HDFC Regalia First Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹1,000 + GST (₹1,180 all in) |
| Annual Fee | ₹1,000 + GST, waived on spends of ₹1 lakh in the year |
| Best Suited For | Existing holders who want a low-fee rewards card and redeem on SmartBuy |
| Reward Type | Reward Points, worth ₹0.30 on flights and hotels and ₹0.10 as cashback |
HDFC’s Regalia First page says new applications are currently unavailable and that existing cardholders keep their features and benefits.
So this review is for people who already hold the card, and the question is whether a ₹1,180 card earning 3 Reward Points per ₹200 is still worth keeping after HDFC’s 15 May 2026 accrual change.
The honest answer is yes if you spend ₹1 lakh a year and redeem on SmartBuy, where a point is worth ₹0.30. Redeem for cashback at ₹0.10 and the return falls to 0.15%.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate and earn structure
| Spend category | Earn rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Retail spends | 3 Reward Points per ₹200 | 25,000 Reward Points per calendar month |
| Electricity, telecom and tax payments | 5% cashback, first year only | ₹500 maximum |
| Utility bills on SmartPay | Cashback up to ₹1,800 in the first year, plus e-vouchers worth ₹800 for adding 2 or more bills | First year only |
Points post only in whole multiples of ₹200, so a ₹390 purchase earns on ₹200 and the other ₹190 earns nothing. Until 15 May 2026 the accrual base was ₹150, so the cut is worth about a quarter of your earn rate. Points expire two years after they are earned.
Redemption and point value
| Redeem for | Value of 1 point | Return on spend |
|---|---|---|
| Flights and hotels on SmartBuy | ₹0.30 | 0.45% |
| Products and vouchers | Up to ₹0.25 | 0.375% |
| Airmiles | 0.3 airmile | Depends on partner |
| Cashback | ₹0.10 | 0.15% |
Three points per ₹200 is 1.5 points per ₹100. At ₹0.30 that returns 45 paise on every ₹100, so ₹1,00,000 of spending gives ₹450 of travel value.
As cashback the same spend gives ₹150. SmartBuy lets you cover up to 70 percent of a booking with points and you pay the balance by card. That return is modest, which is why the milestones and the low fee do most of the work on this card.
Milestone benefits
HDFC’s page describes the anniversary-year milestone bonus in two different ways. The benefits summary says 7,500 bonus points on ₹6 lakh and a further 5,000 on ₹9 lakh.
The redemption section says 5,000 points on ₹3 lakh and 2,500 more on ₹6 lakh. The bank does not reconcile the two, so check the figure in your own card communication before you plan spending around it. Either way, at ₹0.30 a point even the larger bonus is worth about ₹2,250 to ₹3,750 of travel.
Travel, dining and everyday benefits
| Benefit | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Dining | Up to 20% savings via Swiggy Dineout at 20,000+ restaurants |
| Interest free credit period | Up to 50 days |
| Renewal fee waiver | Annual spends above ₹1 lakh |
| Airport lounge access | Not listed on the product page |
The same page quotes two different insurance packages, a ₹1 crore air accident cover and a ₹50 lakh one, so check your card’s own policy document before relying on either.
Fees & Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining and annual fee | ₹1,000 + GST |
| Annual fee waiver | Spends of ₹1 lakh a year |
| Foreign currency markup | 3.5% |
| Interest on revolving credit | 3.75% a month, 45% a year |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% or ₹500, whichever is higher |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on fuel of ₹400 to ₹5,000, capped at ₹500 per cycle |
| Late payment | ₹100 to ₹1,300 + GST by outstanding balance, nil up to ₹100 |
| Over limit | 2.5% of the excess, minimum ₹550, with consent |
| Replacement card | ₹199 |
The waiver needs about ₹8,400 a month. Any card used for rent, school fees or a phone bill gets there without effort, so most active holders pay nothing.
The charge that catches people out is the foreign markup. At 3.5% it is the highest in HDFC’s mainstream range, and since 15 May 2026 a separate 1.75% applies to rupee purchases at overseas merchants or Indian merchants registered abroad. Keep this card out of your travel wallet.
Eligibility & Documents Required
There is no eligibility test left to pass, because HDFC is not accepting new applications for the Regalia First. Existing holders keep the card as long as they use it.
If you ask for an upgrade or variant change, expect the standard set of documents: PAN, Aadhaar or another address proof, and recent salary slips or your latest income tax return. HDFC does not publish a minimum income for this card on its product page.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ₹1,000 fee waived at ₹1 lakh a year | Closed to new applicants |
| Up to 20% off dining via Swiggy Dineout | Only 0.15% back as cashback |
| Milestone bonus points every anniversary year | 3.5% forex markup, no lounge access listed |
| Fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹500 a cycle | Earn rate cut by a quarter on 15 May 2026 |
Regalia First vs Competitors
The step up is the HDFC Regalia Credit Card, which costs ₹2,500 plus GST and earns 4 points per ₹200 with a ₹0.50 SmartBuy value, though it is also closed to new applicants.
For a card you can still apply for, a flat rate option such as the Cashback SBI Card returns more on everyday online spends than 0.45% and needs no redemption planning.
How to Apply
You cannot apply for this card right now. If you hold it, use it at least once in six months so the inactivity rule does not trigger, and keep track of your anniversary-year spend so you clear ₹1 lakh for the waiver.
If you want a card HDFC currently sells, log in to NetBanking, open the Cards tab and look for the upgrade option, or use the MyCards portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HDFC Regalia First Credit Card still available?
No. HDFC’s product page says new applications are currently unavailable. Existing cardholders keep their features and benefits.
Is the Regalia First annual fee waived?
Yes, on spends of ₹1 lakh or more in the year. Below that you pay ₹1,000 plus GST, which is ₹1,180 all in.
How many points does the Regalia First earn?
3 Reward Points per ₹200 since 15 May 2026, with a ceiling of 25,000 points in a calendar month.
What is a Regalia First Reward Point worth?
₹0.30 on flights and hotels via SmartBuy, up to ₹0.25 on products and vouchers and ₹0.10 as cashback.
Does the Regalia First have lounge access?
No lounge allowance is listed on HDFC’s page for this card. The business version dropped its lounge visits on 1 October 2023.
What is the forex markup on the Regalia First?
3.5% on foreign currency spends, per HDFC’s terms document.
Bottom Line
Keep the Regalia First if you already hold it, clear ₹1 lakh a year without effort and redeem on SmartBuy. The fee is waived, the milestone points are free money, and the card costs you nothing to hold.
Skip it, or upgrade, if you want lounge access, travel abroad, or take your rewards as cashback.
At ₹0.10 a point the return is 0.15%, and the 3.5% forex markup is not worth carrying overseas. If you need a card you can still apply for, look at HDFC’s live range instead.
