IDFC First Bank Ashva Metal Credit Card – Benefits, Fees & Eligibility

Introduction

The IDFC First Bank Ashva Metal Credit Card is an innovative and premium offering from IDFC First Bank, positioned for achievers seeking unmatched experiences in travel and lifestyle. This card stands out for its unique metal variant, weighing 12 grams, which is rare in its price segment. Key differentiating benefits include a low Foreign Currency Markup of 1%, a rewarding structure offering up to 10X Reward Points on incremental spends above ₹20,000 per statement cycle, and comprehensive travel privileges such as complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, railway lounge access, and free trip cancellation protection.

Welcome Benefits

• Cardholders can earn up to 7,500 Reward Points as a welcome benefit, valued at up to ₹3,000 when redeemed for maximum value.
• This benefit applies to cards generated on or after 1st September 2025, and is structured as follows:
  • 2,500 Reward Points on successful realization of the joining fee.
  • An additional 2,500 Reward Points on net spends of ₹20,000 or more in the 2nd statement cycle (after joining fee realization).
  • Another 2,500 Reward Points on net spends of ₹20,000 or more in the 3rd statement cycle (after joining fee realization).
• This welcome benefit is offered once per customer.

Fees

• Joining Fee (Primary Card): ₹2,999 + GST. Upfront payment is required for the dispatch of the metal credit card, and this fee is non-refundable.
• Annual Fee (Primary Card): ₹2,999 + GST, applicable from the second card anniversary year.
• Add-on Credit Card Fees:
  • Joining Fee (Metal Variant): ₹2,000 + GST
  • Joining Fee (Plastic Variant): ₹1,500 + GST
  • Annual Fee (Both Variants): ₹1,000 + GST (charged for every add-on credit card).
• Spend-Based Waiver: There is no spend-based annual fee waiver for this card.
• Rewards Redemption Fee: ₹99 + GST.
• Foreign Currency Markup: 1% on international transactions, including international transactions made in Indian currency.
• Interest Rates: Up to 46.2% Annually.
• Fuel Surcharge Waiver: 1% waiver on fuel surcharge up to ₹300 per statement cycle, applicable on transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000. No reward points are awarded for fuel transactions.
• Cash Advance Charges: ₹199 + GST per transaction. Cash withdrawals are interest-free for up to 45 days, in India or abroad. A 1% forex markup fee applies to cash withdrawals outside India. The maximum cash withdrawal limit per transaction is ₹10,000.
• Other Fees: An authorization fee of ₹2 will be charged to check the card’s validity at railway lounges.

Rewards

• Rewards Rate:
  • Earn 10X Reward Points/₹150 on incremental spends above ₹20,000 in a monthly statement cycle.
  • Earn 5X Reward Points/₹150 on spends up to ₹20,000 in a monthly statement cycle.
  • Earn 5X Reward Points on international spends, with eligible international transactions contributing towards the monthly 10X rewards milestone calculation.
  • Earn 3X Reward Points/₹150 on Rent, Wallet Load, Education, and Government transactions.
  • Earn 1X Reward Points/₹150 on Insurance, Utility, Railways, and Fastag transactions.
  • Domestic and international transactions in the 3X and 1X categories are not considered towards the 10X milestone calculations.
  • Reward points will be earned for spends up to your credit limit per billing cycle (effective 18th June 2026).
  • Reward points never expire as long as the credit card remains active.
• Bonus Reward Points via IDFC Travel & Shop (Mobile App):
  • Earn 30 Bonus Reward Points/₹150 on Hotel Bookings (total 40X, equivalent to a 10% reward rate).
  • Earn 15 Bonus Reward Points/₹150 on Flight Bookings (total 25X, equivalent to a 5% reward rate).
  • A maximum of 15,000 Bonus Reward Points can be earned each month through this channel.
• Exclusions for Reward Point Earning: Reward points will not be awarded for transactions on Fuel, EMI converted transactions, Fees or Charges, Loan on Card, Balance Transfer, and Cash Withdrawal Transactions.
• Movie & Dining:
  • Enjoy a "Buy One Get One" free offer on movie tickets, up to ₹400 off on the second ticket, twice each month. This benefit can save up to ₹800 per month or ₹9,600 per year.
  • The offer can be availed via the District App by Zomato (starting 1st July 2025; till 30th June 2025, BookMyShow can be used).
  • To avail this benefit, a spend of ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month is required (effective 18th June 2026).
  • Enjoy up to 20% off the total bill at participating restaurants with Visa Infinite dining discounts.
• Travel:
  • Domestic Lounge Access: Get 4 complimentary visits each quarter at select airport lounges across India for both primary and add-on cardholders. This benefit is unlocked by spending ₹20,000 in the previous month.
  • International Lounge Access: Receive 2 complimentary visits each quarter to lounges at select international airports for both primary and add-on cardholders. Access requires displaying your DreamFolks Card and boarding pass. This benefit is unlocked by spending ₹20,000 in the previous month.
  • Railway Lounge Access: Both primary and add-on cardholders receive 4 complimentary railway lounge visits each quarter at participating IRCTC railway lounges in India. This benefit is unlocked by spending ₹20,000 or more in the previous month (effective 20th February 2025). Facilities include up to two hours of comfortable lounge stay, one buffet meal, unlimited tea and coffee, access to newspapers, magazines, and free Wi-Fi.
  • Free Trip Cancellation Protection: Avail a "Cancel for Any Reason" cover, offering reimbursement of up to ₹25,000 twice a year for the non-refundable portion of flight and hotel bookings made with the Ashva Credit Card. Cancellation must be at least 24 hours before the scheduled travel date.
  • The Postcard Hotels & Resorts: Enjoy a flat discount of ₹5,000 on a minimum booking of ₹25,000, once every calendar quarter, using promo code IDFCVIP. Valid till 10th Feb 2027.
  • ITC Hotels: Exclusive offers including "Stay for 3, Pay for 2" (promocode ITCVIS) or "Get 50% off your 2nd night" (promocode ITCV50) at ITC Hotels.
  • Elivaas: Exclusive offers including "Stay for 3, Pay for 2" or "Get 50% off your 2nd night" at Elivaas properties.
  • Airport Meet and Greet Service (Visa Infinite):
    • Complimentary meet and greet service once a year at major Indian airports, available on spending USD 1000 (approx. INR 85,000) on international point-of-sale transactions in the past 12 months before the booking date.
    • Flat 10% discount on meet & greet service for all other instances or for more than one guest.
    • Discounts on Airport Fast-track immigration service at over 450 destinations worldwide.
  • Airport Transfer Discounts (Visa Infinite): Attractive discounts on limousine airport transfer services in over 3000 cities across 83 countries.
  • Luxury Hotel Benefits (Visa Infinite): Access to over 900 luxury hotels worldwide with premium benefits such as automatic room upgrades upon arrival, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, complimentary continental breakfast, VIP Guest status, and 3 PM check-out upon request.
• Golf Privileges: The primary cardholder can avail 2 complimentary golf lessons or rounds each month. This spend-based benefit is unlocked by spending ₹20,000 in a statement cycle for one round/lesson, or ₹40,000 for two rounds/lessons.
• Insurance Benefits:
  • Card Liability Cover: ₹50,000
  • Personal Accident Cover: ₹10 Lakh
  • Credit Shield: ₹50,000
  • Purchase Protection: ₹50,000
  • Personal Air Accident Cover: ₹10 Lakh
  • Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cover: Includes Loss of Checked-in Baggage (USD 500), Delay of Checked-In Baggage (USD 100), Loss of Passport and other documents (USD 300), and Delay in Flight (USD 300), with total coverage up to USD 1200.
  • Complimentary Roadside Assistance (RSA) worth ₹1,399, available up to four times a year across India.
  • Accident and lost card liability cover is valid on doing at least one transaction on the Ashva Credit Card in the last 30 days.
• Annual Milestone Benefit: On spending ₹8 lakh or more in a card anniversary year, cardholders are eligible for a bonus of 7,500 Reward Points, valued at ₹1,875 (or up to ₹3,000 if redeemed for maximum value). These reward points are credited upon payment of the annual fee for the next year. Transactions on primary, add-on, and associated FIRST Digital (UPI) Credit Cards are considered, including EMI transactions, but excluding cash withdrawal, fees, charges, and EMI amortization.

Rewards Redemption Guide

• The value of 1 Reward Point is ₹0.40 when redeemed for hotel and flight bookings via the "Travel & Shop" section on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App.
• For other redemption options, such as purchasing gift vouchers, products on the "FIRST Rewards Gallery" section on the IDFC FIRST Bank Mobile App, or "Pay using reward points" on online transactions, the value of 1 Reward Point is ₹0.25.
• Reward points can be redeemed for vouchers, cash against statement, or by paying with points.
• Reward points never expire as long as the credit card remains active.

Card Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants should have an annual income of ₹12 lakh or more.
• For first-time IDFC FIRST Bank unsecured credit card applicants, the credit limit will be determined as per internal policies.
• Existing IDFC FIRST Bank unsecured credit cardholders will have the same credit limit, which will be shared across all unsecured credit cards.

Card Review

The IDFC First Bank Ashva Metal Credit Card, with a joining and annual cost of ₹2,999 + GST, is a rewarding and uniquely designed metal credit card available on the Visa Infinite network. It is well-suited for individuals with an annual income of ₹12 lakh or more who are frequent travelers and high spenders.

• Pros:
  • Offers extensive complimentary lounge access, including domestic airports, international airports, and railway lounges across India.
  • Comes at an affordable fee of ₹2,999 for the array of Visa Infinite privileges and complimentary services it provides.
  • Features a significantly lower Forex markup charge of 1% on international transactions.
  • Provides valuable benefits like free movie tickets (BOGO offer) and comprehensive travel insurance.
• Cons:
  • Many of the card's premium benefits, including the 10X Reward Points, golf privileges, and airport lounge access, are spend-based, requiring a minimum spend of ₹20,000 each month. This makes the card less ideal for those with fluctuating spending patterns who may not consistently meet this threshold.
  • The card does not offer a spend-based annual fee waiver, meaning the annual fee must be paid each year without exception.
  • The annual milestone benefit of 7,500 Reward Points for spending ₹8 lakh in a year is considered modest compared to benefits offered by other cards in a similar spending bracket.

In conclusion, the Ashva Credit Card is an excellent choice for consistent high-spenders and global travelers who can maximize its spend-based rewards and appreciate its unique design and premium features.

Important Product Details

• The Ashva Credit Card is a rewarding metal credit card offered by IDFC First Bank.
• It provides free movie tickets worth up to ₹400 on bookings made with District by Zomato, available twice each month.
• Both primary and add-on cardholders are offered complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access.
• Spend-based golfing privileges are available for primary cardholders.
• The card is a metal variant, weighing 12 grams, and is available on the Visa Infinite network.
• It features a competitive lower Forex markup charge of 1%.
• The Ashva Credit Card is also powered for UPI transactions.

Other Details

• The card's design is inspired by India's heritage, featuring two regal horses, symbolizing a blend of tradition and modern luxury, and representing the drive to move forward and succeed.
• An upfront payment of the Joining Fee + GST is required for the dispatch of the metal credit card. This fee is non-refundable and is part of the bank's transparent process to ensure informed decisions and minimize wastage.
• The Joining Fee can be paid via UPI and net banking after the credit card application is approved.
• Once the Joining Fee is paid, the metal credit card will be dispatched to the registered mailing address and should arrive within 5 working days.
• To use the digital Ashva Credit Card for online purchases before receiving the physical card, the Joining Fee payment must be completed, and online (Ecom) transactions must be enabled on the card.
• For transactions in India, a PIN is required at every POS terminal. Outside India, a PIN is required only if the POS terminal is enabled for PIN authentication.
• For international travel assistance, cardholders can contact IDFC FIRST Bank at +91 22 6248 5152.
• Various benefits and offers are subject to specific Terms & Conditions.
• Effective 18th June 2026, there will be revisions to select features and applicable Terms & Conditions of the Ashva Credit Card.
• Effective 20th February 2025, a spend of ₹20,000 within the current calendar month is required to access railway lounge benefits in the following month.
• Starting 1st July 2025, the District by Zomato App should be used for movie ticket bookings. Until 30th June 2025, BookMyShow can be used.