In-depth review
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card
A competent semi-premium metal card — no forex markup, lounges, golf, Postcard Hotels perks and non-expiring points — measured against its own free sibling. The lifetime-free FIRST Wealth covers most of the same spec sheet for ₹0, but not the same rewards engine, and not in the direction usually claimed: on general spend the Ashva pays 0.83% below its ₹20,000 cycle gate and 1.67% above it, against the Wealth's 0.375%. So the Ashva out-earns it on ordinary spend — the question is whether that edge clears ₹2,999 plus GST (₹3,539), which takes roughly ₹36,000 a month. Below that the Wealth wins on net, and it wins outright on dining and travel; abroad the Ashva now wins, since the Wealth earns nothing on international spends from 26 October 2026. The 2026 cuts trimmed the case further.
Read the full review →Key features
What this card is built to do — the highlights that actually matter.
Welcome Benefit
~₹1,875 in vouchers, points or cashback in year one — usually conditional on a first spend within 30–90 days
0.83% on Other
5 RP per ₹150 up to ₹20,000/month (~0.83%), 10 RP per ₹150 on incremental above ₹20,000 (~1.67%), 3 RP per ₹150 on rent/wallet/education/government; points never expire; earns only on spend up to the credit limit per cycle
0.33% on International
2 RP per ₹150 on international spends from 26 Oct 2026 (~0.33%; 10X until Jan 2026, 5X until 25 Oct 2026), still counting towards the ₹20,000 10X milestone, with no forex markup per IDFC's KFS dated 15 Sep 2026
Airport Lounge Access
Up to 16 domestic and 8 international airport lounge visits a year (requires ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month)
Zero Forex Markup
Use abroad without extra charge — swipe internationally like you do domestically.
Golf Privileges
Up to 2 complimentary golf rounds or lessons a month — one unlocked per ₹20,000 spent in the previous statement cycle
Movie Ticket Benefit
Buy-one-get-one movie ticket up to ₹400 off, twice a month via District by Zomato, on ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month
Milestone Bonus
~₹1,875 in bonus rewards on hitting annual spend milestones
✈️ TRAVEL BENEFITS
Lounge access, miles, forex rates and travel perks at a glance.
AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS
✓
Domestic lounges
✓
International lounges
₹16,000
Estimated annual value
0% — Zero!
Forex markup
- Domestic + international airport lounge access (worth ~₹16,000/yr)
- Zero forex markup — zero extra cost abroad
👑 PREMIUM LIFESTYLE BENEFITS
Concierge, golf, hotel membership and high-value perks for premium cardholders.
₹8,000
Golf perk value
₹1,875
Milestone bonus value
- Complimentary golf access at premium courses
- 7,500 reward points on ₹8 lakh of spend in a card anniversary year, credited on payment of the next annual fee (cash withdrawals, fees and EMI amortisation do not count)
🎬 ENTERTAINMENT BENEFITS
Movies, OTT subscriptions and entertainment perks.
- Buy-one-get-one movie ticket up to ₹400 off, twice a month via District by Zomato, on ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month
For IDFC customers spending past roughly ₹36,000 a month on general categories, where the Ashva's 1.67% above-gate rate out-earns the free FIRST Wealth's 0.375% by enough to cover ₹2,999 plus GST — and who want the metal card, the larger lounge allowance and the Postcard Hotels benefit. Below that, or if your spend is mostly dining and travel, the Wealth is the better card. Abroad the Ashva edges it, earning 2 points per ₹150 from 26 October 2026 where the Wealth earns nothing.
Full reward structure
What you earn on every rupee, per spend category — as of 27 Oct 2026. Rates assume 1 pt = ₹0.25. How we value points →
| Category | Type | Rate | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | reward points | 0.83%3.33 pts/₹100 × ₹0.25 | — |
| International | reward points | 0.33%1.33 pts/₹100 × ₹0.25 | — |
Other: 5 RP per ₹150 up to ₹20,000/month (~0.83%), 10 RP per ₹150 on incremental above ₹20,000 (~1.67%), 3 RP per ₹150 on rent/wallet/education/government; points never expire; earns only on spend up to the credit limit per cycle
International: 2 RP per ₹150 on international spends from 26 Oct 2026 (~0.33%; 10X until Jan 2026, 5X until 25 Oct 2026), still counting towards the ₹20,000 10X milestone, with no forex markup per IDFC's KFS dated 15 Sep 2026
Earns nothing on: Fuel · EMI Conversions · Cash Advances
These spends earn no rewards at all — not a reduced rate, and not the base rate. They are also normally left out of any milestone or fee-waiver calculation.
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 27 Oct 2026.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹3,539 |
| Joining fee (incl. 18% GST) | ₹3,539 |
| Forex markup | 0% |
| Reward redemption fee | ₹99 |
Perks & benefits
Estimated annual value beyond rewards — ~₹32,675/yr in total.
Up to 16 domestic and 8 international airport lounge visits a year (requires ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month)
Up to 2 complimentary golf rounds or lessons a month — one unlocked per ₹20,000 spent in the previous statement cycle
Buy-one-get-one movie ticket up to ₹400 off, twice a month via District by Zomato, on ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month
7,500 reward points on ₹8 lakh of spend in a card anniversary year, credited on payment of the next annual fee (cash withdrawals, fees and EMI amortisation do not count)
1% fuel-surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, capped at ₹300 per statement cycle
Spend milestone
- ₹8,00,000 a year₹1,875 of value
Should you get it?
- Best for: IDFC customers spending ₹20,000+ a month, App-led travel bookers who redeem points at ₹0.40
- Premium tier — a solid all-rounder for steady monthly spend.
- Strongest value if you spend heavily on everyday spends (0.83% back).
- Frequent travellers benefit from the included airport lounge access.
Pros & cons
✓ Pros
- Up to 10X reward points on higher spends
- Strong app-based travel redemption — points are worth ₹0.40 there against ₹0.25 elsewhere
- Domestic and international lounge access, plus 4 railway lounge visits a quarter
- CFAR trip-cancellation cover up to ₹25,000 twice a year
- ₹5,000 off The Postcard Hotels stays of ₹25,000+ every quarter
- No forex markup since September 2026 (IDFC KFS dated 15 Sep 2026)
✕ Cons
- Best rates need ₹20,000 of spend in a statement cycle
- IDFC cut reward rates across its cards in 2026 — verify current terms
- Lounge access is conditional on prior-month spend
Eligibility & documents
Documents required
- 📄PAN card
- 📄Aadhaar / address proof
- 📄Income proof (salary slips or ITR)
How to redeem rewards
Ways to convert what you earn into real value.
- 🎁Book flights and hotels on the IDFC FIRST app for ₹0.40 per point
- 🎁Redeem for statement credit and vouchers at ₹0.25 per point
What your IDFC Reward Points are worth
Realistic value per point by redemption route — the difference is what most people leave on the table.
Never-expiring points
Brand & e-gift vouchers
The ₹20,000-per-cycle gate. Only spend ABOVE it earns the 1.67% that justifies the ₹2,999 — below it the Ashva pays 0.83%, and a spender who never clears the gate is paying a fee for an earn rate that does not cover it. IDFC's own free FIRST Wealth is the standing alternative, and it also wins outright on dining and travel (1.25%).
Frequently asked questions
What is the reward rate on IDFC Ashva?
Is lounge access free?
Did the rewards change in 2026?
How has the IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card changed over time?
Has the IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card been devalued recently?
When did the IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card's fees last change?
How did the IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card change in 2026?
The bottom line
Ashva is a reasonable metal card with no forex markup (since September 2026) and a fair perk bundle, and it is measured against its own free sibling rather than the market. The FIRST Wealth matches its spec sheet for ₹0 but not its earn rate: on general spend the Ashva pays 0.83% below the ₹20,000 gate and 1.67% above it, against the Wealth's 0.375%. So the ₹2,999 is not a hard sell on rewards — it is a volume question, needing roughly ₹36,000 a month of general spend to pay for itself with GST. The Jan 2026 cut to international earn (10X→5X) narrowed the case, and from 26 October 2026 the rate abroad drops again to 2 points per ₹150 (about 0.33%); the Wealth earns nothing abroad from that day, so the Ashva still comes out ahead there, if only just.
How this page was built
Counted from this card’s own record: 2 earn rules, the spends listed as earning nothing and 5 recorded perks.
Last updated 27 Oct 2026.
Sources & verification
Fees, reward rates, and benefits for the IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card are taken from IDFC FIRST Bank's official Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC) and fee schedule — see the card's official page. Last updated 27 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 IDFC FIRST 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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Guides and reviews related to this card.
IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card
A competent semi-premium metal card — no forex markup, lounges, golf, Postcard Hotels perks and non-expiring points — measured against its own free sibling. The lifetime-free FIRST Wealth covers most of the same spec sheet for ₹0, but not the same rewards engine, and not in the direction usually claimed: on general spend the Ashva pays 0.83% below its ₹20,000 cycle gate and 1.67% above it, against the Wealth's 0.375%. So the Ashva out-earns it on ordinary spend — the question is whether that edge clears ₹2,999 plus GST (₹3,539), which takes roughly ₹36,000 a month. Below that the Wealth wins on net, and it wins outright on dining and travel; abroad the Ashva now wins, since the Wealth earns nothing on international spends from 26 October 2026. The 2026 cuts trimmed the case further.
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IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card
A ₹3,000 zero-forex Visa Infinite that sits below IDFC's metal cards — genuine 0% forex, 8+8 lounge visits a year, monthly golf and a buy-one-get-one movie perk, with the fee waived on ₹6 lakh of spend. A perks-led travel card whose thin base rewards and zero international earn keep it out of workhorse territory.
IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit Card
A lifetime-free Visa Infinite with lounge access, golf, travel insurance, a 10X rewards engine and no forex markup — the card that makes you wonder why anyone pays for a mid-premium card. The 2026 cuts (24-month points expiry, spend-gated movie benefit, credit-limit reward cap) trimmed the edges without breaking it. Clear the income bar and it's close to automatic.
IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card
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IDFC FIRST Gaj Credit Card
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LIC Classic Credit Card
A lifetime-free IDFC FIRST × LIC × Mastercard co-brand built around one job — paying LIC premiums. It earns 6 reward points per ₹125 (~1.2%) on premiums paid through LIC's official website, and an ordinary 3 points per ₹125 (~0.6%) on other spends in India. Points are worth ₹0.25 and now expire in three years. Since it costs nothing to hold there is no fee to earn back; away from LIC it is a plain card, with no forex markup since September 2026 but no points on international spends from 26 October 2026.
IDFC FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card
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IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
Lifetime-free with lounge access, no forex markup and a 10X engine — a genuinely strong starting hand. The 2026 cuts trimmed it: ₹200/point base (~25% down), points now expire after 24 months, and the lounge quota was halved and spend-gated — though 10X moved to a category basis (dining and travel) with no minimum spend, and from 26 October 2026 international spends earn nothing. Rewarding if your spend lands in those categories; "free but ordinary" otherwise. If you qualify for the FIRST Wealth, that supersedes it.
LIC Select Credit Card
The higher tier of the IDFC FIRST × LIC × Mastercard co-brand, and lifetime free — 10 reward points per ₹125 (~2%) on LIC premiums paid through LIC's official website, 5 per ₹125 (~1%) on other spends in India, plus 2 domestic airport and 4 railway lounge visits a quarter. Both LIC cards cost nothing, so the choice against the Classic is about how much premium you pay, not about fees.
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 Oct 2026
2026
- ▼ RewardEffective 26 Oct 2026
International earn cut to 2X
5X (5 RP/₹150, about 0.83%)→2X (2 RP/₹150, about 0.33%)
From 26 October 2026 international spends on the Ashva earn 2 reward points per ₹150 instead of 5, and they still count towards the ₹20,000 statement-cycle spend that unlocks the 10X rate. The cut lands on the day IDFC FIRST stops reward points on international spends on most of its other cards; the Ashva stays an exception in the bank's cardmember letter, at the lower rate its own page announces.
Verification: IDFC FIRST Bank ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▲ FeeEffective 9 Sept 2026
Forex markup removed
1% to 3.5%, depending on the card→0% (nil)
IDFC FIRST Bank stopped charging a markup on foreign-currency spends on all its credit cards from 9 September 2026, the effective date its letter to cardmembers gives. Its Key Fact Statement dated 15 September 2026 lists the markup on foreign-currency and currency-conversion transactions as nil, with no card-by-card exception, where the January 2026 edition charged 3.5% on most cards and less on a few (1.99% on the FIRST Select, 1.5% on the FIRST Wealth, 1.49% on the IndiGo card and 1% on the Ashva). The same letter says international spends stop earning reward points from 26 October 2026 on most IDFC FIRST cards; that is recorded as its own change.
Verification: IDFC FIRST Bank ↗ · Confidence: High
- ▼ BenefitEffective 18 Jun 2026
Movie BOGO spend-gated; earn capped to credit limit
A second trim: from 18 June 2026 the buy-one-get-one movie-ticket benefit required ₹20,000 of spend in the previous calendar month to unlock (previously unconditional), and reward points were earned only on spends up to the credit limit within a billing cycle.
Verification: CardAdvisor Research · Confidence: Reconstructed
- ▼ RewardEffective 18 Jan 2026
International earn halved; top rate spend-gated
10X (10 RP/₹150)→5X (5 RP/₹150)
From 18 January 2026 international spends earned 5X instead of 10X reward points, and the 10X domestic rate now required ₹20,000 of spend in a billing cycle. IDFC also stopped awarding reward points for any cycle in which the minimum amount due is not paid by the due date. In-app travel redemption stayed at ₹0.40/point, ₹0.25 elsewhere.
Verification: CardAdvisor Research · Confidence: High
2025
- ◆ WelcomeEffective 1 Sept 2025
Welcome benefit restructured into a three-tranche 7,500-point plan
7,500 reward points in three tranches: 2,500 on fee realization, 2,500 on ₹20,000+ net spends in the 2nd statement cycle, 2,500 in the 3rd
For cards generated on or after 1 September 2025 the joining benefit pays 7,500 reward points in three equal tranches — on realization of the joining fee, and on ₹20,000 or more of net spends in each of the second and third statement cycles. IDFC does not publish the structure that applied immediately before this date, so no before value is recorded.
Verification: IDFC FIRST 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/idfc-ashva#value-timeline">IDFC FIRST Ashva Credit Card value timeline</a>, CardAdvisor (CC BY 4.0).
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