IDFC First Bank
IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card
Data last verified: 11 October 2026
- Joining feeFree
- Annual feeFree
- Reward rate0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining
Takes you straight to the application. We earn a commission if you are approved, and you pay nothing extra.
- Joining feeFree
- Annual feeFree
- Lifetime freeYes
- Forex markup0%
- Interest (APR)0.71% a month, 8.52% a year
The Classic is lifetime free, so there is no joining or annual fee to recover. Reward points are worth about 0.38% on regular spends and about 1.25% on dining, travel and international spends. Utility bills earn very little.
New cardholders get a Rs 500 gift voucher after spending Rs 5,000 in the first 30 days. You also get a 25% movie discount up to Rs 100 once a month, up to 16 railway lounge visits a year, a Rs 2 lakh personal accident cover and lost card cover up to Rs 25,000.
It suits first-time users who want a free card to build a credit history. The honest catch is the low base reward rate. If you spend a lot, a paid card with a higher flat rate will give you more back.
Best for: First-time card users, People who want a free card to build credit, Occasional diners and travellers.
01IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card Rewards and Benefits
02IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card Annual Fee and Charges
- Joining fee
- Lifetime free
- Annual fee
- Lifetime free
- Spend-based waiver
- None
- Rewards redemption fee
- ₹99 per request
- Forex markup
- 0%
- Interest rate
- 0.71% a month (8.52% a year)
- Fuel surcharge waiver
- Yes
- Card replacement
- Not published
03What It's Worth, in Rupees
If you spend ₹20,000 a month on this card:
- ₹5,000 on dining and food delivery, earning 1.25%₹63
- ₹15,000 on everything else, earning 0.38%₹57
- Back each month, ₹1,440 a year₹120
- In your pocket each year₹1,440
Worked out from this card's reward rates, caps and fee in our data; a rate limited to named merchants is not counted here. Your own spending will differ: see what this card is worth at your spend.
Good for
- Dining: 1.25% back
- Travel: 1.25% back
- Anyone who wants no annual fee, ever
- Flyers: some airport lounge visits a year
- Spending abroad: 0% markup, most cards add 3.5%
Skip it if…
- most of your spending is fuel: those earn nothing on this card
- you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
- you spend a lot on government payments: the card's terms do not state a rate there, so we count nothing
- you rarely spend on dining, travel or foreign spends: the 1.25% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.38%
- you sometimes pay only the minimum due: interest of 0.71% a month (8.52% a year) outweighs any reward
04Product Details
- Lifetime free, no joining or annual fee
- About 0.38% back on regular spends
- About 1.25% on dining, travel and international spends
- 16 railway lounge visits a year after ₹20,000 spend in the previous month
- ₹500 welcome voucher on ₹5,000 spend in 30 days
- Personal accident cover of ₹2 lakh
05Pros and Cons
Pros
- No fee ever
- Higher rewards on dining and travel
- ₹500 welcome voucher that is easy to earn
- Accident and lost card cover included
Cons
- Low 0.38% on regular spends
- Almost no rewards on utility bills
- Railway lounges need ₹20,000 spend in the previous month
06How IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card earns Rewards
0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining.
| Spend category | Rate | Monthly cap | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI payments (scan and pay) | Earns nothing | - | a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI |
| Online shopping | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Dining and food delivery | 1.25% | No cap | All merchants in the categoryTerms: 10 RP per ₹200 (~1.25%) on dining |
| Groceries | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Travel: flights, hotels, trains | 1.25% | No cap | All merchants in the categoryTerms: 10 RP per ₹200 (~1.25%) on travel |
| Fuel | Earns nothing | - | earns nothing on this card |
| Bills and recharges | 0.13% | No cap | All merchants in the categoryTerms: 1 RP per ₹200 (~0.125%) on utilities, insurance, FASTag & railway; no rewards on fuel, EMI or cash |
| Rent | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Insurance premiums | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| School and college fees | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Wallet top-ups | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
| Taxes and government payments | Not stated | - | the card's terms state no rate here; many cards pay nothing on these |
| Spend abroad or in a foreign currency | 1.25% | No cap | All merchants in the categoryTerms: 10 RP per ₹200 (~1.25%) on international spends, with no forex markup (nil in IDFC's KFS dated 15 Sep 2026) |
| Everything else | 0.38% | No cap | The card's normal rate |
Terms on the base rate. 3 RP per ₹200 (~0.375%) on other eligible spends; birthday spends also earn 10X; points expire 24 months (revised 18 Jun 2026)
Point value. 1 point is worth about ₹0.25 at the bank's stated value.
07IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card Travel Benefits
Railway lounges: 16 visits a year. Spend Rs 20,000 in the previous month for lounge access. Spending abroad carries a 0% forex markup; rewards on it: 1.25% back. See what it costs on your trip
Also on the card. fuel surcharge waiver, insurance cover, airport lounge access, movie ticket offers.
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% fuel-surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹200 per statement cycle
- Insurance cover: Personal accident cover of ₹2 lakh and lost-card liability of ₹25,000 (valid with at least one transaction in the last 30 days), plus complimentary roadside assistance worth ₹1,399 up to 4 times a year
- Airport lounge access: 4 complimentary railway lounge visits per quarter, unlocked by ₹20,000 of spend in the prior calendar month
- Movie ticket offers: 25% off up to ₹100 on movie tickets once a month (via the District app), when spend-active the previous month
08IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card Eligibility and Documents
- Employment
- Salaried or self-employed
- Minimum monthly income
- ₹25,000
Documents. PAN card Aadhaar / valid address proof Latest 3 months bank statement Income proof, salary slips (salaried) or ITR (self-employed) Recent passport-size photograph
09Recent Changes
What IDFC First Bank changed on this card recently. The facts on this page already reflect them.
| Date | Change | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 2026 | Reduced: International spends stop earning reward pointsSource: IDFC First Bank | Reward points on international spends at the card's own rate | No reward points on international spends |
| 15 Sept 2026 | Changed: Forex markup removedSource: IDFC First Bank | 1% to 3.5%, depending on the card | 0% (nil) |
| 9 Sept 2026 | Changed: Forex markup removedSource: IDFC First Bank | 1% to 3.5%, depending on the card | 0% (nil) |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Reduced: Moved to category rewards; base cut ₹150→₹200 | 1 RP per ₹150; 10X above ₹20k a month, 3X below | 1 RP per ₹200; 10X dining/travel/intl, 3X other, 1X utility/rail/insurance/FASTag |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Reduced: Points get 24-month expiry + credit-limit earn cap | Points never expired; no per-cycle earn cap; movie BOGO ungated | 24-month expiry; points only up to credit limit/cycle; movie BOGO needs ₹20k spend |
See all 7 changes on this card → · All card changes in October 2026 →
10Cards Similar to IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card is a dining card. The two below are the closest on SkyloFin; open any of them, or put them side by side.
| Feature | IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card |  HSBC Live Plus Credit Card |  SBI BPCL Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | Lifetime free | ₹999 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee | Lifetime free | ₹999 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Rewards | 0.38% base, up to 1.25% on dining | 1.5% base, up to 10% on dining | 0.25% base, up to 1.25% on dining; 3.25% only at partner merchants |
| Domestic lounge | Not included | 2 visits a year | Not included |
| Forex markup | 0% | 1.99% | 3.5% |
| Type | Dining | Dining | Fuel |
11Explore More
Card facts last verified 11 October 2026.
Card data sourced via CardAdvisor.in, India Credit Card Facts, CC BY 4.0, adapted by SkyloFin.
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Common Questions
Is the IDFC FIRST Classic card really free?
Yes. It is lifetime free with no joining or annual fee.
What rewards does it give?
About 0.38% back on regular spends and about 1.25% on dining, travel and international spends.
Who can apply?
Applicants aged 21 to 60 with a monthly income of around ₹25,000.
Is there a welcome benefit?
Yes. You get a ₹500 gift voucher once you spend ₹5,000 within 30 days of getting the card.
What is the joining fee for the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card?
The joining fee is Free. Check the bank's page before you apply, because fees change and promotional waivers come and go.
What is the annual fee for the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card?
The annual fee is Free.
Does applying through SkyloFin cost more?
No. You pay the same fees you would pay applying directly with IDFC First Bank. We earn a commission from the bank when someone applies through our link, and that is how the site is funded.
SkyloFin is not a bank and does not approve applications. Fees, rewards and eligibility rules are set by the provider and can change without notice. Always read the terms on the provider's site before you apply.
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Guides in Plain Words
Short reads that explain how it works before you decide.
- GuidesBest Credit Cards Under ₹500 a Year in India (2026)Credit cards with an annual fee of ₹500 or less (before GST) in 2026, ranked by the reward rate each bank states, with fee waivers.Read the guide →
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