M16S / IDFC First Bank / IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card
entry · rewards, lifetime-free
IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card
The IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card charges no annual fee and no joining fee. Its base return is 0.38% (3X = 3 points per Rs 200 on eligible spends). The forex markup is 0%. It lists no airport lounge access. Read from the issuer's own documents on 11 Oct 2026.
- Annual fee
- Free
- Fee waived at
- —
- Base return
- 0.38%
- Forex markup
- 0%
- Interest
- 3.85%a month
Apply on idfcfirst.bank.inOpens the bank’s own page.
What changed on this card
- IDFC FIRST keeps reward points on international spends, Sep 2026
IDFC FIRST credit cards have zero forex markup from 9 September 2026 and still earn reward points on international spends. The bank dropped its planned 26 October cut in a later letter.
Each change is read from the bank's own notice or terms document, linked above. Every card's changes are on the change log.
Fees
| Joining fee | Free |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | Free |
| Fee notes | Lifetime free. Optional FIRST Digital RuPay (UPI) add-on card costs Rs 199 + GST joining and Rs 199 + GST a year from year 2. Add-on card Rs 499 + GST. |
Rewards
| Welcome benefit | Rs 500 gift voucher on Rs 5,000 spend within 30 days (primary card; UPI, wallet, EMI and cash excluded); 5% cashback up to Rs 1,000 on first EMI within 30 days |
|---|---|
| Reward currency | Reward Points |
| Base earn | 3X = 3 points per Rs 200 on eligible spends |
| Base return | 0.38% |
| Point value | 1 point = Rs 0.25 |
| Accelerated earn | 10X (10 points per Rs 200) on dining, travel, international spends and on spends made on your birthday. Via IDFC FIRST app travel bookings: 20% bonus points on hotels, 10% on flights. |
| Caps | 1X only (1 point per Rs 200) on utilities, insurance, railways and FASTag. UPI spends earn up to 3X. |
| Spends that earn nothing | Fuel, EMI transactions, cash withdrawals, fees and charges earn nothing. 10X excludes rent and property management, government, education, wallet loads, utilities, insurance, railways, FASTag |
| Points expiry | 24 months from credit (for points earned from the July 2026 statement cycle; earlier points did not expire) |
| Reward notes | Rs 99 + GST per redemption. base_return_pct = 3 points per Rs 200 x Rs 0.25 = 0.375%; 10X categories = 1.25%; 1X categories = 0.125%. The old Rs 20,000-per-cycle threshold for 10X has gone; 10X is now category-based. |
Travel and perks
| Domestic lounge | None |
|---|---|
| International lounge | None |
| Lounge conditions | Railway lounges: 4 per quarter, needs Rs 20,000 spend in the calendar month to unlock the next month |
| Forex markup | 0% |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on Rs 200-5,000 txns, cap Rs 200 per statement cycle |
| Other freebies | 25% off up to Rs 100 on movie tickets once a month (needs one transaction in the previous month). Roadside assistance worth Rs 1,399, 4 times a year; personal accident cover Rs 2 lakh; lost card liability Rs 25,000. |
Charges and eligibility
| Interest per month | 3.85% |
|---|---|
| Late payment feeunverified | 15% of total amount due, min Rs 100, max Rs 1,300 |
| Cash advance fee | Rs 199 + GST per withdrawal; interest-free up to 45 days; max Rs 10,000 per withdrawal |
| Eligibility | Annual income Rs 3 lakh or more |
| Fine-print notes | APR 8.5% to 46.2% a year by profile (0.71% to 3.85% a month); the monthly figure given is the maximum. Bank-wide rules read on issuer pages: points earned only on spends up to the credit limit per billing cycle (from 18 Jun 2026); points for a cycle are forfeited if the minimum amount due is not paid by the due date; Rs 99 + GST fee per reward redemption; over-limit fee 2.5% of over-limit amount, min Rs 550. |
Questions
- What is the annual fee of the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card?
- No annual fee.
- Does the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card give airport lounge access?
- No lounge access is listed for this card.
- What is the forex markup on the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card?
- 0% of each foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
- Which spends earn no rewards on the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card?
- Fuel, EMI transactions, cash withdrawals, fees and charges earn nothing. 10X excludes rent and property management, government, education, wallet loads, utilities, insurance, railways, FASTag