Beginner Credit Cards with International Spend Offers in India 2026

Guaranteed approval card against fixed deposit – no income proof required || no credit score required
– Minimum fixed deposit amount : ₹2000 for IDFC First Bank customers, ₹5000 for all others
– Minimum 100% credit limit against your fixed deposit.

Lifetime free card – zero annual fee : No annual fee is charged on your card.

0.66% benefit on all spends
– You earn 2.66 reward points worth 66 paise , on every ₹100 you spend on your card
– 1 reward point = ₹0.25 (25 paise), and can be redeemed on IDFC First’s rewards redemption platform for vouchers, products and more.
Exceptions :
– No reward points are given on on fuel purchases, EMI transactions & cash withdrawals
– 0.16% benefit on insurance spends & utility bill payments : You earn 0.66 points worth 16 paise , on every ₹100 you spend on insurance spends & utility bill payments.

Zero forex transaction fee on international card spends

Fuel surcharge waiver, upto ₹200 per month
– You get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India
– Only on fuel transactions between ₹200 and ₹5000, and
– Only on fuel purchases upto ₹20,000 per month (since the waiver amount is capped at ₹200 per monthly card statement cycle)

Complimentary ‘Emergency Roadside Assistance (RSA)’ package worth ₹1399
– You get 24X7 assistance for flat tires & tire change, battery jump-start or alternate battery, fuel delivery, lost key replacement, minor repairs, vehicle towing (if required) – provided through Global Assure.
– You can avail this benefit up to 4 times a year.

Complimentary insurance covers
– ₹25,000 insurance cover for lost card liability, counterfeit/skimming/phishing and online fraud protection, for online purchases on your card.
– ₹2 lakh ‘personal accident cover’, in the unfortunate event of an accidental death or permanent disability due to a sudden, unforeseen and involuntary event caused by external, visible and violent means.

Benefits
– This card is ideal for individuals who may not have regular income AND/OR for those who do not have a good credit history – like students, first jobbers, homemakers, gig economy workers, senior citizens, travellers, and self-employed individuals. Hence it is a good starter card for beginners who are starting or rebuilding their credit journey.
– Credit card is lifetime free
– Zero forex conversion fee

Drawbacks to consider
– Low reward rate of 0.66%

2% benefit on international card spends
– You earn 2 reward point worth ₹2, on every ₹100 you spend on card purchases outside India.
– 1 reward point = ₹1. You can redeem your rewards points on Kotak Rewards (rewards redemption platform), for a variety of shopping e-vouchers, mobile recharges, travel, movies and more.

1% benefit on all other card spends
– You earn 1 reward point worth ₹1, on every ₹100 you spend on all other card purchases.
– 1 reward point = ₹1. You can redeem your rewards points on Kotak Rewards (rewards redemption platform), for a variety of shopping e-vouchers, mobile recharges, travel, movies and more.

Complimentary airport lounge access in India – 2 per quarter

Fuel surcharge waiver, upto ₹3500 per year 
– You get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel pumps across India
– Only on fuel transactions between ₹500 and ₹3000, and
– Only on yearly fuel purchases of upto ₹3.50 lakhs (since the maximum waiver amount is limited to ₹3500 per year).

Railway surcharge waiver, upto ₹500 per year : You get surcharge waiver for railway ticket bookings–
– 1.80% surcharge waiver for transactions made on the IRCTC website
– 2.50% surcharge waiver for transactions made at Indian railway booking counters
– Maximum waiver of ₹500 per year

Benefits
– Card for NRIs, especially useful when they visit India
– No income proof and credit history in India required since the card is issued against a personal fixed deposit

Drawbacks to consider
– Low rewards and benefits