ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card

About ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card

Are you spending on luxury brands and international trips without getting premium value in return? The ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card changes that narrative by turning your lifestyle choices into significant savings.

This card offers a massive head start with welcome vouchers worth over ₹13,000 right when you join. If you spend around ₹50,000 monthly, the movie benefits and lounge access alone can offset your costs multiple times over. It is a dual-benefit powerhouse that balances high-end retail rewards with travel perks.

Designed for professionals and business owners earning ₹9 lakh or more annually, this card fits those who frequent the cinema, dine out at premium restaurants, and travel within India or abroad a few times a year.

What makes this card stand out:

• → Massive Entry Value: Get vouchers worth ₹13,000+ from brands like Tata CLiQ and Croma, which is double the joining fee value.
• → Entertainment King: Save up to ₹1,000 every month on movie tickets through BookMyShow, a feature that beats almost every mid-range competitor.
• → Travel Ready: Unlike basic cards, you get both domestic and international lounge access, plus a substantial ₹3 crore air accident insurance.

Quick Eligibility Check: To qualify, you should be between 21-65 years old with a monthly income of at least ₹75,000 and a credit score (CRIF) of 720 or higher.

Let's dive into the details of how the ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card can maximize your daily spends:

Key Benefits & Features of the ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card

The ICICI Sapphiro is not just another plastic in your wallet; it is a lifestyle upgrade. From the moment you pay the joining fee, the card starts paying you back through a curated list of premium privileges.

Luxury Welcome Package

Most cards offer points as a welcome gift, but Sapphiro gives you direct purchasing power. You receive welcome vouchers worth over ₹13,000 from a host of popular brands. This includes shopping credits for Tata CLiQ and Croma, travel discounts via EaseMyTrip, and lifestyle perks from Da Milano and EazyDiner. This effectively recovers your joining fee of ₹6,500 twice over, making the first year incredibly profitable.

Reward Points Structure

The card uses the ICICI Rewards program where 1 Reward Point equals ₹0.25. You earn points based on where you spend:

• International Spends: Earn 4 points for every ₹100 spent (1% value back).
• Domestic Spends: Earn 2 points for every ₹100 spent (0.5% value back).
• Utility and Insurance: Earn 1 point for every ₹100 spent (0.25% value back).

You can redeem these points for a variety of options including electronics, fashion, and travel vouchers through the ICICI rewards portal. Note that fuel, EMI transactions, rent, and government payments do not earn points.

Movie and Entertainment Perks

If you are a film enthusiast, this card is a goldmine. Through BookMyShow, you can avail of a "Buy 1 Get 1" offer on movie tickets twice every month. You can get a discount of up to ₹500 on the second ticket. If you use this benefit fully, you save ₹1,000 monthly, which adds up to ₹12,000 in annual savings just on movies.

Travel and Lounge Access

The Sapphiro card is a great companion for the frequent flyer. You get 2 complimentary international airport lounge visits every year. For domestic travel, you get 4 complimentary lounge visits every quarter. However, there is a spend-based criteria: you must spend at least ₹75,000 in the previous calendar quarter to use the domestic lounge benefit in the next quarter. This ensures the benefit stays exclusive to active users.

Dining and Lifestyle

Through the EazyDiner vouchers included in the welcome set, you can access additional discounts at select premium restaurants. Specifically, you can get an extra ₹300 off on a minimum spend of ₹4,000. This is perfect for those weekend family dinners or business lunches.

Fee Structure and Waivers

The joining fee is ₹6,500, which is a one-time cost. From the second year onwards, the annual fee is ₹3,500. You can get this annual fee waived off completely if your total spends in the previous year exceed ₹6,00,000. For someone spending ₹50,000 a month, this card becomes effectively free from the second year.

How to Apply for the ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card

The application process is straightforward and can be completed online. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Visit the official ICICI Bank website and navigate to the Credit Cards section.
2. Locate the Sapphiro Credit Card and click on the "Apply Now" button.
3. Step 2: Ensure you meet the minimum income requirement of ₹9 lakh per annum and have your PAN card ready.
4. Fill in your personal details, including your mobile number, employment type, and monthly salary (minimum ₹75,000).
5. Provide your residential address and office details for the bank to check serviceability.
6. Submit the digital application. A bank representative will contact you for document collection or e-KYC.
7. Once your documents and credit score (CRIF 720+) are verified, the card is dispatched within 7-10 working days.

Credit Limit & What to Expect

Credit limits are assigned based on your income, credit score, and existing banking relationship with ICICI. Since the minimum income requirement is ₹9 LPA, applicants receive a premium starting limit. For those with a CRIF score well above 720 and a clean repayment history, the bank may offer higher limits. You can request a limit increase after 6-12 months of disciplined usage and timely bill payments. Most applicants for this card category are assigned credit limits ranging from ₹1,50,000 to ₹5,00,000 based on their verified income documents.

Comparison Table: ICICI Sapphiro vs. Competitors

To understand where the Sapphiro stands, we compared it with other popular premium cards in the Indian market.

The ICICI Sapphiro wins hands down when it comes to immediate value. While Axis Atlas and HDFC Regalia Gold offer better long-term reward rates for travel, the Sapphiro's welcome package and heavy movie discounts make it more attractive for those who want a card that pays for itself on day one.

Documents Required for ICICI Sapphiro Credit Card Application

You'll need to submit the following documents when applying:

For Salaried Applicants

• Identity Proof: PAN Card (mandatory), Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID.
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Utility Bills (not older than 2 months).
• Income Proof: Latest 3 months' salary slips and 6 months' bank statements showing salary credits.
• Employment Proof: Office ID card or official email verification.

For Self-Employed Applicants

• Identity Proof: PAN Card (mandatory), Aadhaar Card, or Passport.
• Address Proof: Aadhaar Card, Utility Bills, or Property Documents.
• Income Proof: Latest 2 years' ITR (Income Tax Returns) with computation of income and 6 months' bank statements.
• Business Proof: Business registration certificate or GST registration.

Note: All documents must be self-attested. The bank may request additional documents during verification based on your specific profile.

Who Should Get This Card?

Should you get this card? Here is who benefits the most from the ICICI Sapphiro:

The Entertainment Buff: If you are someone who watches movies at the cinema at least twice a month, this card is a no-brainer. If you and a partner go to the movies twice a month and spend ₹500 per ticket, you save ₹12,000 a year. This single benefit more than covers the annual fee of ₹3,500.

The Big Brand Shopper: If you find yourself frequently shopping at Croma for electronics or Tata CLiQ for fashion, the ₹13,000 welcome vouchers are as good as cash. You get immediate value that makes the high joining fee feel like an investment rather than an expense.

The Mid-Level Executive: If you earn around ₹80,000 a month and travel for work or leisure, the lounge access and ₹3 crore air accident insurance provide a safety net and comfort that basic cards lack. If you can push your annual spends to ₹6 lakh, the card becomes free, making it a high-value tool for your lifestyle.

You might want to skip this card if:

• Your monthly income is below ₹75,000, as the bank has strict eligibility criteria.
• You want a high reward rate on every transaction; a 0.5% domestic reward rate is quite low compared to cashback cards like the SBI Cashback card.
• You don't watch movies in theaters, as you would lose one of the card's most valuable features.

BankKaro Expert Review

Based on the card's features, the ICICI Sapphiro excels at providing a "luxury entry" into the world of premium credit cards. The most striking thing about this card is the welcome benefit. It is rare to see a card offer vouchers worth ₹13,000 for a ₹6,500 fee. It is almost like the bank is paying you to try the card.

The biggest limitation, in my opinion, is the domestic lounge access spend criteria. Requiring a spend of ₹75,000 in the previous quarter can be annoying for occasional spenders who just want to walk into a lounge. Furthermore, the base reward rate of 0.5% for domestic spends is mediocre. You shouldn't get this card for the points alone; get it for the perks.

Our verdict: Choose this card if you are a loyal ICICI customer who loves movies and wants a massive upfront value. It is a fantastic secondary card to have in your wallet specifically for the "Buy 1 Get 1" movie offers and the initial brand vouchers. However, if you want a card for high daily savings on groceries or online shopping, you might find the reward structure a bit slow.

Terms and Conditions

Before you apply, keep these specific terms in mind:

• The bank may offer a different card variant based on your eligibility. Please carefully read the features of the card offered before submitting your application.
• A minimum transaction of ₹100 within 30 days is required to activate the card, otherwise, you won't be eligible for the Rewards and welcome benefits.
• Reward points are not earned on fuel, EMI, wallet loads, rent, or government-related transactions.
• The domestic lounge access is subject to a spend of ₹75,000 in the previous calendar quarter.
• The complete terms and conditions are available for review on the official ICICI Bank website.