HDFC Bank Regalia ForexPlus Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

HDFC Bank Regalia ForexPlus Card

Introduction

The HDFC Bank Regalia ForexPlus Card is a premium prepaid forex card designed for international travel, offering convenience and security for global transactions. It allows users to load funds in US Dollars and spend in any currency worldwide without incurring cross-currency mark-up charges. The card comes with valuable benefits such as complimentary lounge access at international airports in India and a comprehensive insurance cover, making it an ideal choice for hassle-free international travel and online shopping on major e-commerce platforms.

Welcome Benefits

• N/A

Fees

• Card Issuance Fee: INR 1000 plus applicable GST per card.
• Reload Fee: INR 75 plus applicable GST per reload transaction.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: N/A
• Foreign Currency Markup: Zero cross-currency mark-up charges.
• ATM Cash Withdrawal Fee: USD 4.00 per transaction.
• Balance Enquiry Fee (ATM): USD 0.50 per transaction.
• Cash Advance Charges: USD 4.
• Currency Conversion Tax (Applicable on load, reload, and refund transactions):
  • Up to Rs 1 lakh: 0.18% of the gross value or Rs 45 (whichever is higher).
  • Rs 1 lakh - Rs 10 lakhs: Rs 180 + 0.09% of the amount exceeding Rs. 1 lakh.
  • Greater than Rs. 10 lakhs: Rs. 990 + 0.018% of the amount exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs.
• Tax Collected at Source (TCS): Applicable under the provision of Financial Act, 2020.

Rewards

• Domestic Lounge Access: 1 complimentary lounge access per quarter until the validity of the card within International airports in India.
• International Lounge Access: N/A
• Insurance: Complimentary comprehensive insurance cover for worry-free travel.
  • Protection against misuse due to counterfeiting / skimming: Up to INR 500,000.
  • Road/Rail Accident Insurance (Death cover only): Coverage up to INR 500,000.
  • Air Accident Insurance (Death cover only): Coverage up to INR 25,00,000.
  • Loss of checked-in baggage cover: Coverage up to INR 20,000.
  • Loss of personal documents (only Passport reconstruction) coverage: Up to INR 50,000.
  • Loss of Cash in Transit coverage: Up to INR 60,000.
• Reloading Benefits: Earn 5X points on loading/reloading HDFC ForexPlus Card using HDFC Bank Credit Cards.
• Travel:
  • Accepted at all VISA/MasterCard affiliated merchants/establishments around the world as well as for online shopping.
  • Emergency cash assistance across the world in case of loss/damage of card.
  • Global assistance in the event of loss of the card / card not working.
• Lifestyle:
  • 24 x 7 Personal Concierge / Referral Services: Customize international travel, entertainment, and business experiences.
    • Hotel Referral and Reservations Assistance.
    • Car Rental and Limousine Referral and Reservation Assistance.
    • Gift / Flower delivery assistance.
    • Medical Service provider referrals and Arrangement towards Hospital Admission.
    • Lost passport & lost luggage assistance services.
    • Business Meeting / Event planning and referrals.
    • Note: Reservation or booking charges for the services will be borne by the customer on actuals.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• N/A (Card does not earn traditional reward points or cashback on spends).

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility Rules:
  • The cardholder should be an Indian resident traveling abroad.
  • Anyone can apply for a ForexPlus Card; it is not mandatory to be an HDFC Bank customer.
  • There are no specific income criteria for applying for this prepaid card.
• Documents Required:
  • For Existing HDFC Bank Customers:
    • Self-attested copy of valid passport.
    • Self-attested copy of PAN (If PAN not updated in the account).
  • For Non-HDFC Bank Customers:
    • Self-attested copy of valid passport.
    • Self-attested copy of PAN.
    • Copy of your international travel ticket OR visa (anyone).
    • Copy of Passbook OR one year Account Statement, used for funding the Forex card.
    • Address Proof (e.g., Aadhar Card, PAN Card, if the address is different from that mentioned in the passport).
    • Cancelled cheque, latest bank statement, or passbook.
  • General:
    • Applicants must carry the applicable KYC documents along with self-attested copies at the time of collecting the card from branches or for home delivery.
    • The card will be activated only after complete verification of the KYC documents.
    • Bank reserves the right to review and amend/modify the list of KYC documents requirement as per KYC regulatory guidelines/internal policies.

Card Review

The HDFC Bank Regalia ForexPlus Card stands out as a top forex card in the Indian market, particularly for international travelers and those making foreign currency transactions online. Its primary advantage is the ability to load in US Dollars and transact in any currency globally with zero cross-currency mark-up fees, eliminating the need to carry physical cash and saving on exchange costs. The complimentary airport lounge access at international airports in India makes it highly attractive for frequent flyers. Furthermore, the comprehensive suite of insurance covers, protecting against misuse, accidents, and loss of travel essentials, adds significant value and peace of mind. While it doesn't offer traditional reward points on spends, its core benefits for travel and international spending are substantial.

Important Product Details

• Single currency forex card, available in US Dollars.
• Zero cross-currency Mark-up charges on transactions where the currency is different from US Dollars.
• Accepted at all VISA/MasterCard affiliated merchants/establishments worldwide and for online shopping.
• 1 complimentary lounge access per quarter at International airports in India.
• Complimentary comprehensive insurance cover against misuse, accidents (road/rail/air), loss of baggage, personal documents, and cash in transit.
• Built-in PayWave technology for contactless payments at retail outlets.
• Secured transactions with Chip & PIN at POS & ATM.
• Online usage allowed on all major e-commerce platforms with OTP or Prepaid Card Netbanking password authentication.
• Multiple reloading options available (Instant Reload, HDFC Bank Prepaid card Netbanking, HDFC Bank NetBanking, HDFC Bank Branches).
• Online reloading is available for existing HDFC Bank customers only; funding from NRO accounts / Debit Cards not allowed for online reload.
• Emergency cash assistance across the world in case of loss/damage of card.
• 24 x 7 Personal Concierge / Referral Services for travel, entertainment, and business assistance.
• Easy Online Card management using Prepaid card Netbanking for tracking transactions, setting PIN, blocking card, changing details, viewing statements, and managing limits.
• No ATM access charges when used at All Point Network ATMs (regular ATM withdrawal charges applicable).
• The card is valid for 5 years from the date of card indenting.

Other Details

• Best Suited For: Travel, International Spends.
• Reward Type: N/A.
• Card Type: Prepaid Forex Card.
• Load Currency: US Dollars (USD).
• Daily Limit for ATM Cash Withdrawal: Up to USD 5,000 (may vary if lower limit set by ATM Acquiring Bank).
• Secured Transactions: All ATM & Point of Sale (POS) transactions are authenticated through PIN. Transactions initiated on payment machines located outside India may get processed without PIN depending on local guidelines; in such cases, the cardholder needs to sign the transaction slip.
• How to Enable Contactless Service:
  • Login to Prepaid Card Netbanking.
  • Go to "Account Summary" tab and Select "Manage My Profile" option.
  • Click on "Manage My Limits" tab and then select your "Card".
  • Enable the service & set daily transaction count / daily limit.
• How to Enable Online Payment (E-commerce) Service:
  • Login to Prepaid Card Netbanking with your User ID.
  • Go to "Account Summary" tab and select "Manage My Profile" option.
  • Click on "Manage My Limits" tab and then select your "Card".
  • Enable the service & set transaction/daily limit.
• Limit of Amount that can be loaded on Forex Cards as per Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS): Maximum USD $250,000 in a financial year (April - March) for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both for resident individuals, including minors.
• International Toll-Free Numbers: HDFC Bank offers easy access to PhoneBanking services through International toll-free numbers across 32 countries (charges as applicable).