HDFC Regalia Activ Credit Card Review: Is It Worth ₹2,500?

HDFC Regalia Activ Credit Card Review

Joining Fee Annual Fee Best Suited For Reward Type
₹2,500 + GST (nil for the first 3 years per HDFC’s FAQ) ₹2,500 + GST, waived on ₹3 lakh spends in an anniversary year Existing holders who travel a few times a year Reward Points

The HDFC Bank Regalia Activ Credit Card is a mid-premium travel and rewards card from HDFC’s Regalia family.

It earns 4 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent, gives up to 12 domestic and 6 international lounge visits a year, and pays bonus points when yearly spends reach ₹5 lakh and ₹8 lakh.

There is one big catch for new buyers: HDFC has stopped sourcing this card, so only existing customers keep it.

If you hold it, this review shows what it gives you and how to get the fee waived. If you are choosing a new card, use it as a benchmark for what a ₹2,500 card should offer.

Rewards & Benefits

Reward rate and earn structure

You earn 4 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on eligible retail spends. That is 2 points per ₹100. HDFC marks this with a terms-apply note, which means some spend types are normally excluded or capped under the bank’s Most Important Terms and Conditions.

HDFC also revised rules on many cards effective 15 May 2026, and the card page links to that notice, so check it for your account.

Milestone benefits

Spends in an anniversary year Bonus Reward Points
₹5 lakh 10,000
₹8 lakh Additional 5,000

An anniversary year is 365 days from the day your card was opened, not the calendar year. If you hit both milestones, you collect 15,000 bonus points in total.

To reach ₹8 lakh you need to spend about ₹66,700 a month, so that bonus suits heavy users only. For most holders the ₹5 lakh target, around ₹41,700 a month, is the realistic one.

Redemption and point value

HDFC’s page for this card does not give a rupee value per point. The value changes with the redemption route, so check the current rate in your NetBanking before you chase the milestone points.

Travel and lounge access

Lounge benefit Allowance
Within India (domestic and international terminals) 12 complimentary visits
Outside India through Priority Pass 6 visits per calendar year, shared between you and your add-on members
Priority Pass visits beyond the quota US $27 + GST per visit

To get Priority Pass you must first complete a minimum of 4 retail transactions on the card. Then you apply for it for yourself and your add-on members on HDFC’s page.

Visits above the complimentary quota, and lounges outside the programme, are allowed at the lounge’s discretion and charged by the lounge.

Insurance and fuel

Cover Amount
Air accident death cover Up to ₹1 crore (USD 125,000)
Emergency overseas hospitalisation Up to ₹15 lakh (USD 18,750)
Lost card liability cover Up to ₹9 lakh

Zero liability applies to fraudulent transactions if you report a lost card to the 24-hour call centre straight away. The card also offers a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India, on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000.

Fees & Charges

Charge Amount
Joining and renewal fee ₹2,500 + GST
First 3 years No joining or renewal fee, per HDFC’s FAQ
Annual fee waiver Spends of ₹3 lakh or more in an anniversary year
Fuel surcharge waiver 1% on transactions of ₹400 to ₹5,000
Priority Pass extra visits US $27 + GST per visit
Interest, forex markup, cash advance Not stated for this card on the product page

The waiver is easy to plan for. ₹3 lakh a year is ₹25,000 a month, so putting groceries, online shopping, bills and travel bookings on this card gets you there.

Track spends against your anniversary date, not the April to March year, because that is the window HDFC counts.

The thing that catches people out is HDFC’s fees page for this card. It currently shows a Business Regalia page with the same ₹2,500 fee and a 3.5% forex markup.

That is a different card, so do not assume the 3.5% applies to yours without checking your own statement or the bank’s terms document.

Eligibility & Documents Required

HDFC’s FAQ states a minimum net income of ₹25,000 a month. Credit limits are normally set around 2.5 times your net monthly take-home pay, but the underwriting team decides the final figure.

Because the card is closed to new applicants, these rules matter only for context. For any HDFC card you will need a PAN, address proof and income proof such as salary slips or an ITR.

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
12 domestic and 6 international lounge visits Closed to new applicants
Up to 15,000 bonus points on ₹8 lakh yearly spends 4 points per ₹200 is a modest base rate
Fee waived on ₹3 lakh spends; free for the first 3 years No rupee value per point on the page

Regalia Activ vs Competitors

Within HDFC, the nearest comparison is the higher Regalia cards, which add more perks at higher fees.

Outside HDFC, mid-premium cards from SBI Card and Axis Bank also bundle lounge access with milestone benefits, and are worth comparing on current fees.

Regalia Activ’s strength is the 12 plus 6 lounge allowance together with the insurance covers, a combination many cards at this fee level do not offer.

How to Apply

You cannot apply for this card because HDFC has stopped sourcing it. Existing holders can manage limits, controls and Priority Pass through NetBanking, the MobileBanking app and MyCards.

To get a similar card, look at the Regalia range on HDFC Bank’s credit card page and compare current fees before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the annual fee of the HDFC Regalia Activ?

The joining and renewal fee is ₹2,500 + GST. HDFC’s FAQ says the card is free for the first 3 years, and the fee is waived afterwards on spends of ₹3 lakh or more in an anniversary year.

How many lounge visits does Regalia Activ give?

It gives 12 complimentary visits within India and 6 outside India. The overseas visits run through Priority Pass and are counted per calendar year.

What is the reward rate on Regalia Activ?

It earns 4 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on eligible retail spends. Bonus points of 10,000 come at ₹5 lakh spends and 5,000 more at ₹8 lakh in an anniversary year.

Can I get Regalia Activ now?

No. HDFC has stopped sourcing this card. Existing customers continue to enjoy its benefits.

What is the minimum salary for Regalia Activ?

HDFC states a minimum net income of ₹25,000 a month. Approval and limit still depend on the bank’s underwriting.

Does Regalia Activ have a fuel surcharge waiver?

Yes, 1% at all fuel stations in India on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000.

Bottom Line

Regalia Activ is a solid keep for existing holders who spend ₹3 lakh or more a year, since that clears the fee and unlocks 12 plus 6 lounge visits and decent insurance.

Push to ₹5 lakh if you can, for the 10,000 point bonus. Skip chasing it if you are a new buyer, because you cannot get it.

Also skip keeping it if you spend under ₹25,000 a month and rarely fly, as the fee would not earn its keep after year three.

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