List of Lifetime Free Credit Cards in India, Bank by Bank
A card that charges no joining fee and no annual fee is easy to find. A card that is really free to hold, and that you can actually get, is harder. This list covers ten cards from different banks that show zero joining and annual fees on the bank's own page. For each one we say who can apply, what stands out and what to watch out for.
This is not a ranking, and it is not a recommendation. The cards are in alphabetical order by bank. We read each bank's page on 20 October 2026, and card terms change often, so check the bank's page and its Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) on the day you apply. We have no application links on this page. If you want to know what "lifetime free" does and does not include, read our guide Lifetime free credit cards in India: what "free" really means first.
The list at a glance
| Card | Who can apply | Standout |
|---|---|---|
| AU LIT | Salaried and self-employed Indian residents | You switch features on and off, and pay only for those |
| Axis Fibe | Existing Fibe customers | Cashback on food delivery, entertainment and commute |
| BOBCARD lifetime free range | ICAI and ICSI members, defence personnel | Cards built for particular groups |
| Federal Scapia | Apply through the Scapia app | Zero forex markup |
| HSBC Visa Platinum | Salaried or self-employed, in listed cities | Zero fees, with a higher income bar |
| ICICI Platinum Chip | Monthly income of ₹20,000 | A simple, basic card |
| Amazon Pay ICICI | By invitation only | Rewards on Amazon purchases |
| IDFC FIRST Classic | Annual income of ₹3 lakh or more | Zero forex markup and UPI rewards |
| Kotak UPI RuPay | See the bank's eligibility tab | A virtual card for UPI |
| YES BANK RuPay | Existing YES BANK credit cardholders | A virtual card for UPI |
1. AU Small Finance Bank: LIT
Fees: The bank's page lists LIT as a lifetime free credit card.
Who can apply: Self-employed people aged 25 to 65, and salaried people aged 21 to 60, who are Indian residents. Add-on cardholders must be over 18.
Highlights: LIT is a "customisable" card. You choose the features you want, such as extra reward points, a fuel surcharge waiver or entertainment memberships, and switch them on or off.
Watch out: The features are not free. The page says they start at ₹49 per quarter, and a feature fee applies for the feature's duration (the page gives 90 days as an example). The card is free to own, but the features you add are not.
2. Axis Bank: Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card
Fees: The page calls it a lifetime free card, with zero joining and annual fees.
Who can apply: The primary cardholder must be aged 18 to 70, and be a resident of India or an NRI. The page says the card is sourced only to existing Fibe customers.
Highlights: Up to 3% cashback on food delivery, entertainment and local commute, 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per calendar year, a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel spends between ₹400 and ₹5,000, and the option to use the card on UPI.
Watch out: If you are not a Fibe customer you cannot get this card. Check the cashback conditions in the fine print.
3. BOBCARD: the lifetime free range
Fees: BOBCARD's page is titled as a lifetime free credit card page with zero joining and annual fees.
Who can apply: The cards on this page are made for particular groups. The page lists cards for ICAI members (ICAI Exclusive), ICSI members (ICSI Diamond) and defence personnel, including the Indian Army YODDHA card and the VIKRAM card.
Highlights: The ICAI and ICSI cards list airport lounge access and reward points. The defence cards list rewards on everyday shopping and other benefits.
Watch out: If you do not belong to one of these groups, these cards are not for you. Each card has its own page, so check its fees and benefits there.
4. Federal Bank: Federal Scapia
Fees: The page lists zero joining and annual fees.
Who can apply: The card is a co-branded card with Scapia Technology. You apply through the Scapia app, with a fully digital process.
Highlights: Zero forex markup on all international transactions, and rewards in Scapia Coins (5 Scapia Coins equal ₹1) that you can redeem on flights, hotels and buses on the Scapia app.
Watch out: The page does not use the words "lifetime free", so ask the bank how long the zero fees last. Rewards are tied to the Scapia app.
5. HSBC India: Visa Platinum
Fees: The joining fee and annual fee are shown as INR 0.
Who can apply: Salaried people aged 18 to 65 with income of at least ₹6,00,000 a year, or self-employed people aged 25 to 65 with income of at least ₹12,00,000 a year. You must be an Indian resident living in one of the cities the page lists, such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.
Highlights: A welcome gift of 2,000 reward points when you log in to the HSBC India app and spend at least ₹5,000 in the first 30 days.
Watch out: The income bar is high compared with most cards on this list, and it is open only in listed cities. The page does not use the words "lifetime free", so read the terms for how long the zero fees last.
6. ICICI Bank: Platinum Chip
Fees: Joining fee nil and annual fee nil.
Who can apply: An Indian citizen over 21 with a monthly income of ₹20,000, salaried or self-employed.
Highlights: A simple rewards card with a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel at HPCL pumps for transactions between ₹400 and ₹4,000.
Watch out: The forex markup is 3.5%. Interest is 3.75% a month if you pay only the minimum due, and the late payment fee ranges from ₹100 to ₹1,300.
7. ICICI Bank: Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card
Fees: Joining fee nil and annual fee nil.
Who can apply: An Indian citizen over 21 with a monthly income of at least ₹30,000. The page says it is an invite-only programme.
Highlights: Unlimited reward points of up to 5% on Amazon purchases, 1% on spends outside Amazon, and a low forex markup of 1.99%.
Watch out: You cannot simply apply for it. Interest is 3.75% a month if you pay only the minimum due, and the late payment fee ranges from ₹100 to ₹1,300.
8. IDFC FIRST Bank: FIRST Classic
Fees: Joining and annual fees are nil. The bank calls it a lifetime free card.
Who can apply: Annual income of ₹3 lakh or more.
Highlights: Up to 10X reward points on international spends, zero forex markup, up to 3X rewards on UPI spends, and easy EMI conversion.
Watch out: The interest rate (APR) is 8.5% to 46.2% a year, so ask which rate would apply to you. Cash withdrawals cost ₹199 + GST per transaction.
9. Kotak Mahindra Bank: Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card
Fees: The page says lifetime free, with no joining or annual fees.
Who can apply: The page has an Eligibility Criteria tab. Check it for the current rules.
Highlights: A virtual card. You link it to a UPI app and pay by UPI, and you earn 3 reward points per ₹100.
Watch out: Rewards are not earned on rent, fuel, railway, wallet loading, EMI, education or balance transfer spends. Utility spends above ₹35,000 in a statement cycle and some other categories also earn no points.
10. YES BANK: RuPay Credit Card
Fees: The bank calls it a lifetime free card, with zero first-year and zero renewal membership fees.
Who can apply: Existing YES BANK Visa and MasterCard credit cardholders, except NRI, FD-backed, corporate, commercial, co-branded and purchase cards. If you already hold a YES BANK RuPay card you are not eligible.
Highlights: A virtual-only card for UPI payments, with accelerated reward points on UPI transactions.
Watch out: The page lists interest of 3.99% a month (47.88% a year) on revolving credit, cash advances and overdue amounts. No physical card is issued.
Cards that look free but are not
- SBI Card Unnati: The page shows the annual fee as nil for the first 4 years, then a renewal fee of ₹499 plus taxes from the 5th year. It is issued against a lien on an SBI fixed deposit of ₹25,000 or more. This is free for a while, not for life.
- Kotak Cashback+: The bank's listing shows a joining fee of ₹0 but an annual fee of ₹750.
How to choose
- Can you actually get it? Several cards on this list are only for existing customers, particular groups or by invitation.
- Read the fees on the bank's page, then the MITC for the rest.
- Check what is not free: interest, late fees, forex markup and cash withdrawals.
- Match the card to how you spend: UPI, online shopping, travel or fuel.
- Plan to pay the full bill each month. A free card with interest on unpaid bills can cost more than a card with a fee.
What we left out and what we could not confirm
- Cards we left out. We left out cards whose bank pages contradict themselves or do not clearly show zero fees. One example is a Kotak card whose banner says lifetime free while its listing mentions an annual fee waiver on spending. We did not look at every bank, so this is not a full list.
- Offers change. We read each page on 20 October 2026. Some zero-fee terms may be tied to an offer period, so check the bank's terms.
- Interest, forex and late fees. We give them only where the bank's page shows them. For the rest, see the card's MITC.
- Eligibility for the Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card. We did not read its Eligibility tab.
- How long the zero fees last on the Federal Scapia and HSBC Visa Platinum cards. Neither page uses the words "lifetime free".
Protect yourself from scams
- Apply only through the bank's own website, app or branch.
- Do not pay anyone to "approve" a card, and never share your OTP, card number or CVV.
- A card you did not ask for should not arrive. If one does, tell the bank in writing and do not activate it.
Where to read next
- Lifetime free credit cards in India: what "free" really means
- Find a bank branch, IFSC and MICR code
- Loan EMI calculator
This is general information, not financial advice, and not a recommendation of any card. Fees, rates and eligibility change and differ for each person. Read the bank's own terms before you apply.
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