IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card Review
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | Nil |
| Annual Fee | Nil, lifetime free |
| Best Suited For | Earners with ₹3 lakh a year or more who want a free card for dining, online travel bookings and spends abroad |
| Reward Type | IDFC FIRST Reward Points, 1 point = ₹0.25 |
The IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card is a lifetime free card for anyone earning ₹3 lakh a year or more.
You never pay a joining or annual fee, there is no markup on foreign currency spends, and dining, travel, international purchases and your birthday all earn 10X reward points.
It also lets you withdraw cash from an ATM without interest for up to 45 days, which almost no other card allows.
The weak points are a low point value of ₹0.25, a ₹99 fee every time you redeem, and no airport lounge access.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate and earn structure
IDFC FIRST Bank counts rewards in multiples, where 1X means 1 point for every ₹200 spent.
| Spend | Points per ₹200 | Value back |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and food delivery, travel, international purchases, and all spends on your birthday | 10 (10X) | 1.25% |
| All other eligible spends | 3 (3X) | 0.375% |
| Utility bills, insurance premiums, railway spends, FASTag recharges | 1 (1X) | 0.125% |
| Fuel, EMI transactions, cash withdrawals | 0 | Nil |
No monthly cap is published on the 10X rate. The only limit is that points are earned on spends up to your credit limit in each billing cycle.
Travel here means airline, hotel and travel agency merchant codes, so a flight booked directly with an airline qualifies. Points stay valid for 24 months. Once you activate UPI on the card, UPI spends earn up to 3X.
Redemption and point value
Points are worth ₹0.25 each, whether you use them at the payment page of online stores, at partner outlets, for gift vouchers or for flights and hotels in the app.
Every redemption costs ₹99 + GST (₹116.82 all-in), which equals about 467 points. Redeem in large batches.
On ₹2 lakh of yearly spends, with ₹50,000 on dining and travel and the rest on everyday shopping, you earn 2,500 + 2,250 = 4,750 points, worth ₹1,187.
Booking flights and hotels through the FIRST Rewards Gallery section of the IDFC FIRST Bank app adds a bonus of 10% on flights and 20% on hotels over your normal points, capped at 8,000 bonus points a calendar month.
Welcome benefits
| Benefit | Condition |
|---|---|
| ₹500 gift voucher from a choice of brands | Spend ₹5,000 within 30 days of card generation; UPI, add-on, wallet load, EMI and cash withdrawals do not count |
| 5% cashback up to ₹1,000 | On your first EMI conversion within 30 days of card generation |
Travel, lifestyle and protection
| Benefit | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Railway lounges | 4 visits a quarter, unlocked for next month by spending ₹20,000 in the current calendar month |
| Airport lounges | Not offered |
| Movie tickets | 25% off up to ₹100 once a month, if you made one transaction the previous month |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | 1% on fuel spends of ₹200 to ₹5,000, up to ₹200 a statement cycle |
| Roadside assistance | Worth ₹1,399, up to 4 times a year |
| Personal accident cover | ₹2,00,000 |
| Lost card liability | ₹25,000 |
Both insurance covers apply only if you used the card at least once in the previous 30 days. IDFC FIRST Bank also lists up to 20% off at 1,500+ restaurants and up to 15% off at 3,000+ health and wellness outlets.
Fees & Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining and annual fee | Nil |
| Add-on card | ₹499 + GST joining and ₹499 + GST a year |
| Activating UPI on the card | ₹199 + GST joining and ₹199 + GST a year from year two |
| Interest rate | 0.71% to 3.85% a month (8.5% to 46.2% a year), set by the bank for each customer |
| Overdue interest if minimum due is missed | 3.99% a month (47.88% a year) |
| Cash withdrawal | ₹199 + GST per withdrawal, no interest for up to 45 days |
| Late payment fee | 15% of total amount due, minimum ₹100, maximum ₹1,300 |
| Over-limit fee | 2.5% of the over-limit amount, minimum ₹550 |
| Forex markup | Nil |
| Reward redemption fee | ₹99 + GST per redemption |
| Card replacement | ₹199 |
GST at 18% applies to every fee and to interest. There is no fee to waive, so there is no spend target to chase.
The one figure to read closely is the interest rate. IDFC FIRST Bank advertises “starting at 8.5%”, but the rate you get is set at approval and can go up to 46.2% a year, and your card mailer states it.
The charge that surprises people is the redemption fee. If you redeem 1,000 points (₹250), the ₹116.82 fee takes almost half of it.
Eligibility & Documents Required
IDFC FIRST Bank asks for an annual income of ₹3 lakh or more. It publishes no other cut-off on the card page, so the bank decides your approval, credit limit and interest rate from your credit history, income and existing loans.
Keep your PAN, Aadhaar and recent income proof ready, as the online application and video KYC ask for identity, address and income details before the card is issued.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lifetime free, with no spend condition | A point is worth only ₹0.25 |
| Zero forex markup and 10X points on international spends | ₹99 + GST on every redemption |
| Interest-free ATM cash for up to 45 days | No airport lounge access |
| Railway lounges, roadside assistance and accident cover | Railway lounges need ₹20,000 of spends a month |
FIRST Classic vs Competitors
| Feature | IDFC FIRST Classic | IDFC FIRST Millennia |
|---|---|---|
| Joining and annual fee | Nil | Nil |
| Minimum income | ₹3 lakh a year | ₹3 lakh a year |
| Top reward rate | 10X, 1.25% back | 10X, 1.25% back |
| Forex markup | Nil | Nil |
| Airport lounges | None | None |
Classic and Millennia are close to identical on IDFC FIRST Bank’s current pages, with the same fees, earn rates and railway lounge rules.
Treat them as one product and take whichever the bank offers you. If you want airport lounges or a higher earn rate, look at a paid card instead.
How to Apply
Open the FIRST Classic page on IDFC FIRST Bank’s site and click Apply Now. Enter your mobile number, PAN and income details, then complete video KYC.
Once the card is generated, download the IDFC FIRST Bank app to set your PIN and turn on online and international use. Spend ₹5,000 within 30 days to get the ₹500 voucher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IDFC FIRST Classic card really lifetime free?
Yes. The MITC lists both the joining fee and the annual fee as nil, with no spend condition. Add-on cards and UPI activation carry their own small fees.
Does IDFC FIRST Classic give airport lounge access?
No. It offers only railway lounges, 4 visits a quarter, and only after you spend ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month.
What is the minimum salary for IDFC FIRST Classic?
An annual income of ₹3 lakh, which works out to ₹25,000 a month.
Does IDFC FIRST Classic charge a forex markup?
No. The markup is nil, and international spends also earn 10X points. Pay in the local currency abroad, since a merchant’s rupee conversion adds its own charge.
Is ATM cash withdrawal on IDFC FIRST Classic interest free?
Yes, for up to 45 days. You still pay ₹199 + GST on each withdrawal, and cash withdrawals earn no reward points.
Bottom Line
Get the IDFC FIRST Classic if you want a free card that you never have to think about, especially for dining out, booking travel and spending abroad, where zero forex markup and 1.25% back beat most free cards.
It also makes a good backup card for emergency cash. Skip it if you want airport lounges or real rewards on everyday spends, because 0.375% on regular shopping is low.
And if you already hold IDFC FIRST Millennia, there is no reason to add Classic as well.
