HSBC Live+ Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The HSBC Live+ Credit Card, issued by HSBC, is positioned as a mid-range cashback credit card designed for individuals who frequently spend on daily essentials and entertainment. Its primary differentiating benefits include an accelerated 10% cashback on dining, food delivery, and grocery spends (capped monthly), an unlimited 1.5% cashback on most other transactions, and valuable lifestyle perks such as complimentary domestic airport lounge access and a free Times Prime subscription. The card aims to provide substantial savings and convenience through its straightforward cashback system.

Welcome Benefits

• Get INR 1,000 cashback when you download and log on to the HSBC India Mobile Banking app and spend INR 20,000 within the first 30 days of getting your card.
• Receive a voucher worth up to INR 500 for Amazon Pay, Zomato, and Swiggy when you activate your card with a single transaction of INR 300 or more.
• Plus, get an INR 250 Amazon eGift Voucher when you apply online, verify yourself by video, and receive your card. This offer is valid on online applications and successful completion of Video KYC (VKYC) and card issuance during the offer period of January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026. The eGift Voucher (WinPin code) will be sent to your email ID within 45 days of the offer end (i.e., May 15, 2026).

Fees

• Joining Fee: INR 999 + GST
• Annual Fee: INR 999 + GST
• Spend-Based Waiver: The annual fee is waived if you spend more than INR 200,000 per year.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: Nil
• Foreign Currency Markup: 3.5%
• Interest Rates: 3.75% Per Month
• Fuel Surcharge: 1% fuel surcharge is applicable.
• Cash Advance Charges: 2.5% of the withdrawn amount, subject to a minimum amount of INR 500.

Rewards

• Cashback on Dining, Food Delivery & Groceries:
  • Earn 10% accelerated cashback on all dining, food delivery, and grocery spends.
  • This 10% cashback is collectively capped at INR 1,000 per month (or per billing cycle).
• Cashback on Other Spends:
  • Earn 1.5% unlimited cashback on most other eligible spends.
• Cashback Exclusions:
  • No cashback on the following categories: Fuel related (MCC 5541, 5983, 5172, 5542, 5552), e-wallets (MCC 6540), payment of property management fees, rental commissions, rental payments or any such payments made through MCCs 6513, 7012, 7349, business to business transactions (various MCCs), education and government related transactions (various MCCs), insurance (MCC 6300, 5960), jewellery and antique items (MCC 5944, 5094, 5932, 5937), gambling (MCC 7995), tolls and bridge fees (MCC 4784), cash withdrawals, credit repayments, foreign currency, liquid and cryptocurrency assets (MCC 6011, 6010, 6012, 6051), security broker services (MCC 6211), collection agencies (MCC 7322), charity (MCC 8398, 8641), money transfers (MCC 4829), wholesale clubs (MCC5300) and utilities - electric, gas, water and sanitary (MCC 4900).
  • Cashback will be credited solely based on the MCC categorisation, and the Bank's decision on applicability, classification, and all other purposes shall be final and binding.
• Movies & Entertainment:
  • Buy 2 Get 1 Free offer on movies when booking through BookMyShow on Saturdays. You can book movie tickets for any day of the week, with the maximum price of the free ticket capped at INR 250.
  • Earn 1.5% unlimited cashback on entertainment spending.
  • Save on movies with the District app by Zomato, including buy-one-get-one cinema tickets.
• Dining Benefits:
  • In addition to 10% cashback on dining and food delivery, get 15% off on EazyDiner.
  • Enjoy 10% off on transactions of INR 3,500 or more with the District app by Zomato.
• Travel Benefits:
  • Enjoy 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year, with a limit of one visit per quarter.
  • Get complimentary flight seat selections twice a year on domestic flights booked with MakeMyTrip.
  • Earn 15% cashback added to your MakeMyTrip Wallet in 'My Cash' for hotel stays in India when you book with MakeMyTrip using promo code: VISASIGNATURE.
• Lifestyle Benefits:
  • Receive a free 12-month Times Prime subscription, providing access to Spotify Premium, Uber One, Discovery+, Moneycontrol Pro, Lenskart Gold, and more.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Get an insurance cover worth INR 300,000 against misuse of the card from up to 24 hours prior to the time of reporting the loss of card (Zero Liability Protection).
• Other Card Features:
  • Supports contactless payments with VISA wave technology (Visa Paywave), with no PIN required for transactions up to INR 5,000.
  • Cashback is applicable on EMI transactions.
  • Add-on cards are available with no fee.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• The cashback you earn will be automatically credited to your credit card account within 45 days of the card statement date.
• This is a cashback-based card, meaning you earn direct cashback rather than reward points that require separate redemption.

Card Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Rules

• Age:
  • 18 to 65 years old for salaried individuals.
  • 25 to 65 years old for self-employed individuals.
• Minimum Income:
  • INR 600,000 per year for salaried individuals.
  • INR 1,200,000 per year for self-employed individuals.
• Residency: Must be an Indian resident.
• Location: Must reside in Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Amritsar, Baroda, Indore, Lucknow or Nagpur.

Documents Required

• The latest salary slip, if you're a salaried employee, OR
• Proof of residence, identity proof, and your Permanent Account Number (PAN) card.
• Please note that this list is for reference purposes only, and additional documents may be requested during the credit card application process.

Card Review

The HSBC Live+ Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who prioritize cashback on their everyday spending, particularly in categories like dining, food delivery, and groceries. Its automatic cashback credit system eliminates the complexities often associated with reward points, offering a hassle-free experience.

• Who Should Apply:
  • Individuals with significant monthly spending on dining, food delivery, and groceries.
  • Consumers seeking a straightforward cashback card without the need for manual reward redemption.
  • Those who can benefit from complimentary domestic airport lounge access and lifestyle perks like a Times Prime subscription.
  • Online shoppers looking for consistent cashback.
• Pros:
  • High cashback rates: 10% on dining, food delivery, and groceries, and 1.5% unlimited on most other spends.
  • Cashback is automatically credited to the card account, simplifying the redemption process.
  • Attractive welcome benefits, including cashback and vouchers.
  • Complimentary domestic airport lounge access (4 visits annually).
  • Valuable lifestyle benefits such as a free 12-month Times Prime subscription, movie offers, and dining discounts.
  • Insurance cover of INR 300,000 against card misuse.
  • Annual fee waiver on achieving a reasonable spend milestone (INR 200,000 per year).
  • Supports contactless payments.
• Cons:
  • The 10% accelerated cashback is capped at INR 1,000 per month.
  • Several transaction categories are explicitly excluded from cashback earnings (e.g., fuel, e-wallets, utilities, insurance).
  • A foreign currency markup of 3.5% makes it less competitive for international transactions.
  • A 1% fuel surcharge is applicable.
  • Eligibility criteria include specific income and city residency requirements, which may limit accessibility for some applicants.

Important Product Details

• 10% accelerated cashback on grocery, food delivery, and dining spends, capped at INR 1,000 per statement cycle.
• 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible transactions (with specific exclusions).
• INR 1,000 cashback as a welcome benefit on spending INR 20,000 within the first 30 days.
• Complimentary domestic airport lounge access (4 visits per year, one per quarter).
• Free 12-month Times Prime subscription.
• Buy 2 Get 1 Free movie tickets through BookMyShow on Saturdays (maximum free ticket value INR 250).
• Insurance cover of INR 300,000 against card misuse (Zero Liability Protection).
• Support for contactless payments with VISA wave technology.
• Annual fee waiver on expenditure of INR 200,000 in the previous year.
• 3.5% foreign currency markup.
• 1% fuel surcharge is applicable.
• Cashback is not applicable on categories such as fuel, e-wallets, property management fees, rental payments, education, government-related transactions, and insurance.

Other Details

• The HSBC Cashback Credit Card has been rebranded as the HSBC Live+ Credit Card.
• Visa offers (such as Times Prime, MakeMyTrip, and District app benefits) are subject to change and are governed by Visa's terms and conditions. These offers will be fulfilled and honored by Visa.
• The Amazon eGift Voucher offer is a limited-period promotion, and HSBC reserves the right to alter, modify, change, or withdraw it at any time. The voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance and cannot be reloaded, resold, transferred for value, or redeemed for cash. It cannot be used to purchase other gift cards or digital content. Tax liability, if any, will be borne by the cardholder.
• Important documents related to the card, such as the Domestic Lounge List, Most Important Terms and Conditions, Credit Card Key Fact Statement, Live+ Credit Card Service Guide, and Acquisition offer terms and conditions, are available for download.
• For any assistance or to report the loss of a card, you may contact HSBC’s customer care at 18002673456 or 18001212208. These toll-free numbers are functional for general inquiries from 6
  a.m. to 8
  p.m., and for reporting card loss 24x7.
• You can activate your primary and supplementary cards instantly on the HSBC India app.