Credit Cards for NRIs in India

What you need to know

NRIs can hold Indian rupee credit cards, but banks issue them mainly against an NRE/NRO fixed deposit or to customers with a large banking relationship. ICICI Bank, for example, needs a relationship value of ₹50 lakh for its unsecured NRI cards, while Kotak’s NRI Royale Signature is issued against an NRE/NRO term deposit. The card is billed in rupees and repaid from your NRE or NRO account.

• NRO-linked cards are generally for use in India in rupees; NRE-linked cards can be used in India and abroad.
• Indian cards used abroad carry a forex markup (3.5% on the ICICI NRI cards), so a card from your country of residence is usually cheaper for local spending there.
• A card in India helps maintain an Indian credit history for a future home loan or return.

NRI cards in our catalog

* Base reward value on ₹3 lakh of yearly spends minus annual fee + 18% GST (fee treated as waived when the published waiver threshold is ₹3 lakh or less). Accelerated categories, caps and exclusions change the real value — see each card page.

How card types differ

• Secured (FD-backed) cards: credit limit typically 75–90% of FD; minimum FD from ~₹2,000 (SBM) to ₹10,000–25,000 (Kotak ₹10k, IDFC FIRST ₹20k, SBI ₹25k); FD keeps earning interest; usually no income proof; suited to thin/no credit history.
• SBI Card secured cards carry lower finance charge of 2.75% p.m. (33% p.a.).
• Student cards: minimum age 18; options are add-on cards on a parent’s card (no separate income proof), FD-backed cards (up to ~90% of FD), and state education ’student credit card’ loan schemes (e.g. Bihar, West Bengal).
• NRI cards: issued against NRE/NRO accounts or NRE/NRO fixed deposits; NRO-linked usable domestically in INR, NRE-linked for domestic and international use.
• Business credit card (RBI definition): issued to business entities/individuals for business expenses, not personal use. Corporate credit card: issued to employees of a company, liability on employer, employee or both per product terms.
• Mar 2024 amendment: business cards may be charge cards, corporate cards or linked to business credit facilities (e.g. overdraft); issuers must monitor end-use of funds.

Applying as an NRI

1. Open or hold an NRE/NRO accountThe card is linked to this account, which is also used for repayment.
2. Choose secured or relationship-basedAn FD-backed card is the easiest route. Unsecured cards need a high relationship value (ICICI: ₹50 lakh) and age bands (ICICI: 25–58 salaried, 25–65 self-employed).
3. Submit KYCPassport, visa or residence permit, overseas address proof and PAN (if held), as specified by the bank.
4. Set up repaymentUse auto-debit from the NRE/NRO account so dues are paid on time even when you are abroad.

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