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5 Reward Points on Train Bookings
for every ₹100 spent on train tickets through the IRCTC website or Rail Connect App
Additional 5% Cashback on Train Bookings
on IRCTC train ticket bookings via HDFC Bank SmartBuy (capped at ₹1,000/month & ₹12,000/year)
8 Complimentary IRCTC Lounge Visits
per year (2 per quarter) at select IRCTC Executive Lounges
Joining Fees
₹590 ( ₹500 + GST )
Joining fee is offset through a ₹500 gift voucher on card activation.
Annual Fees
₹590 ( ₹500 + GST )
Spend ₹1,50,000 or more in a year before the renewal date to get the renewal fee waived.
See if you are eligible for this card
Rewards Conversion Rate
1 Reward Point = ₹1
Redemption Options
IRCTC train ticket bookings via HDFC Bank SmartBuy up to 70% of the ticket fare
To check redemption catalogue
All Benefits
You will not earn points / cashback on spends in the following categories
For Points / Cashback Earnings
Fuel Spends
Wallet Loads
Gift Vouchers
Rent Payments
Education Spends
Cash Advances
For Spends Waiver
Fuel Spends
Wallet Loads
Gift Vouchers
Rent Payments
Education Spends
Cash Advances
| Structure | Details |
|---|---|
Forex Markups 3.5% Forex Markups are levied if you use your card to make payment in any currency other than INR. This fee will be levied if you shop on any ecomerce website which accepts payment in currency other than INR or if you make a payment outside of India using a POS. Below mentioned table gives forex markup for most common spends | 3.5% |
APR Fees 3.6% monthly fee. Credit cards allow you for a interest free payment period of 20-55 days. However, if you fail to make payment for your statement in due time then bank starts charging interest. A simple way to avoid heavy interest rates over long time is to convert your large spends in EMIs. Normally bank charges 16% p.a interest on EMIs however if you fail to pay in time then annual interest can reach upto 43.2% | 3.6% |
ATM Withdrawl 2.5% of the withdrawn amount is charged on cash advances using the credit card | 2.5% |
Reward Redemption Fees | N/A |
Link for all T&Cs | Click Here |
Railway Surcharge Railway ticket booking surcharge is waived on bookings made via IRCTC website or IRCTC Rail Connect | N/A |
Rent Payment Fees A surcharge fee of 1% applies on rental transactions made using the credit card | 1% |
Cheque Payment Fees A fee of ₹50 of the payment amount is levied for cheque return, cheque dishonour, or auto-debit reversal | ₹50 |
Cash Payment Fees ₹250 cash payment fee per deposit | ₹100 |
| Late Payment Fees Additional ₹100 is charged if Minimum Amount Due remains unpaid for two consecutive cycles, continuing until cleared | Amount Due |
|---|---|
| ₹0 | ₹0 |
| ₹1–₹500 | ₹400 |
| ₹501–₹5,000 | ₹750 |
| ₹5,001–₹10,000 | ₹950 |
| ₹10,001–₹25,000 | ₹1,100 |
| ₹25,001–₹50,000 | ₹1,300 |
| Above ₹50,001 |
Are you tired of paying the full fare every time you book a train ticket for your commute or family trips? The HDFC IRCTC Credit Card is designed to put money back into the pockets of frequent railway travelers.
This card offers a combined value of up to 10% on your train bookings. You get 5 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent plus an extra 5% cashback when you book through HDFC Bank SmartBuy. If you spend ₹10,000 on tickets every month, you could potentially save over ₹12,000 in a year just on travel. It is a straightforward way to turn your travel expenses into future free trips.
This card is an excellent choice for salaried professionals and business owners who rely on the Indian Railways network and want a rewarding experience without high annual fees. It targets those earning at least ₹25,000 per month who want more than just a basic credit card.
What makes this card stand out:
Quick check: To qualify, you will need a minimum annual income of ₹3 lakh if you are salaried and a CRIF score of 720 or above.
Let us break down why this card deserves a spot in your wallet:
The HDFC IRCTC Credit Card is packed with features that specifically target the needs of a railway traveler. From the moment you activate the card, you start seeing the value. Here is a detailed look at the benefits:
HDFC Bank makes it easy to recover your initial costs. While there is a joining fee of ₹500, it is effectively neutralized. You receive a ₹500 gift voucher upon card activation. To ensure you qualify for rewards right from the start, you must make a minimum transaction of ₹100 within the first 30 days of receiving your card. This simple step activates your reward earning potential.
The core strength of this card lies in how it rewards your travel spend. You earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on train tickets via the IRCTC website or the Rail Connect App. Since each point is worth ₹1, this is a direct 5% value back.
But it gets better. If you book your IRCTC tickets through the HDFC Bank SmartBuy platform, you get an additional 5% cashback. This cashback is capped at ₹1,000 per month, which allows for significant savings of up to ₹12,000 annually. Between the points and the cashback, you are looking at a 10% total value back on your bookings.
Waiting for a train does not have to be tiring. This card provides 8 complimentary visits per year to select IRCTC Executive Lounges. You can use 2 visits per quarter. These lounges offer a quiet environment, comfortable seating, and often include snacks and beverages, providing a premium experience at busy stations like New Delhi, Jaipur, or Ahmedabad.
Booking tickets online usually involves a transaction surcharge. With the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card, you get a 1% transaction surcharge waiver on all bookings made via the IRCTC website, the Rail Connect app, or HDFC SmartBuy. The bank caps this waiver at ₹1,000 per month, which is more than enough for even the most frequent travelers.
Even though this is a railway-focused card, it helps you save at the petrol pump too. You get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000. You can save up to ₹250 in every statement cycle through this feature.
The card comes with an annual fee of ₹500. However, HDFC Bank offers a way to get this fee waived entirely. If you spend ₹1,50,000 or more in a year before your renewal date, the bank will waive the ₹500 fee for the next year. For a regular commuter, hitting this milestone is quite achievable through a mix of travel and daily spends.
Redemption is simple and highly valuable. You can use your Reward Points to book train tickets via HDFC Bank SmartBuy. You can pay up to 70% of the ticket fare using your points. With a 1:1 conversion rate (1 point = ₹1), your points go much further than they would on a standard rewards catalog.
Before you apply, ensure you meet the bank's specific requirements. HDFC Bank is strict about these criteria to ensure they issue cards to responsible borrowers.
Meeting these criteria does not guarantee approval, as the bank also looks at your existing debts and internal policies, but it significantly improves your chances.
The application process for the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card is straightforward and can be completed online or offline.
Processing typically takes 7 to 10 working days, depending on the verification method used and the completeness of your documentation.
Credit limits for the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card are not fixed. They are assigned based on your income, your current CRIF or CIBIL score, and your existing relationship with HDFC Bank. If you already have a high-value savings account or a home loan with them, you might receive a higher starting limit.
Entry-level cards like this see starting limits ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹1,00,000. You can request a limit increase after 6 to 12 months of disciplined usage and timely bill payments. You will receive specific details regarding your assigned credit limit via SMS or email immediately upon card approval.
To help you decide, here is how the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card compares with other popular railway and travel cards in India.
| Feature | HDFC IRCTC Credit Card | SBI IRCTC Platinum | BoB IRCTC Credit Card | AU Bank ixigo Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹500 (Offset by voucher) | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹0 (Usually) |
| Railway Rewards | 5 RP per ₹100 + 5% Cashback | Up to 10% Valueback (AC) | Up to 40 Pts per ₹100 | 10% off on ixigo |
| Lounge Access | 8 IRCTC Lounges/Year | 4 IRCTC Lounges/Year | 4 IRCTC Lounges/Year | 16 Lounges (Mix) |
| Point Value | 1 Point = ₹1 | 1 Point = ₹1 | 1 Point = ₹0.25 | N/A (Direct Discount) |
| Winner For | High Reward Value (1:1) | Occasional AC Travel | Frequent Small Bookings | Aggregator Discounts |
The HDFC IRCTC Credit Card is the clear winner if you want the highest flexibility in redeeming points, as the 1:1 ratio is superior to the BoB variant. While AU ixigo is great for app discounts, the HDFC card offers a more robust lounge benefit and consistent value through the SmartBuy portal.
You will need to submit the following documents when applying:
Note: All documents must be self-attested. The bank may request additional documents during verification.
Should you get this card? Here is who benefits the most from the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card:
The Weekend Commuter: If you are a professional working in a city like Bangalore or Delhi but travel back to your hometown every weekend via train, this card is a must-have. By spending ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 monthly on tickets, you can earn enough Reward Points to fund almost two months of travel every year. The 1:1 reward ratio makes your savings tangible and easy to calculate.
The Budget-Conscious Family Traveler: If you plan two or three long-distance family trips a year, the costs add up. Using this card for those high-value bookings ensures you get 5% cashback plus points. Moreover, the 8 lounge visits mean your family can wait for trains in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment with clean washrooms and food, avoiding the station crowd.
The RuPay Enthusiast: Since this is a RuPay card, it is ideal for those who want to take advantage of the growing RuPay ecosystem in India. It combines traditional credit card benefits with the specific needs of the Indian railway passenger.
You might want to skip this card if:
Based on the card features, the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card excels at providing specialized value. Most co-branded railway cards offer points that are hard to track, but HDFC has kept it simple with a 1 Reward Point = ₹1 rule for railway bookings. This transparency is refreshing in the credit card industry.
The biggest limitation is the exclusion list. You won't earn rewards on fuel, wallet loads, rent, or school fees. This means you cannot use this as your "only" card if you want to maximize rewards on every single life expense. It is strictly a "category winner" for travel and railway spends.
Our verdict: Choose this card if you spend at least ₹5,000 monthly on IRCTC. The combination of lounge access and the SmartBuy cashback makes it significantly more valuable than the basic SBI IRCTC Platinum card. However, keep an eye on your spending to hit the ₹1.5 lakh waiver mark, as that makes the card effectively free for life.
Please take note of these specific conditions for the HDFC IRCTC Credit Card:
TOP USPs
5 Reward Points on Train Bookings
for every ₹100 spent on train tickets through the IRCTC website or Rail Connect App
Additional 5% Cashback on Train Bookings
on IRCTC train ticket bookings via HDFC Bank SmartBuy (capped at ₹1,000/month & ₹12,000/year)
Apply Now