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HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card VS Kotak NRI Royale Signature Credit Card

A detailed, side-by-side look at 2 leading credit cards. Analyze the features that matter most to you and make an informed choice.
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Last updated: 30 June 2026

Both Kotak NRI Royale Signature Credit Card and HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card suit international spends-focused spenders, but they earn and cost differently. Kotak NRI Royale Signature Credit Card is lifetime-free and earns 2 points per Rs. 200 on international spends; 1 point per Rs. 200 on domestic spends. HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card costs ₹2,500 + GST and earns 4 Reward Points on every Rs. 150 spent on retail. Kotak NRI Royale Signature Credit Card also brings 2 complimentary visits every quarter to select domestic lounges in India, while HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card counters with 8 complimentary accesses per year, spend-based (Rs. 1 lakh per quarter for 2 vouchers). Weigh the fee against the reward rate above to see which fits your spending pattern better.

Fees & Charges

Joining Fee₹2,500 + GST
Joining FeeFree (1st year)
Renewal Fee₹2,500 + GST
Renewal Fee₹1,000 + GST
Spend Based WaiverAnnual fee waiver (second year onwards) on spending Rs. 3 lakhs or more in the previous year.
Spend Based WaiverNot Applicable
Foreign Transaction Fees2% on all foreign currency transactions.
Foreign Transaction FeesNot Applicable
Interest Rate (APR)3.6% per month or 43.2% annually on outstanding amount.
Interest Rate (APR)Not Applicable

Rewards & Benefits

Welcome Bonus2,500 bonus Reward Points are awarded after the successful realization of the joining fee.
Welcome BonusNot Applicable
Rewards RateEarn 4 Reward Points on every Rs. 150 spent on retail.
Rewards RateEarn 2 points per Rs. 200 on international spends; 1 point per Rs. 200 on domestic spends.
Reward TypeReward Points
Reward TypeReward Points
Reward Redemption FeeRs. 99 (plus applicable taxes) charged on every redemption request.
Reward Redemption FeeNot Applicable

Travel & Lifestyle

Domestic Lounge Access8 complimentary accesses per year, spend-based (Rs. 1 lakh per quarter for 2 vouchers).
Domestic Lounge Access2 complimentary visits every quarter to select domestic lounges in India.
International Lounge AccessPriority Pass membership with 6 complimentary lounge visits per year outside India.
International Lounge AccessNot Applicable
Travel BenefitsComplimentary domestic/international lounge access, travel insurance, and accelerated rewards on bookings.
Travel BenefitsAccess to domestic airport lounges, plus freedom to pay in INR in India to avoid mark-up fees.
Movie BenefitsNot Applicable
Movie BenefitsNot Applicable
Dining BenefitsGet up to 20% off on partner restaurants via Swiggy Dineout when payment is made via the Swiggy application.
Dining BenefitsNot Applicable
Golf BenefitsNot applicable.
Golf BenefitsNot Applicable
Fuel Surcharge Waiver1% waiver on transactions Rs. 400-5,000, capped at Rs. 500 per month.
Fuel Surcharge WaiverWaiver on transactions Rs. 500-3,000. Max waiver of Rs. 3,500 per calendar year.

Security & Other

Insurance BenefitsAccidental air death cover of Rs. 1 Cr, emergency overseas hospitalization up to Rs. 15 lakhs.
Insurance BenefitsNot Applicable
Cash Advance Charges2.5% of transaction amount or Rs. 500, whichever is higher.
Cash Advance ChargesNot Applicable
Best valueHigher costHighlights apply to Joining Fee and Renewal Fee only.

HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card

Kotak NRI Royale Signature Credit Card

Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Generous welcome bonus reward points and a competitive reward rate.

Low foreign exchange markup fee of 2% on international transactions.

Complimentary domestic and international lounge access with Priority Pass.

Significant milestone benefits with bonus reward points on annual spending.

Pros

Key benefits and features.

Accelerated rewards: 2 reward points per Rs. 200 on international spends.

High redemption value: 1 Reward Point = Re 1/-, making rewards highly valuable.

Complimentary domestic airport lounge access with 2 visits per quarter for travelers.

Avoids foreign card mark-up fees when paying in INR during visits to India.

Fuel and railway surcharge waivers provide significant annual savings.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

Other HDFC cards might offer better benefits or redemption options.

Many spend categories like fuel, rentals, and government spends do not earn reward points.

Reward points have an expiry period of 2 years from the date of accumulation.

Domestic lounge access is spend-based, requiring Rs. 1 lakh spend per quarter.

Cons

Key drawbacks and limitations.

The card charges an annual fee of Rs. 1,000/-, which is not waived based on spend.

A one-time fee of Rs. 599/- applies for each add-on card issued to family members.

Waivers for fuel and railway surcharges come with annual limits, restricting total savings.

Lounge access is restricted to domestic airports in India and has a quarterly cap.

How We Compare These Cards

Every comparison on CardsForYou is built from the same verified data set we use across the site - joining and renewal fees, reward rates, forex markup, lounge access, and insurance benefits - sourced directly from each issuer and refreshed regularly. We highlight the lower-cost option on fees automatically, but "best" always depends on your own spending pattern: a card that wins on annual fee may lose on reward rate for a heavy spender, and vice versa. Use the table above alongside your own typical monthly spend to judge real value, not just the headline numbers.

Ready to Choose?

Based on your comparison, select the credit card that best matches your spending habits and financial goals.