The Axis Primus is Axis Bank’s ultra-premium, invitation-only metal card — there is no public application. It is extended to a very small circle of ultra-high-net-worth clients, with a ₹5 lakh joining fee and ₹3 lakh annual fee (cards issued until 31 July 2024 carried a ₹1.8 lakh annual fee).
How to get an invitation
- Be an Axis Burgundy Private client. Primus invitations concentrate at the very top of Axis’s wealth hierarchy — an established Burgundy Private relationship is effectively a prerequisite.
- Demonstrate ultra-HNI scale. Very large deposits, investments and assets under management with Axis, and income well into the crores, build the profile the invitation follows.
- Spend heavily on an existing top Axis card. Consistent high volume on a Reserve or Magnus signals the spend Axis screens for before extending a Primus invite.
- Ask your Axis Burgundy Private relationship manager to put you forward — the invitation follows the relationship, not an application.
What issuers look for
- Axis Burgundy Private relationship (≈₹5 crore+ total relationship value)
- Ultra-high income / assets; very high card spend
- Joining fee ₹5 lakh + ₹3 lakh annual (excl. GST)
Observed patterns, not criteria the bank publishes. Any income or score level here is indicative.
Extremely limited — India’s highest-fee credit card, issued by invitation to a small number of ultra-HNI clients.
In-depth review
Axis Bank Primus Credit Card
Axis Bank's ultra-premium, invitation-only Visa Infinite metal card for the ultra-wealthy. A flat 1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 on every spend — no exclusions — transfers 1:5 to airline and hotel partners for a real return near ~5%, wrapped in unlimited lounges, luxury transfers, complimentary hotel nights and a 24x7 concierge. The catch is a roughly ₹8 lakh year-one fee with no waiver.
Read the full review →Key features
What this card is built to do — the highlights that actually matter.
Welcome Benefit
~₹1,25,000 in vouchers, points or cashback in year one — usually conditional on a first spend within 30–90 days
5% on Other
1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 on all spends — no category exclusions; transfers 1:5 to airline & hotel partners (~5% at best on premium redemptions)
Airport Lounge Access
Unlimited domestic lounge access plus Priority Pass international for primary and add-on cardholders, 12 complimentary guest visits a year, luxury airport transfers and meet-and-greet
Zero Forex Markup
Use abroad without extra charge — swipe internationally like you do domestically.
Golf Privileges
Unlimited complimentary domestic golf rounds and lessons for the primary cardholder with a guest, plus 4 complimentary international rounds a year
24x7 Concierge
24x7 dedicated concierge with preferential access to 10,000+ global restaurants (incl. Michelin & World's 50 Best), plus complimentary Bloomberg and Taj Epicure memberships
Hotel Membership
One complimentary night (on a minimum 2-night stay) at 900+ luxury properties with room upgrades and breakfast, plus complimentary companion airfare on full-fare First/Business bookings
Milestone Bonus
~₹3,00,000 in bonus rewards on hitting annual spend milestones
👑 PREMIUM LIFESTYLE BENEFITS
Concierge, golf, hotel membership and high-value perks for premium cardholders.
₹40,000
Golf perk value
₹75,000
Milestone bonus value
- 24x7 lifestyle and travel concierge
- Complimentary golf access at premium courses
- One complimentary night (on a minimum 2-night stay) at 900+ luxury properties with room upgrades and breakfast, plus complimentary companion airfare on full-fare First/Business bookings
- Annual renewal offer for primary cardholders of at least 12 months standing — choose either 15,000 EDGE Miles (75,000 partner miles at 1:5) or a ₹20,000 ITC Hotels e-gift voucher, on payment of the annual fee
✈️ TRAVEL BENEFITS
Lounge access, miles, forex rates and travel perks at a glance.
AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS
Unlimited visits
Domestic lounges
Priority Pass
International lounges
₹24,000
Estimated annual value
0% — Zero!
Forex markup
- Domestic + international airport lounge access (worth ~₹24,000/yr)
- Zero forex markup — zero extra cost abroad
Only for ultra-high-net-worth individuals who are invited, spend several lakh a month across unrestricted categories, and will actually use the concierge, luxury-travel and hotel privileges — for anyone below that, the fee cannot be earned back.
Full reward structure
What you earn on every rupee, per spend category — as of 24 Oct 2026. Rates assume 1 pt = ₹5.00. How we value points →
| Category | Type | Rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | airline miles | 5%1 pts/₹100 × ₹5.00 | — |
Other: 1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 on all spends — no category exclusions; transfers 1:5 to airline & hotel partners (~5% at best on premium redemptions)
Fees & charges
The numbers that matter beyond rewards — verify on the issuer site before applying. Fees below are shown inclusive of 18% GST, as of 24 Oct 2026.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹3,54,000 |
| Joining fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹5,90,000 |
| Finance charge (APR) | 1% p.m. |
| Forex markup | 0% |
Perks & benefits
Estimated annual value beyond rewards — ~₹4,75,500/yr in total.
Unlimited domestic lounge access plus Priority Pass international for primary and add-on cardholders, 12 complimentary guest visits a year, luxury airport transfers and meet-and-greet
One complimentary night (on a minimum 2-night stay) at 900+ luxury properties with room upgrades and breakfast, plus complimentary companion airfare on full-fare First/Business bookings
Unlimited complimentary domestic golf rounds and lessons for the primary cardholder with a guest, plus 4 complimentary international rounds a year
24x7 dedicated concierge with preferential access to 10,000+ global restaurants (incl. Michelin & World's 50 Best), plus complimentary Bloomberg and Taj Epicure memberships
Quarterly EDGE Mile milestones — 15,000 Miles on ₹20–30L, 25,000 on ₹30–50L, 35,000 on ₹50L+ of spend in each calendar quarter (credited within 45 days of quarter-end)
Annual renewal offer for primary cardholders of at least 12 months standing — choose either 15,000 EDGE Miles (75,000 partner miles at 1:5) or a ₹20,000 ITC Hotels e-gift voucher, on payment of the annual fee
1% fuel-surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹10,000 per statement cycle — a wider band than the ₹400–₹4,000 Axis applies to its other super-premium cards, and fuel earns EDGE Miles here too
Should you get it?
- Best for: Invited ultra-high-net-worth Axis customers, Very high spenders (₹5L+/month) across unrestricted categories, Frequent premium-cabin and luxury-hotel travellers, Users who will actively use concierge and transfer miles to partners
- Super Premium tier — built for high spenders who want top-end perks.
- Strongest value if you spend heavily on everyday spends (5% back).
- Frequent travellers benefit from the included airport lounge access.
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
- Flat 1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 on every spend with no exclusions — rent, utilities, fuel and insurance all earn
- EDGE Miles transfer at 1:5 — five partner miles for every EDGE Mile, the richest ratio Axis publishes — pushing real return toward ~5% on premium redemptions
- Nil forex markup — genuinely strong for international spend
- Unlimited lounges, luxury airport transfers, unlimited golf, a complimentary luxury-hotel night and 24x7 concierge with access to the world's finest restaurants
✕ Cons
- ₹8 lakh year-one fee (₹5L joining + ₹3L annual, both plus GST) with no spend-based waiver — the highest card fee in India
- Rewards are miles-only — best value needs 1:5 transfers to partner programmes; direct/gift redemption is far lower
- Invitation-only — cannot be applied for; Axis extends it to select ultra-high-net-worth customers
Eligibility
Axis Bank publishes no eligibility criteria for this card — no minimum income, no age band, no credit-score floor, and no document checklist. That is not an oversight on our part: the card is issued strictly by invitation, there is no public application form, and so there is nothing to qualify for in the usual sense. Any income or score level in the panel above is indicative of the profile the bank extends the card to, not a threshold it states, and the same goes for any salary figure quoted for it elsewhere.
What actually decides an invitation is the relationship behind it — balances held with the bank, spend on an existing card, and the banking segment you sit in. We set those signals out in how to get an invitation above, labelled for what they are: observed patterns, not published criteria.
How to redeem rewards
Ways to convert what you earn into real value.
- 🎁Partner transfer: convert EDGE Miles 1:5 to airline and hotel partners for the best value. Axis publishes the 1:5 ratio but not the Primus partner list — its T&C points cardholders to their PRIMUS Lifestyle Relationship Manager, and Primus is not a column in the public Travel EDGE table. (Variable — up to ~₹5/Mile on premium cabins)
- 🎁Axis EDGE portal: redeem EDGE Miles for flights, hotels, vouchers and products. (Lower fixed value)
What your Axis EDGE Miles are worth
Realistic value per point by redemption route — the difference is what most people leave on the table.
≈₹1/mile, fixed, against any flight on the Axis Travel EDGE portal — no blackout
Floor — use only if miles are near expiry
Atlas: 1 EDGE Mile → 2 partner miles on most of the Axis partner list (Air India, KrisFlyer, Flying Blue, Aeroplan, Etihad, United, Turkish, Qantas, JAL and more) — 2:1 only to British Airways, Finnair, IndiGo BluChip, Qatar Privilege Club, Vietnam Lotusmiles, Cathay Asia Miles & Accor, and 1:1 to Orchid, Radisson & Miles & More. Olympus doubles that again at 1:4; Horizon 1:1; IOCL Premium 2:1. Group A cap ~30k/yr within a 1.5L ceiling (Atlas). Marriott removed Apr 2026; Qatar and Accor were cut then too but returned (Aug and Sep 2026) in that weak 2:1 band.
✈ Transfer partners
Direct transfers from this card only, ranked by what a point is worth in the destination programme — plus 19 more partners. Full calculator, every currency →
The ₹8 lakh year-one fee has no spend waiver, so the card only pays off for genuinely ultra-high spenders who fully exploit the miles, transfers, hotel and concierge benefits — everyone else loses money on it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the Axis Primus?
How many rewards does Primus earn?
What does the Primus cost?
What are the main travel benefits?
What is the welcome benefit?
Is there a renewal benefit?
How will Axis apply my payment across the outstanding balance from 28 August 2026?
How has the Axis Bank Primus Credit Card changed over time?
Has the Axis Bank Primus Credit Card been devalued recently?
When did the Axis Bank Primus Credit Card's fees last change?
How did the Axis Bank Primus Credit Card change in 2024?
The bottom line
Primus is a status-and-service card first and a rewards card second. The flat 1 EDGE Mile/₹100 with 1:5 transfers is a clean ~5%-at-best proposition with no category games, and the travel and concierge layer is among the richest in India. But the ₹8 lakh year-one outlay (₹5L joining + ₹3L annual, no waiver) means the maths only works at very high, transfer-optimised spends — this is a card you are offered, not one you chase.
How this page was built
Counted from this card’s own record: 1 earn rule and 7 recorded perks.
Last updated 24 Oct 2026.
Sources & verification
Fees, reward rates, and benefits for the Axis Bank Primus Credit Card are taken from Axis Bank's official Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC) and fee schedule — see the card's official page. Last updated 24 Oct 2026. Reviewed by Devchandra Sah. Always confirm current details on the issuer's site before applying. How we research →
Independence. CardAdvisor is an independent editorial publication. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorised to act for Axis Bank. All issuer names, product names, and payment-network marks are the property of their respective owners and appear here for identification and comparison only. Card faces shown on this site are our own original illustrations — we do not display or host issuer card artwork or logos.
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Read more
Guides and reviews related to this card.
Axis Bank Primus Credit Card
Axis Bank's ultra-premium, invitation-only Visa Infinite metal card for the ultra-wealthy. A flat 1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 on every spend — no exclusions — transfers 1:5 to airline and hotel partners for a real return near ~5%, wrapped in unlimited lounges, luxury transfers, complimentary hotel nights and a 24x7 concierge. The catch is a roughly ₹8 lakh year-one fee with no waiver.
IndusInd Bank Indulge Credit Card
India's first 22-karat gold-inlay card, by invitation, with no pre-set spending limit. The lifestyle bundle is genuinely deep for the tier — four international lounge visits a quarter, four golf games and four lessons a month, and a low 1.8% forex markup. Earning is the weak half at about 0.5%, and three of the headline perks are spend-gated in ways that bite.
American Express Centurion Card
The Black Card — invitation-only, roughly 200 holders in India, and about ₹11.5 lakh all-in in year one including GST. Judged on rewards per rupee it is poor value and nobody serious pretends otherwise. Judged on what it actually sells — dedicated concierge, top-tier hotel and airline status, unlimited Centurion Lounge access — it is in a category of one. You cannot apply for it.
The State of Indian Credit Cards 2026: We Analysed 280 Cards. Here's What the Marketing Doesn't Tell You
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Value timeline
Every real-world change to this card's rewards, fees and benefits we've tracked — newest first, each linked to its source.
Tracking since 2024 · last change Aug 2026
2026
- ▼ LoungeObserved 29 Jul 2026 · Effective 28 Aug 2026
Priority Pass stops working at Indian domestic lounges
Priority Pass accepted at eligible Indian domestic lounges→Credit card + boarding pass only; Priority Pass domestic-invalid in India
From 28 August 2026 the Priority Pass card is no longer valid for entry to domestic airport lounges in India. Axis directs cardholders to present the credit card itself with the boarding pass at the lounge reception instead. The allowance is unchanged — this is an authentication change, not a cut — but it matters if you were spending Priority Pass visits domestically, because those visits now have to come from the card's own domestic allocation. One useful carve-out in Axis's own words: lounges at Indian international terminals AFTER immigration still count as international and can still be entered with Priority Pass.
Verification: Axis Bank ↗ · Confidence: High
2024
- ◆ FeeEffective 20 Dec 2024
Finance charge held at 1.00%/month, not swept into the portfolio standardization
1.00%/month (12.68% p.a.)→1.00%/month — unchanged, against a far higher portfolio standard
When Axis standardized the finance charge upward across nearly its entire card portfolio in the 20 December 2024 charges revision, Primus (with Burgundy Private) kept its far lower rate — a deliberate super-premium relationship-card exception, and the lowest finance charge in the Axis stable today. The MITC states it directly, "Axis Bank PRIMUS Credit Card 1% per month / 12.68% per annum", and the two agree: 1% compounded twelve times is 12.68%.
Verification: CardAdvisor Research · Confidence: Reconstructed
- ◆ LaunchEffective 12 Aug 2024
Axis Bank and Visa unveil Primus, India's ultra-luxury invite-only metal card
Axis Bank and Visa publicly launched Primus, an invitation-only Visa Infinite Privilege metal card for ultra-high-net-worth clients, carrying a ₹5,00,000 joining and ₹3,00,000 annual fee (a first set of invitees had already been issued the card before 31 July 2024 at a lower ₹1,80,000 fee). It earns a flat 1 EDGE Mile per ₹100 on every spend with no exclusions, transferable 1:5 to airline and hotel partners, wrapped in unlimited lounges, nil forex, luxury transfers, a complimentary luxury-hotel night and 24x7 concierge.
Verification: Axis Bank ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▼ FeeEffective 1 Aug 2024
Fees more than doubled for cards issued after 31 July 2024
₹1,80,000 joining + ₹1,80,000 annual (both + GST)→₹5,00,000 joining + ₹3,00,000 annual (both + GST)
The first invitees issued a Primus before 31 July 2024 paid a ₹1,80,000 joining and ₹1,80,000 annual fee; for cards issued after that date Axis raised the joining fee to ₹5,00,000 and the annual fee to ₹3,00,000 (both plus GST), taking year-one cost to roughly ₹8 lakh and making it India's most expensive credit card. The card's own T&C document spells out both fee tiers side by side.
Verification: Axis Bank ↗ · Confidence: High
Each change links to the issuer's own document — bank T&C, MITC, notice, press release or product page — where one is public. Where the bank published nothing, it's marked CardAdvisor Research and verified against the card's current terms. Independent of the live terms shown above. This timeline is one card's slice of our market-wide change record across every tracked card.
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Source: <a href="https://cardadvisor.in/cards/axis-primus#value-timeline">Axis Bank Primus Credit Card value timeline</a>, CardAdvisor (CC BY 4.0).