Find my best card →
faayda.com › cards › IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank · Visa Infinite · हिन्दी

IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card: full review

The IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card is a well-built metal travel card if, and only if, you book hotels and flights through the IDFC FIRST Bank app, where the real redemption value genuinely reaches 8% and 4%. Outside that specific use case, the reward structure is unremarkable, and the bank's own "zero forex" headline doesn't hold up against its own terms document, which states a 1% markup. Worth it for someone who will actually use the travel booking app and the lounge access; a weaker choice as a general-purpose card.

Apply now ↗Annual fee: ₹2,999 + GST
Last updated: October 2026 · Current terms verified
IDFC FIRST BANK
VISA
)))
ASHVA
ASHOK KUMAR
12/28
₹2,999 + GST annual (both joining and renewal)Annual fee
Points are earned per ₹150 spent, not ₹100, and the "X" multipliers printed on the card are point counts, not percentages. Redeemed at the best rate (₹0.40/point via the IDFC FIRST app for travel bookings), the real effective returns are: 8% on hotel bookings via the app (30X), 4% on flight bookings via the app (15X), 2.7% on monthly spend above ₹20,000 or on your birthday (10X), and 1.3% on spend up to ₹20,000 per cycle (5X). Redeemed on the general rewards portal instead (₹0.25/point), these roughly halve. Insurance, utilities, railways and FASTag earn only 1X (about 0.3-0.4%), with 2X on international spends and up to 3X on rent, education, wallet loads and UPI via the app.Reward structure
4 domestic + 2 international airport lounge visits per quarter, plus 4 railway lounge visits per quarter - all gated behind ₹20,000 spend in the preceding monthLounge access
Up to 8% effective return on hotel bookings and 4% on flights, redeemed via the IDFC FIRST Bank app specifically7,500 Reward Points welcome benefit (2,500 on fee payment, plus 2,500 each on ₹20,000 spend in the 2nd and 3rd statement cycles)7,500 Reward Points renewal benefit (worth up to ₹3,000) on ₹8 lakh annual spendTrip cancellation cover up to ₹25,000 across 2 claims on hotel and flight bookingsUp to 2 complimentary golf rounds or lessons a month, once activated by spendBuy-1-get-1 movie tickets up to ₹400, twice a month1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹300 a cycleVisa Infinite privileges: discounted airport meet-and-greet, concierge, hotel and airport-transfer discountsComplimentary roadside assistance worth ₹1,399A linked FIRST Digital RuPay card for UPI and QR payments at 60 million+ merchants
Apply now ↗ Min. income: Not publicly specified · Credit score: Not publicly specified
Pros and cons
Pros
✓ A metal card with genuinely strong travel benefits for a sub-₹3,000 fee tier
✓ Welcome benefit is worth close to the annual fee if you hit the spend milestones
✓ Real, usable travel perks: lounge access, trip cancellation cover, golf, concierge privileges
Cons
✗ The bank's own "Zero Forex Mark-Up" marketing claim is contradicted by its own MITC, which lists a 1% forex markup for this card specifically - a real, verified gap between advertising and the legally binding terms
✗ The headline "up to 40X" and "30X"/"15X" figures are point counts per ₹150, not cash-back percentages - the real return outside app-booked travel is modest, 1.3% or less on general spending
✗ Lounge access, golf, and the 10X milestone rate all require hitting a ₹20,000 monthly spend threshold to activate
✗ The ₹8 lakh annual spend needed for the renewal benefit is a high bar unless this is a primary card
✗ Income and credit score requirements are not published for this specific card
Quick facts
Issuer IDFC FIRST Bank
Network Visa Infinite
Annual feeThe yearly fee a bank charges for holding the card, often waived if you spend enough in a year.Full definition → ₹2,999 + GST annual (both joining and renewal)
Joining feeA one-time fee charged when you first get the card, separate from the recurring annual fee.Full definition → ₹2,999
Lounge accessFree entry to airport lounges, usually limited to a set number of visits per quarter or year.Full definition → 4 domestic + 2 international airport lounge visits per quarter, plus 4 railway lounge visits per quarter - all gated behind ₹20,000 spend in the preceding month
Forex markupThe extra fee your bank adds on top of the real exchange rate for any spend in a foreign currency.Full definition → 1%
Min. incomeThe minimum income, credit score, and other conditions a bank requires before approving your application.Full definition → Not publicly specified
Min. credit scoreYour 3-digit credit score (300-900), higher scores make approval easier and can unlock better cards.Full definition → Not publicly specified
SourceIDFC FIRST Bank's published card terms and official card page · Last updated October 2026
Calculate your annual benefit

Enter your typical monthly spend to see exactly how much you'd earn with this card.

₹
₹
₹
₹
₹
₹
Enter your monthly spend above to see your benefit
Frequently asked questions
The annual fee for IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card is ₹2,999 + GST annual (both joining and renewal). The joining fee is ₹2,999.
Points are earned per ₹150 spent, not ₹100, and the "X" multipliers printed on the card are point counts, not percentages. Redeemed at the best rate (₹0.40/point via the IDFC FIRST app for travel bookings), the real effective returns are: 8% on hotel bookings via the app (30X), 4% on flight bookings via the app (15X), 2.7% on monthly spend above ₹20,000 or on your birthday (10X), and 1.3% on spend up to ₹20,000 per cycle (5X). Redeemed on the general rewards portal instead (₹0.25/point), these roughly halve. Insurance, utilities, railways and FASTag earn only 1X (about 0.3-0.4%), with 2X on international spends and up to 3X on rent, education, wallet loads and UPI via the app.
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card is best for Frequent travellers who book hotels and flights through the IDFC FIRST Bank app specifically, where the real redemption value is highest; weak for everyday spending outside the app. The IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card is a well-built metal travel card if, and only if, you book hotels and flights through the IDFC FIRST Bank app, where the real redemption value genuinely reaches 8% and 4%. Outside that specific use case, the reward structure is unremarkable, and the bank's own "zero forex" headline doesn't hold up against its own terms document, which states a 1% markup. Worth it for someone who will actually use the travel booking app and the lounge access; a weaker choice as a general-purpose card.
The minimum income requirement for IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card is Not publicly specified. A minimum credit score of Not publicly specified is also recommended.
Yes, IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card offers 4 domestic + 2 international airport lounge visits per quarter, plus 4 railway lounge visits per quarter - all gated behind ₹20,000 spend in the preceding month.
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card charges a 1% foreign currency markup on international transactions. This is lower than the standard 3.5% charged by most Indian credit cards.
Related guides
Best Travel Credit Cards →Best Premium Credit Cards →Best Super Premium Credit Cards →Best Credit Cards for International Travel →Best Airline Credit Cards →
Card reviews
Axis Bank Select Credit CardHigher spenders (₹6L+ income) who will spend ₹3L+ a year, want international lounge access through Priority Pass with 12 visits, and want a 2% earn rate on everyday retail spendsAxis Bank Privilege Credit CardModerate-to-high spenders in the ₹6-15L income range who will hit the lounge spend gate every quarter and want a simple, uncapped reward rate without chasing accelerated categoriesRBL Bank IRCTC Credit CardFrequent IRCTC train travellers who will use the railway lounges and want cancellation protection, not a general-purpose rewards cardAU Bank Zenith Credit CardHigher spenders who can comfortably hit the fee-waiver threshold and will use both domestic and international lounge access regularly
Compare with similar cards
IDFC FIRST Ashva vs Axis Bank Horizon Compare →IDFC FIRST Ashva vs Kotak Air+ Compare →
Embed this card
Add this widget to your site
Writing a review or comparison for the IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card? Embed this live widget. It always shows our current, verified fee and reward rate, so it never goes stale.
Live preview
<iframe src="https://faayda.com/embed/idfc-ashva"
  width="420" height="260"
  frameborder="0"></iframe>
No sign-up · Free to use
IDFC FIRST Ashva₹2,999 + GST
Apply now ↗