transaction markup fees until 30 June 2026
  • ✓ Cashback credited directly to your statement, no point conversion needed
  • ✓ Fee waived on ₹2 lakh in annual spend

Limitations

  • ✕ Tight monthly billing cycle cashback earning cap strictly limited to a maximum of ₹400
  • ✕ Completely excludes all international and foreign currency spends from earning any cashback value back
  • ✕ Extensive list of day-to-day transaction exclusions (fuel, utilities, insurance, rent, wallet top-ups, education, and govt fees) that yield zero cashback returns
Full Card Review →

IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card

3.0/5
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IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card by IndusInd Bank
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Spend-Based Milestone Rewards, Low Forex International Spends, and Air Mileage Redemptions
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

Tier-based annual spending reward structure: 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on annual spends up to ₹1 Lakh; 2 reward points per ₹100 spent on annual spends between ₹1 Lakh and ₹2.5 Lakh; 4 reward points per ₹100 spent on annual spends between ₹2.5 Lakh and ₹5 Lakh; 6 reward points per ₹100 spent on annual spends above ₹5 Lakh

Welcome Benefits

N/A

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Lifetime free, with no ongoing annual fee
  • ✓ 1.5% forex markup
  • ✓ Reward rate climbs to a 7.2% equivalent return once you cross ₹5 lakh in annual spend
  • ✓ Domestic and international lounge access, plus seasonal golf access
  • ✓ Points convert to airline miles at up to a 1:1 ratio

Limitations

  • ✕ Requires ₹5 lakh in annual spend to reach the top 6X reward point multiplier
  • ✕ Core daily household categories such as regular monthly utility bill payments and insurance premium outlays are entirely excluded from generating points
  • ✕ Low cash conversion reward redemption value if points are settled straight back as a standard statement balance credit
Full Card Review →

IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card

4.5/5
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IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Building Credit Score, Zero Forex International Spends & FD Backed Safety
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

4 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (~0.50% return); Points never expire

Welcome Benefits

100% credit limit against Fixed Deposit (Min. ₹20,000 FD required)

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 100% Lifetime Free credit card with zero joining and zero renewal fees
  • ✓ 0% foreign currency markup fee on international transactions
  • ✓ Instant 100% credit limit issuance against your IDFC FIRST Bank Fixed Deposit (Min ₹20,000)
  • ✓ Earn 4 Reward Points per ₹200 spent with lifetime validity and no expiration
  • ✓ No income proof or credit score documentation required for approval

Limitations

  • ✕ Requires opening a minimum ₹20,000 auto-renewing Fixed Deposit with IDFC FIRST Bank
  • ✕ No domestic or international airport lounge access included
  • ✕ Utility and insurance spends earn reduced 1 Reward Point per ₹200 spent
Full Card Review →

Scapia Credit Card

4.7/5
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Scapia Credit Card by Federal Bank
Joining Fee Lifetime Free
Annual Fee Free
Best Suited For Frequent Travelers, Zero Forex International Spends & Unlimited Domestic Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

20% Scapia Coins on Scapia app travel bookings (~4% return); 10% Scapia Coins on other eligible spends (~2% return)

Welcome Benefits

Instant virtual card issuance upon approval + unlimited Scapia Coins redemption on travel

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 100% Lifetime Free travel credit card with zero joining and annual fees
  • ✓ Absolute 0% foreign exchange transaction markup fee on international expenditures
  • ✓ Unlimited domestic airport lounge access upon spending ₹20,000 in a billing cycle
  • ✓ High 20% Scapia Coins earning rate on flight and hotel bookings via Scapia app
  • ✓ RuPay credit card variant available with native UPI payment support

Limitations

  • ✕ Scapia Coins can only be redeemed for flight and hotel bookings inside the Scapia app
  • ✕ No Scapia Coins awarded on fuel, rent, wallet, utility, insurance, or international spends
  • ✕ Unlimited lounge access requires hitting the ₹20,000 monthly spend threshold
Full Card Review →

CUB SalarySe Level Up Credit Card

4.4/5
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CUB SalarySe Level Up Credit Card by City Union Bank
Joining Fee ₹0 (Virtual) / ₹500 + GST (Physical)
Annual Fee ₹0 (Virtual) / ₹500 + GST (Physical)
Best Suited For Salaried Individuals, Salary Day UPI Spends & Low Forex Foreign Transactions
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

25 SCoins per ₹100 on SalarySe UPI; 10 SCoins per ₹100 when monthly bill exceeds ₹20,000

Welcome Benefits

Virtual + Physical card options + 37.5 SCoins/₹100 Salary Day bonus

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Lifetime Free Virtual Card option available with ZERO joining and annual fees
  • ✓ Up to 37.5% Salary Day Bonus Rewards on 1st & last day of the month via SalarySe UPI
  • ✓ Low 1% foreign currency markup fee on international spends
  • ✓ Earn up to 10X rewards on daily UPI QR payments using RuPay credit card integration
  • ✓ 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per month on ₹10,000 previous billing cycle spend

Limitations

  • ✕ SCoins expire 18 months from the date they are earned
  • ✕ SCoins can only be redeemed on the SalarySe App for brand vouchers and catalog items
  • ✕ Lounge access requires physical card variant and ₹10,000 monthly spend threshold
Full Card Review →

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

4.5/5
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Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card by Axis Bank
Joining Fee ₹3,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹3,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Mid-tier Travel & Airline Point Transfers
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

5 EDGE Horizon points per ₹100 on travel; 2 points per ₹100 on general spends

Welcome Benefits

3,000 EDGE Horizon points on card activation

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 5 EDGE Horizon points per ₹100 spent on flight and hotel bookings
  • ✓ Direct points transfer to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • ✓ 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge access visits per year
  • ✓ Annual fee waiver on achieving ₹3.5 Lakh retail spend milestone

Limitations

  • ✕ ₹3,000 annual fee charged upfront
  • ✕ Base earn rate of 2 points per ₹100 on general retail spends is moderate
  • ✕ Forex markup fee of 3.5% applies on foreign transactions
Full Card Review →

Lumiere Credit Card

4.5/5
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Lumiere Credit Card by RBL Bank
Joining Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹50,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Golf Privileges & International Rewards
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

4 Reward Points per ₹200 spent (~2%); 20 points per ₹200 (10%) via the Lumiere rewards portal

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for cardholder and guests
  • ✓ Golf privileges for the primary cardholder
  • ✓ Complimentary airport meet-and-greet service, zero forex markup
  • ✓ Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹3 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • ✕ ₹50,000 annual fee, waived only for ₹2 Crore+ Total Relationship Value clients
  • ✕ Invite-only; not available for direct public application
  • ✕ Golf privileges are limited to the primary cardholder only
Full Card Review →

World Prime Credit Card

4.6/5
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World Prime Credit Card by RBL Bank
Joining Fee ₹3,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹3,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Airport Lounge Access & Low Forex Markup
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

2 Reward Points per ₹100 on regular spends

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 8 domestic lounge visits/year (2/quarter) on ₹15,000 quarterly spend
  • ✓ 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on all regular spends
  • ✓ Fuel surcharge waiver and lost card liability cover included
  • ✓ Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹5 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • ✕ No international lounge access, unlike RBL World Safari
  • ✕ Higher forex markup than RBL's dedicated zero-forex travel cards
  • ✕ Base reward rate of 2 points per ₹100 is modest for a travel-positioned card
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IDFC FIRST Quantum+ Credit Card

4.7/5
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IDFC FIRST Quantum+ Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee ₹10,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹10,000 + Taxes
Best Suited For Zero Forex Markup & Luxury Lounge Access
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

1% base cashback; 2% on online shopping spends (capped at ₹500/statement cycle)

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ Zero forex markup fee on international transactions
  • ✓ 2% cashback on online shopping spends
  • ✓ 1% base cashback on all other spends
  • ✓ Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹10 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • ✕ No airport lounge access despite the premium ₹10,000 fee
  • ✕ Total cashback capped at ₹500 per statement cycle
  • ✕ High fee-to-benefit ratio compared to IDFC FIRST Wealth (lifetime free)
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IDFC FIRST Business Max Credit Card

4.4/5
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IDFC FIRST Business Max Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee ₹1,499 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹1,499 + Taxes
Best Suited For Business Vendor Payments & Commercial Spends
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

6 Reward Points per ₹200 on domestic online spends; 4 points per ₹200 offline; up to 3 points on UPI

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 6 Reward Points per ₹200 on domestic online spends
  • ✓ Up to 45 interest-free days plus EMI conversion on purchases above ₹1,500
  • ✓ Low forex markup fee of 1.5% on international spends
  • ✓ Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹2.5 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • ✕ FD-backed card requires a minimum ₹10,000 fixed deposit
  • ✕ Offline spends earn a reduced 4 points per ₹200
  • ✕ Finance charges of 12% per annum apply on revolving balances
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IDFC FIRST Business Multiplier Credit Card

4.6/5
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IDFC FIRST Business Multiplier Credit Card by IDFC FIRST Bank
Joining Fee ₹2,999 + Taxes
Annual Fee ₹2,999 + Taxes
Best Suited For Multiplied Business Tax & Commercial Spends
Rewards Type Reward Points

Rewards Rate

10 Reward Points per ₹200 spent, up to ₹1 Lakh monthly spend; 5 points per ₹200 thereafter

Welcome Benefits

Welcome gift benefit on card activation & joining fee payment

Card Details +

Key Advantages

  • ✓ 10 Reward Points per ₹200 spent, up to ₹1 Lakh monthly spend
  • ✓ 8 complimentary domestic + international lounge visits/year
  • ✓ Zero forex markup on international transactions
  • ✓ Fee waiver threshold (Annual fee waived on ₹5 Lakh annual retail spends)

Limitations

  • ✕ FD-backed card requires a ₹50,000 fixed deposit
  • ✕ Reward rate halves to 5 points per ₹200 beyond ₹1 Lakh monthly spend
  • ✕ Lounge access requires ₹20,000 spend in the preceding month
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Forex Cards at a Glance

Best Forex Credit Cards Comparison Table
Card Fee Rating
1. HDFC Millennia Credit Card ₹1,000 + Taxes ★ 4.3 View →
2. AU Zenith+ Credit Card ₹4,999 + Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
3. ICICI Bank Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card ₹12,499 + Taxes ★ 4.6 View →
4. Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card ₹50,000 + Taxes ★ 4.8 View →
5. Kotak Solitaire Credit Card ₹25,000 + Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
6. Axis Bank Primus Credit Card ₹50,000* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
7. BOBCARD Tiara Credit Card ₹2,499* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
8. HSBC Premier MasterCard Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹12,000 + Taxes; 2nd Year Onwards: ₹20,000 + Taxes ★ 3.0 View →
9. YES Bank Marquee Credit Card ₹4,999 + Taxes ★ 4.5 View →
10. Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card Rs. 5,000 + Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
11. PNB LUXURA Visa Credit Card Free ★ 4.0 View →
12. IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹750* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 4.0 View →
13. IndusInd Bank Legend Credit Card Free ★ 3.0 View →
14. IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card Free ★ 3.5 View →
15. IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card ₹5,999* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.0 View →
16. IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹2,999* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.5 View →
17. HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card 1st Year Fee: ₹499* Plus Applicable Taxes ★ 3.0 View →
18. IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card Free ★ 3.0 View →
19. IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card Free ★ 4.5 View →
20. Scapia Credit Card Free ★ 4.7 View →
21. CUB SalarySe Level Up Credit Card ₹0 (Virtual) / ₹500 + GST (Physical) ★ 4.4 View →
22. Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card ₹3,000 + Taxes ★ 4.5 View →
23. Lumiere Credit Card ₹50,000 + Taxes ★ 4.5 View →
24. World Prime Credit Card ₹3,000 + Taxes ★ 4.6 View →
25. IDFC FIRST Quantum+ Credit Card ₹10,000 + Taxes ★ 4.7 View →
26. IDFC FIRST Business Max Credit Card ₹1,499 + Taxes ★ 4.4 View →
27. IDFC FIRST Business Multiplier Credit Card ₹2,999 + Taxes ★ 4.6 View →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a forex markup fee?

It's a fee, typically 2% to 3.5%, that Indian card issuers add on top of the currency conversion rate whenever you spend in a foreign currency, whether that's swiping abroad or paying an international website in USD/EUR/etc.

Is there any Indian credit card with zero forex markup?

True zero-markup cards are rare and mostly limited to a small number of niche or invite-only products. Most 'forex-friendly' cards instead reduce the standard 3-3.5% markup to somewhere around 1-2%, which is still a meaningful saving on regular international spending.

Does a forex card also help with international lounge access?

Often, yes. The cards that focus on reducing forex costs tend to be premium travel cards, so they usually bundle in Priority Pass lounge access and travel insurance as well.

Is it better to use a forex card or a dedicated travel forex card (prepaid)?

Prepaid forex cards let you lock in an exchange rate in advance and avoid markup on load, which can work out cheaper for a single trip with planned spending. Credit cards with low forex markup are more convenient for ongoing or unpredictable international spending and add fraud protection and credit float.

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