Lifetime Free rewards card featuring Zero Forex Markup, 10X incremental points, and lounge privileges.
Moderate-to-High Spenders, Zero-Forex Shoppers, Weekend Moviegoers & Domestic Travelers
Free
One-time upfrontFree
Lifetime Free — no renewal fee3X on offline retail; 6X on online shopping up to ₹20,000/month; 10X on incremental spends > ₹20,000
On eligible spends2 Domestic visits/quarter · ₹20k monthly spend required
Complimentary visitsLast verified 2 Oct 2026
Objective editorial assessment, ideal spender profile, and primary trade-offs
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card is one of India's most compelling Lifetime Free premium credit cards, combining zero recurring annual fees with features traditionally reserved for ₹2,500+ fee products. Cardholders earn 6X Reward Points on online purchases up to ₹20,000 per billing cycle (1.00% return at 1 RP = ₹0.25; 1X = 1 RP per ₹150) and 3X Reward Points on offline in-store purchases (0.50% return). Where the card stands out is its 10X threshold: all incremental spends above ₹20,000 in a billing cycle and all birthday spends earn 10X points (1.67% return) with no upper cap. In addition, IDFC FIRST Bank has instituted Zero Forex Markup (0.00%) across all transactions, making it an exceptional card for overseas online shopping and foreign retail swipes. Travel perks include 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per calendar quarter (unlocked upon spending ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month) and 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per calendar quarter with no spend hurdle. Cardholders also enjoy Buy One Get One (BOGO) movie tickets up to ₹125 twice monthly via District/Paytm, dynamic APR from 9% p.a., and zero-interest ATM cash withdrawals up to 48 days (nominal ₹199 + GST cash advance fee applies). Limitations include the recent downward adjustment of domestic airport lounge access from 2 visits to 1 visit per quarter alongside the ₹20,000 monthly spend requirement, as well as reduced 1X earnings on utilities, rent, and government payments. Who should consider it: Salaried professionals and self-employed individuals spending ₹25,000 to ₹60,000 monthly who want an unconditional lifetime-free card with zero-forex benefits, movie discounts, and domestic travel perks. Who should look elsewhere: Spenders seeking uncapped 5% cashbacks or frequent flyers requiring multiple airport lounge visits each quarter without monthly spend hurdles.
10 Reward Points per ₹200 Spent on Dining, Travel, and International Transactions, 1X Reward Points per ₹200 Spent on Insurance, Utilities, Railways, and FASTag Recharges, and 3 Reward Points per ₹200 Spent on All Other Eligible Transactions
Vouchers worth ₹500 on spends of ₹5,000 within 30 days of card issuance. Also, get a 5% cashback on EMI transactions (up to Rs. 1,000) within 30 days of card issuance.
Base earning rates, partner merchant acceleration, redemption options, and exclusions
| Spend Category | Earn Rate | Reward Cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spends Above ₹25,000 / Birthday Spends | 10X Reward Points on monthly spends above ₹25,000 and on birthday (1 RP = ₹0.25) | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
| Online Spends Up to ₹25,000 | 6X Reward Points on online retail spends | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
| Spends Above ₹20,000 & Birthday | 10X Reward Points (10 RP per ₹200) on incremental spends above ₹20,000 per month and on birthday (1.25% return) | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
| Offline Spends Up to ₹25,000 | 3X Reward Points on offline retail spends | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
| Online Shopping Spends Up to ₹20,000 | 6X Reward Points (6 RP per ₹200) on online shopping up to ₹20,000 in a billing cycle (0.75% return) | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
| Offline Retail Spends Up to ₹20,000 | 3X Reward Points (3 RP per ₹200) on offline in-store purchases up to ₹20,000 in a billing cycle (0.375% return) | No Cap | Standard terms apply |
Calculate estimated net cashback and points across your actual spending pattern.
Estimate your rewards using the card's current reward rates, monthly caps and applicable fee-waiver rules.
Customize monthly spend in each category. Category amounts sum directly to your monthly spend.
| Category / Reward Bucket | Monthly Spend | Rate | Effective Rate | Cap Period | Eligible Reward | Cap Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spends Above ₹25,000 / Birthday Spends | ₹2,000 | 10X Reward Points on monthly spends above ₹25,000 and on birthday (1 RP = ₹0.25) | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Online Spends Up to ₹25,000 | ₹2,000 | 6X Reward Points on online retail spends | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Spends Above ₹20,000 & Birthday | ₹2,000 | 10X Reward Points (10 RP per ₹200) on incremental spends above ₹20,000 per month and on birthday (1.25% return) | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Offline Spends Up to ₹25,000 | ₹20,000 | 3X Reward Points on offline retail spends | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Online Shopping Spends Up to ₹20,000 | ₹2,000 | 6X Reward Points (6 RP per ₹200) on online shopping up to ₹20,000 in a billing cycle (0.75% return) | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Offline Retail Spends Up to ₹20,000 | ₹2,000 | 3X Reward Points (3 RP per ₹200) on offline in-store purchases up to ₹20,000 in a billing cycle (0.375% return) | — | None | Calculating... | Under cap |
| Total Monthly Cashback | ₹30,000 | - | — | - | ₹0 / mo | Zero cap loss |
₹3.6 lakh
12 billing cycles₹0
0% blended return₹0
Standard renewal+₹0 / yr
Rewards - FeeDomestic and international lounge privileges, spend hurdles, and participating terminals
Verify this card against live departure gates and specific terminal lounges across India.
This card includes complimentary admission across verified Indian airport terminals. Check individual terminal lounges and spend criteria before you travel.
Complete breakdown of joining, renewal, forex, financing APR, and transaction charges
Fee Structure: 100% Lifetime Free with ₹0 joining fee and ₹0 annual renewal fee forever. No annual spend waiver requirements. Rewards Accrual: Base rate is 1 Reward Point per ₹150 spent (1X). Online retail transactions earn 6X Reward Points (1.00% return) up to ₹20,000 per billing cycle; offline POS transactions earn 3X Reward Points (0.50% return) up to ₹20,000. Incremental monthly spends crossing ₹20,000 and all birthday purchases earn 10X Reward Points (1.67% return) without an upper cap. Utility, insurance, and government transactions earn 1X Reward Points. Point Valuation & Redemption: 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25. Points have no expiry date and can be redeemed directly against online partner checkouts, gift cards, or merchandise via the IDFC FIRST Rewards portal. A standard redemption convenience fee of ₹99 + GST applies per redemption request. Foreign Exchange: Zero Forex Markup (0.00%) applied on all international retail and online transactions. Standard card network foreign exchange rates apply without bank surcharge. Lounge Access: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit per calendar quarter, subject to a minimum eligible retail spend of ₹20,000 in the preceding calendar month. 4 complimentary domestic railway lounge visits per calendar quarter with no spend condition required. Movie & Travel Privileges: Buy One Get One (BOGO) movie ticket offer up to ₹125 discount on the second ticket twice a month on Paytm/District (up to ₹250 savings per month). Complimentary 24/7 Roadside Assistance (RSA) worth ₹1,399. Personal accident cover of ₹10 Lakhs and travel cancellation insurance up to ₹22,500. Fuel & Exclusions: 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹300 per month. Fuel purchases, wallet loads, cash advances, and rental payments do not earn reward points.
Evaluate whether this card's perks and waiver threshold justify its Free renewal fee.
Income criteria, minimum age, CIBIL score benchmark, and verification checklist
Eligibility criteria not specified
Verified eligibility criteria are not currently available for this card. Check the issuer's latest terms before applying.
Common questions regarding IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card application, fees, reward redemption, and eligibility
Alternative credit cards with comparable reward rates, annual fee waivers, and perks
Direct online application on the official IDFC FIRST Bank portal with paperless verification.
Deep-dive comparisons, reward calculations, and editorial reviews from our research desk
IDFC FIRST Bank's zero-forex move has removed one of Scapia's biggest differentiators. Scapia still has a case, but mainly for its domestic travel rewards, UPI earning and airport privileges — not for foreign spending alone.
IDFC FIRST Bank has announced zero forex markup across its credit card portfolio, while international spends are set to continue earning applicable reward points according to Moneycontrol reporting. CardRecommend breaks down the fee savings, currency conversion mechanics, DCC risks, and a key documentation discrepancy on reward exclusions.
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