IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card Review: Free, With 10X on Your Birthday

IDFC FIRST Bank's FIRST Classic Credit Card costs nothing to join or renew and pays 1.25% back on restaurant, food delivery, travel and birthday spends (10 points per ₹200, each point worth ₹0.25) and 0.375% on most other spends. It runs on almost the same rules as FIRST Millennia, needs ₹3 lakh a year in income, and charges no forex markup, though foreign spends stopped earning points on 26 October 2026.

By Abhishek Kumar · Content Writer Updated 5 November 2026 Reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts

Key facts

Joining fee: Nil
Annual fee: Nil
Base reward: 3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value)
Best category: Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value
Lounge: Domestic: No airport lounge. 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter. International: None
Forex markup: 0% (no markup)
Network: Not stated by the bank

Apply on IDFC FIRST Bank's site

Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.

In short

A dependable free card for ₹3 lakh earners who eat out and travel within India, so close to FIRST Millennia that either one will do.

Best for

Young earners with ₹3 lakh a year who want a card with no fee ever
Regular restaurant, food delivery and domestic travel spenders
People who want rewards with a published point value

Skip it if

You need airport lounge access
You want points on international spends
Most of your bill is fuel, rent or utilities

Highlights

No joining or annual fee, no spend condition
10 points per ₹200 (1.25%) on dining, travel and birthday spends
3 points per ₹200 (0.375%) on most other spends
Zero forex markup from 9 September 2026
₹500 voucher on ₹5,000 spent in the first 30 days

FIRST Classic, and how it differs from FIRST Millennia

If you have read our FIRST Millennia review, most of this card will feel familiar. IDFC FIRST Bank run both on the same reward rules, the same fees and the same ₹3 lakh income bar. FIRST Classic is active and open for applications, but the bank doesn't say which card network it uses.

So what is different? On the bank's pages, FIRST Classic lists merchant offers of up to 20% off at over 1,500 restaurants, and it spells out which payments are kept out of the 10X rate. Millennia's page offers an image card design for ₹499 plus GST, which Classic's page don't mention. That's about all, so choose whichever one suit your taste.

The three things that matter

It's free for life with no spend condition, so there is never a fee to waive.
The 10X rate on dining, food delivery, travel and birthday spends is where it earns well; elsewhere it gives 0.375%.
Foreign spends cost nothing extra but earns nothing either.

Changes from 2024 to 2026

1 September 2024: the Minimum Amount Due became 2% of the principal plus EMIs, interest and fees.
20 February 2025: the railway lounge benefit began to depend on a ₹20,000 month, for use in the month after.
18 June 2026: no more ₹20,000 billing-cycle threshold before 10X kicks in; a 24-month life for points from the July 2026 cycle; points only on spends within the credit limit.
9 September 2026: zero forex markup on all IDFC FIRST cards.
26 October 2026: international spends stopped earning points on this card. The card page still advertise 10X abroad, but we go by the bank's newer notice.

FIRST Classic costs: what you pay only if you choose to

No joining fee, no annual fee, and the bank attaches no spend condition. What you might pay is for optional extras, mistakes and a few payment types, with GST at 18% on all of it.

Add-on card for a family member: ₹499 plus GST to join and every year, so ₹588.82 (₹499 plus ₹89.82).
FIRST Digital RuPay card, which you need for UPI: ₹199 plus GST to join and every year, so ₹234.82 (₹199 plus ₹35.82).
Points redemption: ₹99 plus GST each time, so ₹116.82 (₹99 plus ₹17.82).

Interest is set per person

IDFC FIRST fixes your rate somewhere between 0.71% and 3.85% a month, which is 8.5% to 46.2% a year. Miss the minimum due and it jump to 3.99% a month, or 47.88% a year. A fully paid bill gets up to 45 days interest-free, the due date fall 15 to 20 days after the statement, and 3 grace days follow it.

The late fee is 15% of the previous statement's total due less what you paid before the due date, with a ₹100 floor and a ₹1,300 ceiling. On ₹3,000 due that's ₹450 (15% of ₹3,000); on ₹10,000 the 15% would be ₹1,500, so the ₹1,300 ceiling apply. Under ₹100 due there's no late fee at all.

Cash, forex and fees on certain payments

ATM cash: ₹199 plus GST per withdrawal; the card pages says no interest is charged until the due date, up to 45 days.
Forex: nil since 9 September 2026, currency conversion included.
Fuel: the 1% surcharge is waived on fills of ₹200 to ₹5,000, up to ₹200 a statement cycle.
Rent and property management: 1%, minimum ₹249. A ₹20,000 rent payment costs ₹249, because 1% would be only ₹200.
Utilities: 1% on the whole total once they pass ₹20,000 in a statement cycle. Fuel: 1% once a cycle's fuel passes ₹30,000. Railway tickets: 1% above ₹25,000. Tolls: 1% above ₹10,000.
Education fees through third-party apps: 1%, minimum ₹249. Bounced payment: 2%, minimum ₹500. Over-limit, only if you opted in: 2.5%, minimum ₹550.

FIRST Classic: fees and charges

Joining fee	Nil
Annual or renewal fee	Nil
Annual fee waiver	Lifetime free: no joining or annual fee, no spend condition.
Add-on card fee	₹499 + GST
GST	Charged on top of the fees and charges listed
In the bank’s words	Joining and Annual Fees NIL. Add-on card ₹499 + GST joining and annual fee (MITC). Optional FIRST Digital RuPay (UPI) companion card ₹199 + GST joining and ₹199 + GST annual fee.
Interest on unpaid balances	Up to 3.85% a month (46.2% a year)
Late payment fee	15% of the Total Amount Due as of the previous statement minus payments received before the due date, minimum ₹100 and maximum ₹1,300 (none if the amount due is below ₹100). Charged when the Minimum Amount Due is unpaid by the due date.
Cash withdrawal	₹199 per cash withdrawal (plus GST). Card pages say ATM withdrawals carry no interest for up to 45 days (until the due date); after that, interest at the card's rate applies.
Over-limit fee	2.5% of the over-limit amount, minimum ₹550 (over-limit only with the cardholder's explicit consent)
Forex markup	0% (no markup)
Other fees	Interest is dynamic per cardholder: 0.71% to 3.85% a month (8.5% to 46.2% a year); overdue interest of 3.99% a month (47.88% a year) applies when the Minimum Amount Due is not paid by the due date. The numeric fields hold the top of the published range. Rent and property management payments: 1% of the transaction, minimum ₹249 per transaction (domestic only) Utility payments: 1% on total utility spends if they exceed ₹20,000 in a statement cycle Fuel: 1% on total fuel spends if they exceed ₹30,000 in a statement cycle Passenger railway: 1% on total railway spends if they exceed ₹25,000 in a statement cycle Tolls and bridges: 1% on total spends if they exceed ₹10,000 in a statement cycle Education payments through third-party apps: 1%, minimum ₹249 per transaction Payment return (cheque, auto-debit, SI): 2% of the payment amount, minimum ₹500 GST at 18% on all fees, interest and charges

FIRST Classic points, rates and the app travel bonus

Every point is worth ₹0.25, and points are counted per ₹200 within each transaction. Four rates apply:

Rate	What earns it	Back on ₹200
10 points per ₹200	Dining and food delivery, airlines, hotels, travel agents, spends on your birthday	10 times ₹0.25 is ₹2.50, or 1.25%
3 points per ₹200	Most other purchases, and UPI above ₹2,000 on FIRST Digital RuPay	3 times ₹0.25 is ₹0.75, or 0.375%
1 point per ₹200	Utilities, insurance, railway, FASTag, and UPI of ₹2,000 or less	₹0.25, or 0.125% of ₹200
No points	Fuel, EMI, cash, fees, and international purchases from 26 October 2026	Nil

Rent, property management, government services, education and wallet loads never gets 10X. No cap on the 10X rate is published.

The app booking bonus

Hotels booked through FIRST Rewards Gallery in the IDFC FIRST app earn 20% bonus points over base, flights 10%, and all bonus points share a cap of 8,000 a calendar month. As we read it, a hotel booking earns its travel points (10 per ₹200, so 5 per ₹100) plus 20 bonus points per ₹100, which is the bank's "up to 25%": 25 points per ₹100, worth ₹6.25 (25 times ₹0.25). Flights work out to 15 points per ₹100 (5 plus 10), or ₹3.75. The hotel bonus fill the 8,000 cap at ₹40,000 of bookings in a month (8,000 divided by 20, times ₹100).

Redeeming, expiry and the small print

Points pays for online purchases, select stores, vouchers and catalogue items, or up to 70% of a flight or hotel in the app, always at ₹0.25. Travel redemptions are capped at 1,00,000 points a month and 2,00,000 a year. Points from the July 2026 cycle onward last 24 months, and the balance held in July 2026 stays valid until July 2028. They're credited only if the minimum due is paid on time, and only on spends up to your credit limit.

Welcome: spend ₹5,000 within 30 days of the card being generated (UPI, add-on card, wallet loads, EMI and ATM withdrawals are not counted) and a ₹500 voucher follows; your first EMI conversion in that window also gets 5% back, at most ₹1,000. There's no milestone. Smaller perks: 25% off movie tickets, up to ₹100 a month, if you used the card the month before, and roadside assistance worth ₹1,399 up to 4 times a year.

Three spenders

Monthly spends	Light, ₹12,000	Typical, ₹28,000	Heavy, ₹55,000
Dining and food delivery at 10X	₹3,000: 150	₹5,000: 250	₹10,000: 500
Flights and hotels booked direct at 10X	None	₹3,000: 150	₹8,000: 400
Shopping and groceries at 3X	₹5,000: 75	₹12,000: 180	₹20,000: 300
UPI above ₹2,000 at 3X	None	None	₹4,000 in one payment: 60
Utilities, insurance and FASTag at 1X	₹3,000: 15	₹6,000: 30	₹9,000: 45
Fuel	₹1,000: 0	₹2,000: 0	₹4,000: 0
Points a month	240	610	1,305
Value a year at ₹0.25	₹720	₹1,830	₹3,915
Annual fee	₹0	₹0	₹0

Light: 240 points a month is ₹60 (240 times ₹0.25), so ₹720 a year. One ₹116.82 redemption leaves ₹603.18 (₹720 minus ₹116.82). The ₹500 welcome voucher, if you spend ₹5,000 in the first 30 days, is worth almost a year of points by itself for this person.

Typical: 7,320 points (610 times 12), or ₹1,830 a year. Now add a birthday: ₹6,000 of shopping on that day earns 300 points at 10X instead of 90 at 3X (30 lots of ₹200), so 210 extra, worth ₹52.50. This person also spend over ₹20,000 every month, so the railway lounges stay open.

Heavy: 15,660 points (1,305 times 12), ₹3,915 a year before any app bookings. Two ₹12,000 hotel stays a year through FIRST Rewards Gallery, on top of this, would earn 600 travel points (60 lots of ₹200 at 10) and 2,400 bonus points (20 per ₹100 on ₹12,000) each, so 6,000 points or ₹1,500, taking the year to ₹5,415 (₹3,915 plus ₹1,500). The UPI line gives 60 points a month, ₹180 a year (60 times 12 times ₹0.25), which don't cover the ₹234.82 FIRST Digital card; break-even needs about ₹5,218 a month of UPI payments above ₹2,000 (₹234.82 divided by 0.375%, divided by 12).

FIRST Classic: higher-reward categories

Category	Rate	Cap
Dining (MCC 5812, 5813, 5814, includes food delivery)	10X Reward Points (10 points per ₹200) from the first eligible transaction, effective 18 June 2026, about 1.25% value	No cap published
Travel (MCC 3000 to 3350, 3501 to 3853, 7011, 4511, 4722, 4723)	10X Reward Points (10 points per ₹200), about 1.25% value	No cap published
Spends on your birthday	10X Reward Points (10 points per ₹200), about 1.25% value	No cap published
International purchases	No reward points on international spends from 26 Oct 2026 (bank notice of 9 Sep 2026), about 0% value	No cap published
Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app	20% Bonus Reward Points over and above base points (up to 25% reward points in total), about 5% value	8,000 bonus Reward Points a calendar month (shared with flights), ₹8,000, calendar month
Flight bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app	10% Bonus Reward Points over and above base points (up to 15% reward points in total), about 2.5% value	8,000 bonus Reward Points a calendar month (shared with hotels), ₹8,000, calendar month
UPI via linked FIRST Digital RuPay card, transactions above ₹2,000	3X Reward Points, about 0.375% value	No cap published

FIRST Classic: how rewards work

Earned as	Reward Points
Base rate	3X Reward Points on eligible spends (1X = 1 Reward Point per ₹200 spent; 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25), so 3 points per ₹200.. About 0.375% value back
Minimum spend rules	Points are earned per ₹200 spent in a transaction (1X reward point for every ₹200 spent in a transaction). Points accrue only on spends up to the credit limit in a billing cycle.
No rewards on	Fuel EMI transactions Cash withdrawals Fees and charges From 10X only: rent and property management, government services, education, wallet loads
Lower rewards on	1X on utility bill payments 1X on insurance premium payments 1X on railway spends 1X on FASTag recharges 1X on UPI transactions up to ₹2,000 via FIRST Digital RuPay card
Value of a point	Pay with points on online purchases, select stores, vouchers and catalogue: 1 Reward point = ₹0.25 Flight and hotel bookings in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: Points can pay up to 70% of the booking value; 1,00,000 points a month and 2,00,000 a year redemption cap (travel T&C)
Redemption fee	₹99 + GST per redemption
Expiry	Reward Points are valid for 24 months from the date they are credited (from the July 2026 statement cycle; balance as of July 2026 valid until July 2028). Earlier the points did not expire.
Welcome benefits	₹500 gift voucher on spending ₹5,000 within 30 days of card generation (primary card; not UPI, add-on, wallet load, EMI or ATM spends) 5% cashback up to ₹1,000 on the first EMI conversion within 30 days of card generation
Milestone benefits	None published
Lounge access	Domestic: No airport lounge. 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter. International: None Condition: Spend ₹20,000 within the current calendar month to access railway lounge benefits in the following month.
Fuel surcharge waiver	1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000, up to ₹200 per statement cycle
Insurance cover	Personal accident cover ₹2,00,000 and lost card liability cover ₹25,000, valid if the card had at least one transaction in the last 30 days.

FIRST Classic eligibility and how to apply

The published bar: at least 21 years old, an Indian citizen, a healthy credit score, credit usage at an acceptable level and an annual income of ₹3 lakh or more. That is ₹25,000 a month (₹3,00,000 divided by 12). The bank gives no separate income figure or age for the self-employed, and no maximum age is listed.

IDFC FIRST doesn't publish an exact document list for this card. Expect identity proof and income proof, with KYC getting done on a video call during online journey.

Applying

You can apply on the bank's website, in its app or at a branch. Online is fully digital with Video KYC, which the RBI treats same as a face-to-face check.

What the bank weighs

Your independent income and every card limit you already hold, as the RBI's 2025 card Directions require.
Your score, and how much of your existing limits you use. CRIF treats above 700 as generally good and Experian puts the mark at 750, both on a 300 to 900 scale.
The final call is IDFC FIRST's. RBI sets no minimum income or age itself, and a rejection must come with reasons in writing.

No income proof or credit history? The FD-backed FIRST WOW! need neither. IDFC FIRST's 24/7 line is 1800 10 888, also listed on our IDFC FIRST Bank customer care page.

FIRST Classic: eligibility and documents

Age (salaried)	At least 21 years
Age (self-employed)	Not published by the bank
Income (salaried)	Annual income of ₹3 lakhs or more
Income (self-employed)	Annual income of ₹3 lakhs or more (the bank does not publish a separate self-employed figure)
Other conditions	Indian citizen, healthy credit score, credit usage within an acceptable level; issuance at the bank's discretion. Monthly figure derived as ₹3 lakh a year ÷ 12.
Documents	Identity proof Income proof KYC verification (Video KYC in the online journey)
How to apply	Online on the IDFC FIRST Bank website or mobile app (fully digital with Video KYC; FD-backed cards need an FD opened online), or at a branch.
Card customer care	1800 10 888

These are the bank's published conditions. Meeting them does not guarantee a card: approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.

FIRST Classic against three free cards

FIRST Millennia

The twin. FIRST Millennia matches Classic on fees, the 10X and 3X rates at ₹0.25 a point, zero forex, the ₹3 lakh bar and the railway lounges. Its page adds a photo card design at ₹499 plus GST; Classic's adds restaurant offers.

FIRST Select

FIRST Select keeps the same earn rates and nil fees but adds 1 domestic airport lounge visit a quarter, opened by ₹20,000 spent in the month before, and lifts the fuel waiver cap to ₹300 a cycle from Classic's ₹200. The bar is much higher: ₹12 lakh a year, four times Classic's ₹3 lakh. If you clears it, Select is the better free card.

ICICI Bank Platinum Chip

Platinum Chip is ICICI's free card. It earns 2 points per ₹100 with no bonus categories, and ICICI publishes no point value, so you can't compare it rupee for rupee. Forex is 3.5%, there's no lounge, and the income bar is ₹20,000 a month, or ₹2,40,000 a year (₹20,000 times 12), a little lower than Classic's.

Who should pick which

FIRST Classic or Millennia: ₹3 lakh to ₹12 lakh a year, and food and travel are your main spends.
FIRST Select: above ₹12 lakh, and you want a free airport lounge.
Platinum Chip: you earn at least ₹2,40,000 but under ₹3 lakh a year, or you already bank with ICICI.

More IDFC FIRST cards: IDFC FIRST Bank credit cards. All banks: the credit cards hub.

FIRST Classic against similar cards

Term	FIRST Classic Credit Card This card	FIRST Millennia Credit Card	FIRST Select Credit Card	ICICI Bank Platinum Chip Credit Card
Bank	IDFC FIRST Bank	IDFC FIRST Bank	IDFC FIRST Bank	ICICI Bank
Joining fee	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Annual fee and waiver	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Base reward	3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value)	3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value)	3X Reward Points on eligible spends (about 0.375% value)	2 reward points per ₹100 on retail spend
Best category	Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value	Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value	Hotel bookings via 'FIRST Rewards Gallery' in the IDFC FIRST Bank app: about 5% value	No higher-reward category published
Lounges	Domestic: No airport lounge. 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter. International: None	Domestic: No airport lounge. 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter. International: None	Domestic: 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge visit every quarter; 4 complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter International: None (domestic airports in India only)	Domestic: None stated International: None stated
Forex markup	0% (no markup)	0% (no markup)	0% (no markup)	3.5% of the amount
Network	Not stated by the bank	Not stated by the bank	Not stated by the bank	Not stated by the bank
Published minimum income	₹25,000 a month	₹25,000 a month	₹1,00,000 a month	₹20,000 a month
Status	Taking applications	Taking applications	Taking applications	Taking applications

Frequently asked questions

Is the IDFC FIRST Classic Credit Card lifetime free?

Yes. Both the joining and annual fees are nil, with no spend condition, according to the bank's card page and MITC. You pay only for optional extras: ₹499 plus GST a year per add-on card, ₹199 plus GST a year if you want the FIRST Digital RuPay card for UPI, and ₹99 plus GST whenever you redeem points.

How much are FIRST Classic reward points worth?

Each point is worth ₹0.25 on every redemption route, including pay with points, vouchers, the catalogue and flight or hotel bookings in the IDFC FIRST app. That makes the 10X rate on dining, travel and birthday spends 1.25% and the 3X base 0.375%. With ₹99 plus GST charged on each redemption, it pays to redeem in bigger lots.

Who can apply for the FIRST Classic card?

You must be an Indian citizen of at least 21 who earns ₹3 lakh a year or more, roughly ₹25,000 a month. The bank also looks for a healthy credit score and credit use at an acceptable level, and gives no separate figure for the self-employed. Apply online with Video KYC, in the app or at a branch; issuing the card is the bank's call.

Does the FIRST Classic card charge a forex markup?

No. IDFC FIRST Bank removed the forex markup on all its credit cards from 9 September 2026, including currency conversion transactions. The catch: foreign spends on FIRST Classic have earned no reward points since 26 October 2026. The card page still shows 10X abroad, but the bank's newer notice says otherwise, so plan on earning nothing there.

What is the difference between FIRST Classic and FIRST Millennia?

Very little. Both have nil fees, the same 10X and 3X earn rates at ₹0.25 a point, zero forex, railway lounges after a ₹20,000 month and a ₹3 lakh income bar. The bank's pages list restaurant offers of up to 20% off for Classic and an optional photo card design for Millennia, so either card is a reasonable choice.

What changed on the FIRST Classic card in June 2026?

Before 18 June 2026 you had to spend ₹20,000 in a billing cycle before dining, travel and birthday purchases earned 10X; now the higher rate starts with the first eligible purchase. In return, points credited from the July 2026 cycle onward expire 24 months after credit, where earlier they never expired, and spends above your credit limit earn nothing.

Sources

IDFC FIRST Bank: Most Important Terms & Conditions - Credit Cards (MITC and Schedule of Charges); FIRST Classic Credit Card bonus reward points on travel bookings (T&C); FIRST Classic Credit Card; Important update regarding your FIRST Classic Credit Card; Important update regarding your IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card (Zero Forex Markup notice); FIRST Digital RuPay Credit Card; Credit Card - Apply for Credit Card Online (listing page FAQ); Contact Us

Last verified: 5 November 2026

Written by Abhishek Kumar, reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts

BankCreds does not sell cards or take applications. Fees and rewards change; the bank's own terms on the day you apply are what count, and approval is the bank's decision.