M16S / IDFC First Bank / IDFC Gaj Credit Card
super-premium · rewards, travel
IDFC Gaj Credit Card
The IDFC Gaj Credit Card costs Rs 12,500 a year, waived if you spend Rs 10,00,000 in a year. Its base return is 3.33% (5 points per Rs 150 on domestic spends). Accelerated earn: App bookings: 45 bonus points per Rs 150 on hotels, 20 bonus per Rs 150 on flights. The forex markup is 0%. Lounge visits in India: 4 per quarter, including 1 guest visit. Abroad: 4 per quarter via DreamFolks. Read from the issuer's own documents on 11 Oct 2026.
- Annual fee
- Rs 12,500+ GST
- Fee waived at
- Rs 10,00,000annual spend
- Base return
- 3.33%
- Forex markup
- 0%
- Interest
- —
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 | Rs 12,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | Rs 12,500 |
| Annual spend that waives the fee | Rs 10,00,000 |
| Fee notes | Rs 12,500 + GST joining (upfront, non-refundable) and annual from year 2; annual waived on Rs 10 lakh previous-year spend. If not waived, paying the fee earns 12,500 points. Add-on Rs 4,000 + GST joining, Rs 2,000 + GST annual. |
Rewards
| Welcome benefit | 12,500 points; plus 25% off a 5-star hotel voucher up to Rs 5,000 on Rs 1 lakh spend within 60 days (limited period) |
|---|---|
| Reward currency | Reward Points |
| Base earn | 5 points per Rs 150 on domestic spends |
| Base return | 3.33% |
| Point value | 1 point = Rs 1 on hotels and flights via the IDFC FIRST app (max 70% of booking); Rs 0.25 elsewhere |
| Accelerated earn | App bookings: 45 bonus points per Rs 150 on hotels, 20 bonus per Rs 150 on flights |
| Caps | International spends 3 points per Rs 150. 1 point per Rs 150 on insurance, utilities, rent, government, wallet load, railways, FASTag, education and UPI. App travel bonus capped at 15,000 points a month. Redemption capped at 1,50,000 points a month and 3,00,000 a year. |
| Spends that earn nothing | Fuel, EMI conversions, fees and GST, loan on card, balance transfers, cash withdrawals, transactions below Rs 150 |
| Points expiry | Never expire while the card is active |
| Reward notes | base_return_pct = 5 points per Rs 150 x Rs 1 = 3.33%, only if redeemed for app travel; 0.83% at Rs 0.25. International spends earn 2% on the same basis. |
Travel and perks
| Domestic lounge | 4 per quarter, including 1 guest visit |
|---|---|
| International lounge | 4 per quarter via DreamFolks |
| Lounge conditions | Needs Rs 20,000 spend in the calendar month to unlock the next month. Railway lounges: 4 per quarter. |
| Forex markup | 0% |
| Other freebies | Golf: up to 24 rounds or lessons a year, unlocked at Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 spend in the previous statement cycle |
Charges and eligibility
| 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 | By invitation only; criteria not published |
| Fine-print notes | Value depends on redeeming through the bank's travel portal, where points cover at most 70% of a booking. 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 Gaj Credit Card?
- Rs 12,500 a year, before GST. It is waived if you spend Rs 10,00,000 in a year.
- Does the IDFC Gaj Credit Card give airport lounge access?
- Yes. In India: 4 per quarter, including 1 guest visit. Outside India: 4 per quarter via DreamFolks. Conditions: Needs Rs 20,000 spend in the calendar month to unlock the next month. Railway lounges: 4 per quarter.
- What is the forex markup on the IDFC Gaj Credit Card?
- 0% of each foreign-currency transaction, before GST.
- Which spends earn no rewards on the IDFC Gaj Credit Card?
- Fuel, EMI conversions, fees and GST, loan on card, balance transfers, cash withdrawals, transactions below Rs 150