ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹12,000 + GST (₹14,160 all-in) |
| Annual Fee | ₹12,000 + GST, waived for the next year on ₹10 lakh of spends |
| Best Suited For | Frequent flyers who spend ₹10 lakh a year and want unlimited lounge access and a lower forex markup |
| Reward Type | ICICI Bank Reward Points, redeemed from the ICICI Bank Rewards catalogue |
The ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card is the top card in ICICI Bank’s open range, sitting above Sapphiro and below the invite-led Emeralde Private Metal.
Its case rests on access rather than earning: unlimited airport lounge visits in India and abroad for the primary cardholder, up to 4 golf rounds a month, a 2% forex markup and no fee on cash withdrawals.
The earn rate of 4 points per ₹100 is plain, and there is no welcome benefit at all. This review breaks down what the ₹14,160 fee buys and who should pay it.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate and earn structure
| Spend | Reward Points per ₹100 |
|---|---|
| Domestic spends | 4 |
| International spends | 4 |
| Utilities and insurance | 1 |
| Cash, rent, wallet reloads, fuel | 0 |
ICICI Bank does not list a monthly cap on Emeralde earning, on either the product page or the MITC (Most Important Terms and Conditions, the bank’s binding fee and rules document).
The bonus categories that some rival premium cards offer simply do not exist here, so a rupee at a supermarket earns the same as a rupee on a flight.
Redemption and point value
Points are redeemed through ICICI Bank Rewards on iMobile or net banking, for vouchers, travel, electronics, fashion and home products. ICICI Bank does not publish a fixed rupee value per point for this card, so what 4 points per ₹100 is worth depends on the catalogue item you pick.
Each catalogue redemption carries a handling fee of ₹99 + GST, and statement-credit redemptions under Mine Cash also cost ₹99 + GST. Redeem in large batches to keep that fee small in percentage terms.
Birthday and lifestyle benefits
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday voucher | ₹5,000 TATA CLiQ voucher on the American Express variant, or ₹5,000 PostCard Hotels voucher on the Mastercard variant |
| BookMyShow | Buy one ticket, get up to ₹750 off the second, 4 times a month, if you spent ₹25,000 in the preceding spends quarter |
| Golf | 1 round or lesson for every ₹50,000 of retail spends in the previous month, up to 4 a month |
| Travel cancellation | No cancellation charges on domestic flight and hotel bookings, up to ₹12,000, twice a year |
Travel and lounge access
| Benefit | Allowance |
|---|---|
| International lounges | Unlimited, primary cardholder, through a complimentary Priority Pass membership |
| Domestic lounges | Unlimited, primary cardholder, by swiping the card |
| Air accident cover | ₹3 crore, for international travel booked on the card, if the card was used in the 60 days before the incident |
| Concierge | 24×7, toll free on 1800 267 0731 |
Unlike most cards in this price band, ICICI Bank’s Emeralde page sets no quarterly spend condition for lounge visits.
ICICI Bank lists lounge access for the primary cardholder only, and supplemental cardholders are not eligible for the air accident cover.
Fees & Charges
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Joining fee | ₹12,000 + GST |
| Annual fee | ₹12,000 + GST, waived for the next year on ₹10 lakh of spends |
| Plus (add-on) card | Nil |
| Foreign currency markup | 2% |
| Dynamic currency conversion | 2% |
| Interest (finance charge) | 3.75% a month, 45% a year |
| Cash advance fee | Nil (interest applies from the day of withdrawal) |
| Over-limit fee | Nil |
| Late payment | ₹100 to ₹1,300, depending on the amount outstanding |
| Rent | 1% of the transaction |
| Fuel, utilities, transport | 1% on a fuel transaction above ₹10,000; 1% on utility or transport transactions above ₹50,000 |
| Wallet, education, gaming | 1% on wallet loads of ₹5,000 or more; 1% on education paid through third-party apps; 2% on skill-gaming |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on fuel transactions up to ₹4,000 |
| GST | 18% on fees, interest and charges |
The ₹10 lakh waiver needs about ₹83,400 a month. Rent, government and education payments do not count, and neither do fees, EMIs or reversals. Miss the target and you pay ₹14,160 again with nothing given back, because Emeralde has no renewal benefit.
The surprise on this card is a pleasant one: there is no cash advance fee and no over-limit fee. Interest at 3.75% a month still runs on cash from the day you withdraw it, so it is a convenience, not free money.
Eligibility & Documents Required
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 to 65 years |
| Salaried | Monthly income of ₹1,50,000 |
| Self-employed | Annual income of ₹18,00,000 |
| Residency | Indian citizen |
You need proof of identity, address and income. ICICI Bank says no physical documents are required when you apply online.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited domestic and international lounges with no spend condition | No welcome or renewal benefit |
| 2% forex markup and 2% DCC fee | Flat 4 points per ₹100, with no bonus categories |
| No cash advance or over-limit fee | Point value not published; ₹99 + GST per redemption |
| Up to 4 golf rounds a month | Lounge benefit is for the primary cardholder only |
ICICI Emeralde vs Competitors
| Card | Annual fee | Fee waived at | Forex markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Emeralde | ₹12,000 + GST | ₹10 lakh | 2% |
| HDFC Diners Club Black | ₹10,000 + GST | ₹5 lakh | 2% |
| AURUM SBI Card | ₹9,999 + GST | ₹12 lakh | 1.99% |
Diners Club Black matches the 2% markup, costs less, waives its fee at half the spend and, per our review, extends unlimited lounges to add-on members too.
AURUM, per our review, has a slightly lower markup but caps domestic lounges at 16 a year. Emeralde’s edge is unlimited lounges in both directions with no spend rule, plus the zero cash advance fee.
How to Apply
Apply online from ICICI Bank’s Emeralde Credit Card page. Choose the Mastercard or American Express variant, since the birthday voucher differs between them, then enter your income details and complete digital KYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ICICI Emeralde annual fee waived?
Yes, if you spend ₹10 lakh in a year, the ₹12,000 + GST annual fee for the next year is waived. Rent, government and education payments do not count towards it.
How many lounge visits does ICICI Emeralde give?
Unlimited, both in India and abroad, for the primary cardholder. International visits use the complimentary Priority Pass membership.
What is the minimum salary for ICICI Emeralde?
₹1,50,000 a month for salaried applicants, or ₹18 lakh a year for the self-employed. You must be 21 to 65.
What is the forex markup on ICICI Emeralde?
2% on foreign currency transactions, plus GST. Rupee payments to foreign merchants carry the same 2% DCC fee.
Does ICICI Emeralde charge a fee on cash withdrawals?
No. The cash advance fee is nil on Emeralde, but interest of 3.75% a month applies from the date of withdrawal.
Bottom Line
Get the ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card if you fly often, use airport lounges several times a quarter, spend abroad, and can reach ₹10 lakh a year so the fee disappears.
Unlimited lounges without a spend condition and a 2% markup are the reasons to hold it. Skip it if you want strong rewards, since 4 points per ₹100 with no bonus categories is ordinary for this price.
Skip it too if you will not reach ₹10 lakh, because there is no welcome or renewal benefit to offset ₹14,160, and HDFC Diners Club Black waives its fee at ₹5 lakh.
