Having the best credit card for international travel from India is essential if you travel abroad frequently. By choosing the appropriate international use credit card, you can reap rewards on foreign transactions as well as enjoy complimentary lounge access, reduced booking rates, exclusive privileges, and other benefits. These cards are typically premium or best travel credit cards from India that come with some of the following benefits -
- A low markup fee on transactions carried out in foreign currency.
- Less overhead charges
- Exclusive privileges and lounge access
- Cash withdrawal facility for emergencies
- Easy conversion to EMIs
Table of Contents: Best International Credit Cards in India
- Top Best Selling Credit Cards for International Use in 2024
- Details About Best International Credit Cards
- Tips to Maximize the Benefits of International Credit Cards
- Benefits of Using an International Credit Card
- How to get International Credit Card in India?
- Super Premium Credit Cards for International Travel from India
- Other Best International Credit Cards in India for 2024
- FAQs on International Travel Credit Cards
Top Best Selling Credit Cards for International Use in 2024
For the best credit card for international travel from India, two things matter a lot - Forex Markup fee and Airport Lounge Access. Normally the forex markup fee also known as the foreign transaction markup fee is higher than 3% of the amount spent. But, we have curated the below list of best international credit cards that not only offer a lower forex markup fee but also offer other benefits like airport lounge access, rewards on spends, Cash withdrawal, conversion to EMI etc.
| Card Name | Joining & Annual Fee(in ₹) | Forex Markup Fee | Airport Lounge Benefits |
| Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card | 12500 + GST | 2% | Unlimited complimentary domestic and international lounge access |
| American Express® Platinum Travel Credit Card | 3500 + GST | 3.5% | 8 complimentary international & domestic lounge access annually. |
| IndusInd Legend Credit Card | 9999 + GST | 1.8% | 4 complimentary international & domestic lounge access annually. |
| Yes Bank Reserv Credit Card (First Exclusive) | 1999 + GST | 1.75% | 6 complimentary international & 12 complimentary domestic lounge access annually. |
| HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card | 2500 + GST | 2% | 8 complimentary domestic lounge access annually. (2 per quarter) |
| HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card | 10000 + GST | 2% | Unlimited lounge access at 1,000 plus airport lounges in India and Abroad. |
| IDFC First Select Credit Card | Nil | 1.99% | 4 complimentary domestic lounge access every quarter. |
| IDFC First Wealth Credit Card | Nil | 1.5% | 4 complimentary domestic & international airport lounge access and spa visits every quarter |
| SBI Elite Credit Card | 4999 + GST | 1.99% | 8 complimentary domestic lounge & 6 international lounge access in a year. |
| HDFC Infinia Card Metal Edition | 12500 + GST | 2% | Unlimited airport lounge access across the globe for Primary and Add-on member |
Details About Best International Credit Cards
Let’s understand in detail what all benefits come with some of the best selling international credit cards in India for travel and shopping rewards.
Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 12,500+ GST waived off on spend of Rs. 25 Lakh in an year. |
| Welcome Benefits | Luxe gift card or The Postcard Hotels gift voucher or Yatra gift voucher worth Rs. 12,500. |
| Forex Markup Fee | 2% |
| Rewards Rate | 12 Axis EDGE REWARDS Points for every Rs. 200 spent with the card, 5X EDGE REWARDS on travel spends via Travel eDGE. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes + 8 additional guest visits per year with the Priority Pass card |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
American Express® Platinum Travel Credit Card
| Joining Fee: | Rs. 3,500 plus applicable taxes (Rs. 5,000 plus taxes from second year) |
| Welcomes Benefit: | American Express® Platinum Travel Credit Card offers 10,000 membership rewards points as a welcome gift that can be redeemed for Rs 3,000 either through pay with points option in the Amex Travel Online catalogue or for a voucher from Flipkart. |
| Best Suited For | Travel & Shopping |
| Forex Markup Fee | 3.5% |
| Fuel Transaction Perks: | Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver at HPCL pumps on transactions up to Rs. 5,000, beyond which a 1% surcharge applies. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
IndusInd Legend Credit Card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 9999 + GST |
| Welcome Benefits | A Luxe gift card, a complimentary stay at Oberoi Chain of Hotels, and gift vouchers from popular brands like Charles Keith, Yatra, Louis Philippe, etc. |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.8% |
| Rewards Rate | 1 Reward Point per Rs. 100 spend on weekdays and 2 Reward Points for every Rs. 100 you spend on weekends. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
Yes Bank Reserv Credit Card (First Exclusive Credit Card)
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 1999 + GST |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.75% |
| Rewards Rate | 24 Reward Point on every Rs 200 for Online Shopping (except on Select categories), 12 Reward Point on every Rs 200 for Offline Shopping (except on Select categories), 6 Reward Points on every Rs. 200 spent on all other transactions. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 2500 + GST |
| Forex Markup Fee | 2% |
| Rewards Rate | 4 reward points every time one spends Rs. 150. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 10,000+ GST |
| Welcome Benefits | Get complimentary annual membership of Forbes, Club Marriott, Times Prime, MMT Black, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One (3 Months) on spending Rs. 1,50,000 or more in the first 90 days of card issuance |
| Forex Markup Fee | 2% |
| Rewards Rate | 5 Reward Points on every spend of Rs. 150. 10x Reward Points on SmartBuy and 2x Reward Points on weekend dining |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
IDFC First Select Credit card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | Nil |
| Welcome Benefits | Welcome gifts worth Rs. 500 in the form of vouchers based on spends within 90 days of card issuance and a 5% cashback on EMI transactions within 30 days of card issuance. |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.99% |
| Rewards Rate | 3X Reward Points on offline spent, 6X Reward Points on online spend, and 10X Reward Points on spends above Rs. 25,000 per month. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
IDFC First Wealth Credit card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | Nil |
| Welcome Benefits | Gift Vouchers worth Rs. 500 from premium brands on spending over Rs. 5000 within 30 days and a 5% cashback on the first EMI transaction made within the first 30 days. |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.50% |
| Rewards Rate | 3X Reward Points on every offline spent, 6X Reward Points on every online spent, 10X Reward Points per on spends above Rs. 30,000. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
SBI Elite Credit Card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 4,999+ GST |
| Welcome Benefits | E-vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 from any one of the brands, including Yatra, Aditya Birla Fashion, Hush Puppies/Bata, Pantaloons, and Shoppers Stop |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.99% |
| Rewards Rate | 2 Reward Points on every Rs. 100 you spend on retail purchases, 5X Reward Points on dining spends, departmental stores, and grocery purchases (reward rate of 2.5%) |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition Credit Card
| Joining Fees(in ₹) | 12,500 + GST |
| Welcome Benefits | Welcome bonus of 12,500 Reward Points and complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year offering 20% discounts on dining and stay in the Asia-Pacific region. |
| Forex Markup Fee | 2% |
| Rewards Rate | 5 Reward Points on every retail spend of Rs. 150, reward rate of up to 3.3% |
| Airport Lounge Access | Yes |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Yes |
Tips to Maximize the Benefits of International Credit Cards
Foreign currency transaction credit cards also known as International credit cards offer lower forex mark-up fee and higher reward rates on international transactions, which can help you save money while making transactions in foreign currencies. However, it's essential to take certain steps to maximize the benefits of these cards while traveling abroad or making foreign transactions.
- Inform Your Bank: To avoid your credit card being blocked for unusual activity, it is advisable to inform your bank or card issuer about your foreign trip. This way, they won't freeze your card if you make a large transaction from a foreign location.
- Carry Multiple Credit Cards: It's always best to carry at least two credit cards issued on different payment networks on a foreign trip. This is because some merchants may not accept credit cards issued on certain payment networks, and it's easy to exhaust your credit limit when traveling as hotels may hold a certain amount on your card to cover incidentals.
Benefits of Using an International Credit Card
- Lower Forex Mark-up Fee: Many foreign currency transaction credit cards charge a lower than usual mark-up fee on foreign currency transactions, typically ranging from 1.5% to 2%, as compared to the standard rate of 3.5%. This can lead to significant savings on foreign transactions. For instance IDFC First Wealth credit card charges a nominal 1.5% as forex markup fee, making it a great option for frequent travelers.
- Higher Reward Rate on International Transactions: Some credit cards offer a higher reward rate on international transactions despite charging the standard mark-up fee of 3.5%.
- Additional Travel Perks: Top international travel credit cards from India, particularly premium travel cards, offer additional travel benefits and perks that can make traveling more comfortable and convenient. These perks may include complimentary access to international and domestic lounges, complimentary holiday vouchers, complimentary night stays at hotels, and many more.
How to get an International Credit Card in India?
There is no specific or different eligibility criteria to get a credit card for international travel in India. To get the best cards for international use you only need to meet below eligibility -
- You should belong to the age group 18 years to 65 years at the time of applying for the card.
- You can apply for the card either as a salaried individual or a self-employed individual.
- A credit score is one crucial criterion that has to be taken care of. A score of 750 and above will be required to get approval for the credit card.
- You can apply for the card if you are a resident Indian.
Apart from this some credit cards are invite only, for example Axis Bank Reserve credit card and HDFC Infinia credit card.
Super Premium Credit Cards for International Travel from India
By super premium we mean those cards whose annual fee is fairly costlier than other cards and of course the benefits that come with it are even more lucrative than the rest.
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
| Annual Fee (in ₹) | 50,000 + Taxes |
| Forex Markup Fee | 1.5% |
| Benefits |
|
HSBC Premier Mastercard
If you are an existing HSBC customer with good relations with your bank then you can be eligible for this amazing HSBC Premier Mastercard credit card.
| Annual Fee (in ₹) | Nil for people who fall into the eligibility criteria as below -
|
| Forex Markup Fee | 0.99% |
| Benefits |
|
Other Best International Credit Cards in India 2024
Apart from the above list, there are some other cards which are also preferred as they offer good value on International travel and expenses
| Card Name | Joining & Annual Fee(in ₹) | Forex Markup Fee |
| ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card | 12000 + GST | 1.5% |
| Bank of Baroda Eterna Credit Card | 2500 + GST | 2% |
| Kotak Privy League Signature Credit Card | 2500 + GST | 2% |
FAQs on International Travel Credit Cards
Which Indian Credit card is best for international travel?
There are a number of cards which are fit for international travels. These cards not only charge a low markup fee on foreign transactions but also offer a number of other benefits like airport lounge access, accelerated reward points and many more. Some of these cards are - Axis Bank Magnus card, HDFC Regalia, American Express Platinum Travel Card, SBI Elite, and IDFC First Wealth card.
Can HDFC cards be used internationally?
Yes, all HDFC cards can be used internationally. But when it comes to charging a low forex markup fee, HDFC Regalia comes at the top with only 2% of the transacted amount as fee.
Can Indian credit cards be used abroad?
Yes, Indian credit cards can be used abroad provided you notify your bank prior to your travel so that no transaction gets declined.
Which are the best cards for international transactions in India?
Below are some of the best cards for international travel in India - Indusind Legend credit card, Yes Bank First Exclusive card, Axis bank Magnus credit card, SBI Elite credit card, IDFC First Select card and many more.
