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Federal BankIn terms of market capitalization and assets, HDFC Bank is the biggest private bank in India with over 1.5 Crore credit card users across the country. The bank has various types of cards ranging from super-premium, travel, lifestyle, shopping, fuel, etc. and people can opt for the card that suits them the most. Many premium and mid-range offerings by HDFC Bank have a lower forex markup fee and are ideal for people who make foreign transactions regularly.
People who frequently travel to foreign countries for business or vacation have to pay extra charges whenever they swipe their card for a foreign currency transaction. Most of the credit cards by top issuers in our country charge a forex markup fee of around 3-3.5% of the transaction amount.
HDFC Bank has multiple cards that have a lower forex markup fee of 2 to 3% which is lower than the standard 3.5% fee charged by most cards. With some super-premium cards, you even get bonus reward points on international spends and exclusive travel privileges that will make your foreign travels more comfortable and exciting than ever.
Read further to check out the forex markup charges of top HDFC Bank credit cards and related information.
Table of Contents
- HDFC Bank INFINIA Credit Card Metal Edition
- HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card
- HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card
- HDFC Bank Regalia First Credit Card
- HDFC Bank Diners Club Privilege Credit Card
- InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card
- 6E Rewards XL – IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card
- HDFC Bank Diners Club Rewardz Credit Card
Forex Markup Charges of Major HDFC Bank Credit Cards
The following are the forex markup fees of some of the top credit cards offered by HDFC Bank –
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 12,500 + applicable taxes
Renewal Fee
Rs. 12,500 + applicable taxes
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
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.
Card Details +
The most premium offering by HDFC Bank, the Infinia credit card was launched in the metallic variant recently, and is an invite-only card with a high joining fee of Rs. 12,500. The card is designed for wealthy, high net-worth individuals who have a lavish lifestyle. You get many elite-level privileges with the card that include complimentary golf rounds, airport lounge access, movie and dining benefits, milestone benefits, and more. Also, the card has a 2% forex markup fee and you can use it for your foreign currency spends.
- 12500 bonus reward points and a complimentary Club Marriott membership as welcome benefit
- 5 RPs per Rs. 150 spent with the card
- Unlimited airport lounge access for both primary and add-on cardholders
- Complimentary golf rounds at top courses worldwide
- Exclusive dining benefits with the Good Food Trail program
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver and spend-based renewal fee waiver
- Low forex markup fee of 2%
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 10,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
Rs. 10,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
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
Card Details +
Another super premium card by HDFC Bank, the Diners Club Black credit card comes at a Rs. 10,000 joining fee and is again best for high net-worth individuals. Again, the card has value-added privileges like lounge access, golf rounds, etc. and is great for people who spend a lot on Amazon Prime, Ola, BookMyShow, and other popular merchants. The reward rate on the card is great and it also has a low forex markup fee of 2%.
- Complimentary subscription to Amazon Prime, Times Prime, Zomato Gold, etc. as welcome benefit
- Complimentary Ola, BookMyShow, cure.fit, and Tata Cliq vouchers on monthly spends of Rs. 80,000 or more
- 5 RPs per Rs. 150 spent, 10x RPs on partner brands, and 2x RPs on weekend dining spends
- Complimentary domestic and international lounge access
- 6 complimentary golf rounds per quarter at top golf courses
- Low forex markup fee of 2%
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 2,500 + taxes
Renewal Fee
Rs. 2,500 + taxes
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
2,500 bonus Reward points
Card Details +
The HDFC Bank Regalia card is packed with benefits and rewards for the cardholder and is among the top travel and lifestyle cards in our country. Available at a joining fee of Rs. 2500, the card offers 2500 reward points as a welcome benefit and has a lot of benefits across all major categories. You can earn 4 reward points per Rs. 150 spent with the card and its low 2% forex markup fee makes it a nice choice for people who regularly make international transactions.
- 2500 RPs as a welcome benefit
- 4 RPs per Rs. 150 spent with the card
- Get bonus 15000 RPs on reaching annual spends of Rs. 8 Lakhs and above
- Up to 20% discount through Swiggy Dineout at partner restaurants
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 6 international and 12 domestic airport lounge visits
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver and spend-based renewal fee waiver
- Low forex markup fee of 2%
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 1,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
Rs. 1,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
1,000 Reward Points on payment of the annual fee.
Card Details +
Another offering in the Regalia range of credit cards by HDFC Bank, the Regalia First card has a Rs. 10,000 joining fee and offers reward points on almost all purchases including retail and utility bills. With its Priority Pass membership, you can have a comfortable travel experience and avail exciting dining benefits with the Good Food Trail dining program. You can earn around 8500 bonus reward points as milestone benefit and make use of the low 2% forex markup charges of this card.
- 1000 reward points as welcome benefit
- 4 RPs per Rs. 150 spent with the card
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership and access to airport lounges across the globe
- Air accident and credit liability cover
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver and spend-based renewal fee waiver
- Low forex markup charges of 2% of the transaction amount
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 2,500 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
Rs. 2,500 (plus applicable taxes)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Get complimentary annual membership of Swiggy One and Times Prime on spending Rs. 75,000 or above within 90 days of card issuance
Card Details +
The HDFC Bank Diners Club Privilege is a premium credit card by HDFC Bank and charges an annual fee of Rs. 2500 from the cardholders. You get membership to various services as a welcome benefit along with 4 RPs per Rs. 150 spent and 2x RPs on weekend dining spends with this card. Additionally, you can enjoy various travel privileges with this card and get access to top airport lounges globally. The card is nice for international spends as it has a 2% forex markup fee.
- Complimentary membership to Swiggy One, Times Prime Smart, Amazon Prime, MMT Black Tier, and Big Basket Star as welcome benefit
- 4 RPs per Rs. 150 spent and 2x RPs on weekend dining
- 8 complimentary golf rounds at top golf courses
- 12 complimentary airport lounge visits in India and abroad
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver and spend-based renewal fee waiver
- Forex markup charge of 2%
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 5,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
Rs. 5,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
Get InterMiles Gold membership for the first year and up to 25,000 bonus InterMiles.
Card Details +
Co-branded by Intermiles and HDFC Bank, this is the second credit card in this range and charges a joining fee of Rs. 5000. With this card, you get up to 20,000 Intermiles, flight/hotel booking discounts, and complimentary Intermiles Gold membership. The card has a decent reward rate and you can accelerated Intermiles on flight/hotel bookings via intermiles.com. Additionally, you get exclusive travel perks with the card and its 2% forex markup fee means you can make international spends without paying a premium.
- Up to 25000 Intermiles and complimentary Intermiles Gold membership as welcome benefit
- 10,000 bonus Intermiles annually on spending Rs. 20,000 or more inside a month of card renewal
- 8 Intermiles per Rs. 150 spent and 2x Intermiles on flight/hotel bookings via intermiles.com
- Unlimited airport lounge access and exclusive offers on Etihad Airways flight tickets
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver and spend-based renewal fee waiver
- Low forex markup fee of 2%
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 1,500 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
Rs. 1,500 (plus applicable taxes)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
One complimentary flight ticket worth Rs. 3000 and 6E Prime Add-On.
Card Details +
HDFC Bank has two co-branded cards with Indigo Airlines, and the 6E Rewards XL credit card is the premium variant that comes with a joining fee of Rs. 1500. You earn 6E reward points with this card that can be redeemed for Indigo flight tickets and other benefits. This card is ideal for frequent domestic travellers as you get complimentary domestic lounge access and discounted hotel stay vouchers. The card has a forex markup fee of 2.5% which is lower than most standard credit cards.
- Complimentary 6E Prime Add-On as welcome benefit
- Rs. 3000 worth complimentary Indigo flight ticket on meeting the spend requirements
- Get 6E Reward Points up to 20% on Indigo partners, 5% on Indigo, 3% on dining and grocery, and 2% on other spends
- 8 complimentary domestic lounge access, max 2 per quarter
- Forex markup fee of 2.5%
Fees
Joining Fee
Rs. 1,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Renewal Fee
Rs. 1,000 (plus applicable taxes)
Best Suited For
Travel
Reward Type
Reward Points
Welcome Benefits
1,000 Reward Points
Card Details +
The HDFC Bank Diners Club Rewardz card has a joining fee of Rs. 1000 and you get 1000 reward points as a welcome benefit with the card. You are rewarded for almost every spend with the card and it offers up to 3 RPs per Rs. 150 spent with the card, and 10x RPs on partner brand spends. You are rewarded with 1000 reward points every year on card renewal and can even get the renewal fee waived off on achieving the target spend amount. The card charges a forex markup fee of 3%.
- 1000 bonus reward points as a welcome benefit
- 1000 bonus reward points every year on card renewal
- 3 RPs per Rs. 150, 10x RPs on partner brand spends, and 5% cashback on SmartBuy spends
- 24*7 concierge service for the cardholder
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver and spend-based renewal fee waiver
- Forex markup fee of 3%
When is the Forex Markup Fee Charged
When you swipe your credit card for international spends, MasterCard, Visa, or other card networks charge extra for foreign currency markup and your credit card issuer adds extra to the total charges which amounts to around 3-3.5% in forex markup charges. If the fee is 3% and you spend Rs. 1 Lakh on a transaction, you will need to pay Rs. 3000 extra.
Moreover, the forex markup fee is charged everytime you make a foreign transaction and can add up to a lot over time. Other than this, a currency conversion fee is also charged by the payment processor where you swipe your credit card. Thus, foreign spends can get quite expensive for you if you do not own a credit card with low forex markup fees.
Eligibility and Documents Required
You must meet certain eligibility requirements to apply for the HDFC Bank credit cards –
- Applicant must be 21 to 60 years of age in case of salaried, and 21 to 65 years of age in case of self-employed people.
- Applicant must be an Indian citizen.
- Applicant must have a decent credit score
- Applicant must have a stable source of income.
You must provide the following documents whenever you apply for credit card –
ID Proof – Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Driver’s License, Passport, etc.
Address Proof – Aadhar Card, Rent Agreement, Ration Card, Passport, Latest Utility Bills, etc.
Income Proof – Salaried individuals need to provide the latest 2 months’ salary slips and the bank statements. Self-employed individuals need to provide their audited ITR of the previous year.
How to Apply for HDFC Bank Credit Cards
Follow these steps to apply for HDFC Bank credit cards –
- Visit the official website of HDFC Bank.
- Hover your cursor on the Pay button and then click on ‘Credit Cards’ from the dropdown list.
- You will see a list of HDFC Bank credit cards and you can narrow down the search according to your annual income and interests.
- Click on Know More next to the card you want to apply for and go through its details and features.
- Click on Apply Now, provide the necessary details, submit the required documents, and your application will be successful.
Credit Cards Comparison
In the following table, we will compare the top HDFC Bank credit cards that have a low forex markup fee than other cards –
| Category | HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card | HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card | HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card | 6E Rewards XL – Indigo HDFC Bank Credit Card |
| Joining/Annual Fee | Rs. 12,500 | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 2500 | Rs. 1500 |
| Welcome Benefit | 12500 bonus reward points and a complimentary Club Marriott membership as welcome benefit | Complimentary subscription to Amazon Prime, Times Prime, Zomato Gold, etc. as welcome benefit | 2500 reward points as a welcome benefit | Complimentary 6E Prime Add-On Accor Hotels stay and dining vouchers |
| Reward Earning | 5 RPs per Rs. 150 spent with the card | 5 RPs per Rs. 150 spent, 10x RPs on partner brands, and 2x RPs on weekend dining spends | 4 RPs per Rs. 150 spent with the card | Get 6E Reward Points up to 20% on Indigo partners, 5% on Indigo, 3% on dining and grocery, and 2% on other spends |
| Reward Redemption | RPs can be redeemed for flight and hotel bookings via SmartBuy (1 RP = Re. 1), Airmiles through net banking (1 RP = 1 Airmile), products and vouchers via net banking or SmartBuy (1 RP = Rs. 0.50), Apple and Tanishq vouchers (1 RP = Re. 1) cashback (1 RP = Rs. 0.30) | HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Reward Points are redeemable for flight/hotel bookings (1 RP = Re. 1) on SmartBuy, for AirMiles (1 RP = 1 AirMile), on Diners Club exclusive rewards redemption catalog (1 RP = Re. 0.5) and for cashbacks (1RP = Rs. 0.30). | 1 RP = Rs. 0.5 for redemption against flights and hotel bookings on HDFC Smartbuy website, 1 RP = up to Rs. 0.35 if you want to redeem against vouchers and poducts, 1 RP = Rs 0.20 for cash back, and Air miles conversion at a value of 1RP = 0.5 air mile. | The IndiGo 6E rewards are redeemable for 6E Rewards’ Benefits including IndiGo flight tickets (1 6E Reward Point = Re. 1) |
| Dining/Movie Benefits | Exclusive dining benefits with the Good Food Trail program 1+1 complimentary buffet at ITC hotels | 2x reward points on your weekend dining spends | Up to 20% discount at partner restaurants through Swiggy Dineout | 3% 6E reward points on dining spends Exclusive dining benefits with the Good Food Trail Dining program |
| Travel Benefits | Complimentary Priority Pass membership Unlimited airport lounge access for both primary and add-on cardholders | Complimentary domestic and international lounge access | Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 6 international and 12 domestic airport lounge visits | 8 complimentary domestic lounge access, max 2 per quarter |
| Forex Markup Fee | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2.5% |
Bottom Line
Card issuers charge a forex markup fee whenever you swipe your credit card for international transactions in foreign currency. For people who regularly visit abroad or make online international spends, they can end paying up a lot of money in forex markup charges over a period of time. HDFC Bank is one of the top card issuers in India and you should opt for a card that offers a low forex markup fee if you make international transactions frequently.
As discussed above, there are super-premium cards like HDFC Bank Infinia and HDFC Bank Diners Club Black that charge a low 2% forex markup fee. There are other travel cards like Intermiles HDFC Bank Diners Club, Diners Club Privilege, Regalia, Regalia First, and more with a 2% fee, while the 6E Rewards XL Indigo HDFC credit card has a 2.5% fee. Most other HDFC Bank credit cards have the standard 3.5% forex markup charge.
We recommend everyone who make frequent foreign currency spends to get one of the cards with a low forex markup fee so that they can save money in the long run.
FAQs:
When you swipe your credit card for international spends, MasterCard, Visa, or other card networks charge extra for foreign currency markup and your credit card issuer adds extra to the total charges which amounts to around 3-3.5% in forex markup charges.
Yes, you have to pay the extra forex markup charges every time you make an international spend with your credit card. If you are someone who regularly makes foreign currency spends, you should get a credit card with a low forex markup fee in order to save money.
There are several HDFC Bank credit cards that charge a 2% forex markup fee which is lower than the standard 3.5% fee charged by most other credit cards. The HDFC Bank Infinia, HDFC Bank Diners Club Black, HDFC Bank Regalia, HDFC Bank Regalia First, HDFC Bank Diners Club Privilege, Intermiles HDFC Bank Diners Club, etc. charge a 2% forex markup fee on international spends.
The 6E Rewards XL Indigo HDFC Bank credit card has a forex markup fee of 2.5%. It is not the lowest fee but it is still better than the 3.5% fee charged by most credit cards. Moreover, you get many more travel benefits and rewards with this co-branded travel credit card which charges a joining fee of Rs. 1500
Follow these steps to apply for HDFC Bank credit cards –
- Visit the official website of HDFC Bank.
- Hover your cursor on the Pay button and then click on ‘Credit Cards’ from the dropdown list.
- You will see a list of HDFC Bank credit cards and you can narrow down the search according to your annual income and interests.
- Click on Know More next to the card you want to apply for and go through its details and features.
- Click on Apply Now, provide the necessary details, submit the required documents, and your application will be successful.
Find the perfect credit card in India by comparing the most rewarding options in one place!