The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card remains one of the better lifetime free credit cards available today. It combines reward points, domestic airport lounge access, railway lounge access, roadside assistance, and a low forex markup fee without charging any joining or annual fee. We particularly like the card’s travel-friendly features and accelerated reward structure, which offers up to 10 reward points per ₹150 on higher monthly spends. If you can meet the spending requirements attached to some benefits, the IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card still delivers solid value for a lifetime free offering.
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card Fees and Welcome Benefits
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card with no joining fee and no annual fee. This makes it one of the few premium-looking cards that can be held indefinitely without any maintenance cost.
New cardholders can also unlock welcome benefits by meeting simple spending conditions. You can receive a ₹500 welcome voucher after spending ₹5000 within 30 days of card issuance. Additionally, the card offers 5% cashback of up to ₹1000 on your first EMI transaction completed within the first 30 days.
| Fee Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | Nil |
| Annual Fee | Nil |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹500 voucher on spending ₹5,000 within 30 days |
| EMI Benefit | 5% cashback up to ₹1,000 on the first EMI transaction within 30 days |
| Card Network | Visa Signature |
We like the fact that IDFC FIRST Bank has kept the Select Credit Card completely free for life. The welcome benefits are modest, but they add some extra value without requiring any complicated milestones or fee recovery calculations.
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card Rewards
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card offers accelerated rewards on dining, travel, and international transactions. Following the June 2026 update, cardholders no longer need to cross a spending milestone to earn higher rewards in these categories.
| Spend Category | Reward Points | Approx. Reward Rate* |
|---|---|---|
| Dining, Travel & International Spends | 10 RP per ₹200 | ~1.25% |
| Regular Retail, Rent, Education, Government & Wallet Transactions | 3 RP per ₹200 | ~0.38% |
| Insurance, Utilities, Railways & FASTag | 1 RP per ₹200 | ~0.13% |
| Fuel, EMI & Cash Withdrawals | No Reward Points | 0% |
*Assuming 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25.
We appreciate that IDFC FIRST Bank continues to offer reward points on categories such as rent, education, government payments, and wallet loads, where many credit cards either offer reduced rewards or no rewards at all. That said, the card’s reward rate on regular spending is fairly average. In our view, the real value of the IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card comes from its lifetime free status, airport lounge access, low forex markup, and travel-focused benefits rather than its rewards program.
Airport Lounge Access and Travel Benefits
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card offers a decent set of travel benefits despite being a lifetime free card. Cardholders get complimentary domestic airport lounge access, a low forex markup fee of 1.99%, and trip cancellation cover of up to ₹10,000.
From April 2026, airport lounge access became spend-based. You need to spend ₹20,000 in a calendar month to unlock 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit in the following month.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Domestic Airport Lounge Access | 1 visit per quarter |
| Spend Requirement | ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month |
| Forex Markup | 1.99% |
| Trip Cancellation Cover | Up to ₹10,000 |
Railway Lounge Access
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card offers complimentary access to participating railway lounges across India. This is a useful benefit for frequent train travellers and is not commonly available on most lifetime free credit cards.
Railway lounges typically offer comfortable seating, air-conditioned waiting areas, Wi-Fi, mobile charging points, refreshments, and buffet meals, depending on the lounge location. Access is provided through the lounge partner network upon successful card authorization. Cardholders must present a valid train ticket along with their credit card at the lounge.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Railway Lounge Access | Complimentary |
| Eligible Users | Primary and Add-on Cardholders |
| Access Method | Credit Card + Valid Train Ticket |
| Guest Access | Chargeable |
Some of the major railway stations with participating lounges include New Delhi, Old Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai Central, Sealdah (Kolkata), Madurai, and Varanasi, though the lounge network may change over time.
Movie Benefits
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card offers a Buy One Get One movie ticket benefit every month through District Movies. However, the benefit is now linked to a spending requirement.
To unlock the offer, cardholders must spend at least ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month. For example, to avail the movie benefit in July, you must have spent ₹20,000 or more during June.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Offer Type | Buy 1 Get 1 Movie Ticket |
| Maximum Discount | ₹125 |
| Eligibility | Spend ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month |
| Frequency | Once every month |
The addition of a spending requirement reduces the appeal of this benefit, especially for users who do not use the card regularly. However, cardholders who can comfortably meet the monthly spend threshold can still extract decent value from the offer over the course of a year.
Other Key Benefits
- Low Forex Markup: The card charges a forex markup fee of 1.99% plus GST (effective cost of ~2.35%), making it a better choice for international spending than most credit cards that charge 3%–3.5%.
- Complimentary Roadside Assistance: Cardholders can avail roadside assistance up to 4 times per year. Services include towing assistance, battery jump-start, flat tyre support, emergency fuel delivery, key lockout assistance, and minor on-site repairs, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
- Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000. The maximum waiver is capped at ₹300 per statement cycle.
Roadside assistance is one of the standout benefits of the IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card. It is a feature that is rarely found on lifetime free credit cards and can prove useful during vehicle breakdowns or emergencies.
Rewards Redemption
IDFC FIRST Bank offers a flexible rewards program that allows cardholders to redeem Reward Points for flights, hotel bookings, gift vouchers, and eligible online purchases through the FIRST Rewards platform.
Reward Points earned from the July 2026 statement cycle onwards are valid for 24 months from the date of credit. This replaces the earlier no-expiry rewards policy.
The redemption process is straightforward and the ability to redeem points against online purchases adds flexibility. However, the redemption value of ₹0.25 per Reward Point limits the overall reward rate, especially when compared to some travel-focused credit cards that offer airline or hotel transfer partners.
IDFC First Bank Select Credit Card Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lifetime free credit card with no joining or annual fee
- Low forex markup of 1.99%
- Domestic airport and railway lounge access
- Complimentary roadside assistance up to 4 times a year
- Flexible reward redemption against online purchases
- Trip cancellation cover and other travel benefits
Cons
- Average reward rate on regular spending
- Airport lounge access requires monthly spend eligibility
- Reward points now expire after 24 months
- No international airport lounge access
- Movie benefit is linked to a spending requirement
Should You Get the IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card?
The IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card remains one of the better lifetime free credit cards in India, especially for users looking for a mix of travel and lifestyle benefits without paying an annual fee. The card offers domestic airport lounge access, railway lounge access, low forex markup, roadside assistance, trip cancellation cover, and a flexible rewards program.
That said, the card is no longer as rewarding as it once was. The reward rate on regular spending is fairly modest, and several benefits now come with spending requirements. If your primary goal is maximizing rewards or cashback, there are better options available.
However, if you are looking for a well-rounded lifetime free credit card that combines travel perks, useful insurance benefits, and no annual fee, the IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card remains an easy recommendation. It may not be the most rewarding card in its segment, but it continues to deliver solid overall value for the price you pay—which is nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
IDFC First Bank Select Credit Card
Please update the post. IDFC Select now needs Rs 20K spends to activate the domestic lounge access for next month. I got the card thinking it is Rs 5K. Now closed it.
I would like to inform to the new users of IFSC First Bank credit card, that the interest rate which is showing at mobile app 30% p. a, after generating bill it can be upto 42% p.a. I am telling it from my past experience. And the problem is when anybody like me asking the customer care executive over phone about the increasing interest rate they can’t able to clear the reason. Official mail is also may not respond (when auto mail confirm will be response within 2 working days) , if respond not getting proper answer. May be, this is the only bank charged reward point redemption charges. Since one year I was used this card but now decide this card may not use further, and will not suggest to anyone.