Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card Review: Free, Virtual, Light on Rewards
The Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card is a lifetime-free, virtual-only RuPay card that Kotak offers to people who already hold a Kotak credit card. It earns 3 Reward Points per ₹100 on UPI and regular card spends, and a point is worth ₹0.10 in the rewards catalogue or ₹0.07 as cash value since 1 June 2025. Treat it as a free way to pay UPI merchants on credit, not as a rewards card.
Key facts
- Joining fee
- Nil
- Annual fee
- Nil
- Base reward
- 3 Reward Points per ₹100 spent, on UPI and regular...
- Best category
- No higher-reward category published
- Lounge
- Not published by the bank
- Forex markup
- 3.5% of the amount
- Network
- RuPay
Opens the bank's own page for this card. Approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
In short
Worth adding if you already hold a Kotak card and want a free credit line for UPI payments, but at 0.3% at best its rewards are small.
Best for
- Existing Kotak credit cardholders who pay shops by UPI QR
- People who want a lifetime-free card with no physical plastic to lose
- Users who like to keep UPI spending on its own card and statement
Skip it if
- You do not already hold a Kotak credit card, since only existing cardholders qualify
- You want meaningful rewards, as 3 points per ₹100 is worth 0.3% at best
- You need an add-on card, cash withdrawals or lounge access
Highlights
- No joining or annual fee, for life
- 3 Reward Points per ₹100 on UPI and regular card spends
- ₹0.10 a point in the catalogue, ₹0.07 as cash value from 1 June 2025
- Virtual card only, with no add-on and no cash advance
- Minimum age 18 and an existing Kotak credit card needed
What the Kotak UPI RuPay card is
This is a credit card without plastic. Kotak issues it only as a virtual card on the RuPay network, and its main job is to sit inside a UPI app so you can scan any merchant QR and pay on credit. There is no joining fee and no annual fee, for life. The catch is in who can have it: the card page says you must already be a Kotak credit card holder.
Rewards are on the lesser side. You earn 3 Reward Points per ₹100, on UPI and on regular card spends such as online, e-commerce and international payments. A point is worth ₹0.10 in Kotak's catalogue and ₹0.07 as cash value, so the best case is ₹0.30 back on ₹100 (3 times ₹0.10). Nobody should get this card for the points, it's for the convenience.
When it makes sense
It adds the most for a Kotak customer whose current card can't go on UPI. If your existing Kotak card is already a RuPay one, like the IndianOil Kotak card or the RuPay variant of Kotak Cashback+, it work on UPI and earns 0.5% there, which is more than this card gives. In that case a second card bring very little except a separate statement.
Status and recent changes
- Active and open to existing Kotak cardholders. Kotak was stopped from issuing new cards by the RBI on 24 April 2024 and allowed again from 12 February 2025.
- From 1 June 2025, insurance, government and online skill-based gaming spends earn no points, and utility spends earn only up to ₹35,000 a statement cycle.
- Also from 1 June 2025, cash value dropped from ₹0.10 to ₹0.07 a point, with a 2,000-point minimum.
See where it fits among the bank's cards on our Kotak Mahindra Bank cards page, or compare options on best credit cards for UPI.
Charges on the UPI RuPay card
Joining fee nil, annual fee nil, as per both the MITC and the card page, and there is no spend target to keep it free. Where a charge does applies, GST is added on top. Add-on cards are not available, and because the card is virtual the replacement fee is nil.
Interest and late payment
Interest is 3.75% a month, 45% a year, with up to 51 days free if the last bill was paid in full. Leave ₹15,000 unpaid for a month and the interest is about ₹562.50 (3.75% of ₹15,000), plus ₹101.25 GST (18% of ₹562.50). Late fees run on Kotak's slab table, for example ₹500 when the amount due is above ₹500 and up to ₹1,000, and ₹900 when it is above ₹10,000 and up to ₹25,000. There is no cash advance facility at all, so no cash fee neither. The over-limit charge is ₹500 if you cross the limit by ₹500 or more.
Fees on particular spends
- Rent: 1% of the transaction plus GST.
- Utilities: 1% once cumulative utility spends in a cycle cross ₹35,000. That's the same line where utility points stop, so above it you pay and earn nothing.
- Fuel: 1% once fuel spends in a cycle cross ₹25,000. There is no fuel surcharge waiver, the pump surcharge is charged as per normal rates.
- Wallet loads and online skill-based gaming: 1% each above ₹10,000 a cycle.
- Education paid through third-party apps: 1%.
- Forex markup 3.5% and dynamic currency conversion 3.5%, so ₹10,000 of foreign spends adds ₹350 (3.5% of ₹10,000) before GST.
Using the card on UPI itself costs nothing, NPCI says customers are not charged for paying with a credit card on UPI, though surcharges such as on fuel still can come.
Kotak UPI RuPay (virtual): fees and charges
| Joining fee | Nil |
|---|---|
| Annual or renewal fee | Nil |
| Annual fee waiver | Lifetime free: no joining or annual fee |
| Add-on card fee | Not published by the bank |
| GST | Charged on top of the fees and charges listed |
| In the bank’s words | Joining fee Nil, annual fee Nil (MITC and card page); virtual-only card; add-on card facility not available. |
| Interest on unpaid balances | Up to 3.75% a month (45% a year) |
| Late payment fee | Up to ₹100: ₹0; >₹100-₹500: ₹100; >₹500-₹1,000: ₹500; >₹1,000-₹5,000: ₹600; >₹5,000-₹10,000: ₹750; >₹10,000-₹25,000: ₹900; >₹25,000-₹50,000: ₹1,100; >₹50,000: ₹1,300 (charged when no payment or less than the Minimum Amount Due is paid by the due date) |
| Cash withdrawal | Cash advance facility not available |
| Over-limit fee | ₹500 (if over limit amount is equal to or greater than ₹500) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the amount |
| Other fees |
|
Points on the UPI RuPay card
The earn rate is flat: 3 Reward Points per ₹100, counted on whole multiples of ₹100. A ₹250 UPI payment earns 6 points (on ₹200), and a ₹60 cup of tea earns none. This rounding matter more on UPI than on a normal card, because UPI bills tend to be small.
Points don't come on rent, fuel, railway, wallet loading, EMI, education, balance transfer, insurance, government, online skill-based gaming, fund transfer, cash advance or Flexi Pay. Utility spends earn only up to ₹35,000 a statement cycle. There is no welcome bonus and no milestone.
What a point is worth
- Catalogue (mobile recharge, shopping, vouchers, movies, travel): ₹0.10 a point, so 0.3% of spends.
- Cash value (statement credit): ₹0.07 a point from 1 June 2025, minimum 2,000 points, so 0.21% (3 times ₹0.07 is ₹0.21 on ₹100).
One line on the card page still says 1,000 points equal ₹100 with a 1,000-point minimum. The MITC, and a notice on the same page, set cash value at ₹0.07 with 2,000 points from 1 June 2025, and we goes by that. Collecting 2,000 points takes ₹66,667 of spends (2,000 divided by 3, times ₹100), and they expire 2 years after you earn them, so a light user should plan about it.
Three users, worked out
- Light, ₹6,000 a month: ₹4,000 at the kirana and pharmacy by UPI and ₹2,000 online. That's 180 points a month (₹6,000 divided by 100, times 3) and 2,160 a year (180 times 12): ₹216 in the catalogue (2,160 times ₹0.10) or ₹151.20 as cash (2,160 times ₹0.07). The cash minimum comes only in month 12, since 11 months give 1,980 points (180 times 11). Fee is nil, so all of it is gain.
- Typical, ₹15,000 a month: ₹9,000 UPI at shops and restaurants, ₹3,000 online, ₹1,000 mobile and electricity bills, and ₹2,000 fuel by UPI which earn nothing. Earning spend is ₹13,000 (₹9,000 plus ₹3,000 plus ₹1,000), so 390 points a month (₹13,000 divided by 100, times 3) and 4,680 a year (390 times 12). Value ₹468 in the catalogue (4,680 times ₹0.10) or ₹327.60 as cash (4,680 times ₹0.07).
- Heavy, ₹40,000 a month: ₹20,000 UPI shopping, ₹8,000 online and ₹6,000 utilities earn; ₹4,000 insurance and ₹2,000 railway tickets do not. Earning spend is ₹34,000 (₹20,000 plus ₹8,000 plus ₹6,000), so 1,020 points a month (₹34,000 divided by 100, times 3) and 12,240 a year (1,020 times 12). Value ₹1,224 in the catalogue (12,240 times ₹0.10), about 0.26% of the ₹4,80,000 spent in a year (₹1,224 divided by ₹4,80,000, which is ₹40,000 times 12), or ₹856.80 as cash (12,240 times ₹0.07).
| User | Monthly spend | Earning spend | Points a year | Catalogue value | Cash value | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | 2,160 | ₹216 | ₹151.20 | Nil |
| Typical | ₹15,000 | ₹13,000 | 4,680 | ₹468 | ₹327.60 | Nil |
| Heavy | ₹40,000 | ₹34,000 | 12,240 | ₹1,224 | ₹856.80 | Nil |
Even the heavy user earns barely more than ₹100 a month (₹1,224 divided by 12 is ₹102). The value here is of free credit line on UPI, not the points.
Kotak UPI RuPay (virtual): how rewards work
| Earned as | Reward Points |
|---|---|
| Base rate | 3 Reward Points per ₹100 spent, on UPI and regular (online, e-commerce and international) card transactions |
| Minimum spend rules | Points earned on transaction amounts in integer multiples of ₹100 |
| No rewards on |
|
| Lower rewards on |
|
| Value of a point |
|
| Redemption fee | Not published |
| Expiry | Reward points expire 2 years from the date on which they are earned (MITC) |
| Welcome benefits | None published |
| Milestone benefits | None published |
| Lounge access | Not published by the bank Condition: No lounge benefit published |
| Fuel surcharge waiver | No waiver: fuel surcharge charged as per applicable rates |
| Insurance cover | Not published by the bank |
Who can get it, and how
Two rules are published. You must be at least 18, and you must already hold a Kotak credit card. No income criterion is listed, which make sense for a card offered only to existing customers. Even so the bank decide each request on its own, and nothing about it is automatic.
Documents
- Identity, age and address proof, and your PAN card.
- Income proof or employment details where asked.
- For online applications: name, phone number, PAN and Aadhaar, followed by Video KYC.
Applying and linking to UPI
Kotak doesn't describe a separate route for this card. Its general routes are online on the Kotak website with Video KYC, at a branch, or through bank representatives. Once issued, you link the card to a UPI ID in your UPI app and approve every payment with a UPI PIN. The card number can't be part of the UPI ID.
- Merchant payments only. Sending money to a person, card-to-card transfers and cash withdrawals is not allowed on credit card UPI.
- Limits: the lowest of your card limit, your own set limit and the bank's risk limit, within a UPI cap of ₹1 lakh a day (₹2 lakh for some merchant categories).
- Blocked uses also include IPOs, mutual funds, lending platforms and foreign inward remittances.
The RBI's card rules still applies: the card is issued only with your explicit consent, and if you don't activate it within 30 days the bank must ask your consent again by OTP or close it free. For help, the 24x7 line is 1800 4100, and more numbers are on our Kotak customer care page.
Kotak UPI RuPay (virtual): eligibility and documents
| Age (salaried) | Minimum 18 years |
|---|---|
| Age (self-employed) | Minimum 18 years |
| Income (salaried) | Not published by the bank |
| Income (self-employed) | Not published by the bank |
| Other conditions | Customer should be an existing Kotak Credit Card holder |
| Documents |
|
| How to apply | Online on the Kotak website (onboarding.kotak.bank.in): choose a card, share name, phone number, PAN and Aadhaar, complete Video KYC and receive a virtual card; or apply offline at a Kotak branch or through bank representatives. Dream Different (FD-secured) applications go through the Kotak811 app or website. White and White Reserve have no online Apply button (programme/RM-linked). |
| Card customer care | 1800 4100 |
These are the bank's published conditions. Meeting them does not guarantee a card: approval and the credit limit are the bank's decision.
Who should add this card
The clear winner is a Kotak cardholder whose main card don't work on UPI and who pays a lot of small shops by QR. For them it's a free way to move those payments on credit, get up to 51 days to pay, and collect a few points on the side. Keeping UPI on its own virtual card also make the main card's statement cleaner.
Skip it if you have no Kotak card, because you can't get it. Skip it as well if you hold a Kotak RuPay card already, since that one earns 0.5% on UPI. And anyone who want rewards should look at a paid UPI card, the gap is big: even the heavy user above earns ₹1,224 a year here.
Trade-offs
Free for life is a real plus; there's no fee to recover. Against that, the cash value cut to ₹0.07 and the 2,000-point minimum mean small spenders may wait a year to redeem anything as cash. The long exclusion list hurts too: rent, fuel, railway, insurance and government earn nothing, and fuel above ₹25,000 a cycle carry a 1% fee. Last, it's virtual only, so it's for UPI and online use rather than swiping at a shop counter.
Pros
- No joining or annual fee for life, so there is no spend target to chase
- Earns 3 points per ₹100 on both UPI and regular online card spends, including international
- Virtual card with a nil replacement fee and nothing physical to lose
- RuPay on UPI lets you pay merchant QR codes on credit with your UPI PIN
- Utility bills earn points up to ₹35,000 a statement cycle
Cons
- Only existing Kotak credit card holders can get it
- Low reward value: ₹0.30 per ₹100 at catalogue rate and ₹0.21 as cash
- Cash value redemption needs at least 2,000 points
- No points on rent, fuel, railway, wallet, EMI, education, insurance or government spends
- 3.5% forex markup, no fuel surcharge waiver, no lounge and no add-on cards
Other RuPay cards for UPI
If UPI is the main reason you want a credit card, these three earn more, though each charge a fee. The comparison table below shows the details side by side.
Kotak UPI RuPay or HDFC Bank UPI RuPay
The HDFC Bank UPI RuPay card is also virtual, but it costs ₹99 plus GST a year, waived from the second year on ₹25,000 of annual spends. HDFC advertises 3% back as CashPoints on groceries, dining and PayZapp, up to 500 CashPoints a month, 2% on utilities and 1% on other spends, with a CashPoint worth ₹0.25 against the bill and a ₹50 plus GST fee per cashback redemption. On groceries and dining that is clearly above Kotak's 3 points per ₹100; on other spends the gap is small. HDFC's page sets no rule that you already hold its card, but its eligibility text looks copied from another card, so treat the criteria as unconfirmed.
Kotak UPI RuPay or AU SPONT
The AU SPONT card charges ₹299 plus GST with no spend waiver. It pays 1% cashback on all transactions including UPI through any app, capped at ₹500 a statement cycle, and adds 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter when you spent ₹50,000 in the previous quarter. Plain cash at 1% beats 3 points per ₹100 by long distance.
Kotak UPI RuPay or HSBC RuPay Cashback
The HSBC RuPay Cashback card costs ₹499 plus GST, reversed on ₹2 lakh of yearly spends. It pays 10% on dining, food delivery and grocery and 1% on other spends, with total cashback capped at ₹400 a month. It asks a lot more though: ₹6 lakh a year salaried income and residence in its listed cities. HSBC's card page says 10 lounge visits a year while its service guide says 4.
For more choices see the credit cards hub.
Kotak UPI RuPay (virtual) against similar cards
| Term | Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card This card | HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card | AU SPONT Credit Card | HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) | HDFC Bank | AU Small Finance Bank (AU Bank) | HSBC India |
| Joining fee | Nil | ₹99 + GST | ₹299 + GST | ₹499 + GST |
| Annual fee and waiver | Nil | ₹99 + GST. Spend ₹25,000 or more annually before the renewal date and get a renewal fee waiver from the second year onwards. | ₹299 + GST | ₹499 + GST. Annual fee, including GST, fully reversed if total eligible spend in the anniversary year exceeds Rs 2,00,000 |
| Base reward | 3 Reward Points per ₹100 spent, on UPI and regular... | 1% CashPoints on other spends, up to 500 CashPoints a calendar month (about 1% value) | 1% cashback on all transactions... (about 1% value) | 1% cashback on all other eligible spends (about 1% value) |
| Best category | No higher-reward category published | Groceries and supermarkets, dining and all PayZapp transactions: about 3% value | No higher-reward category published | Dining, food delivery and grocery: about 10% value |
| Lounges | Not published by the bank | Domestic: None International: None | Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per quarter International: None published | Domestic: Up to 2 complimentary domestic visits per quarter (card page) International: 2 international visits per year (card page) |
| Forex markup | 3.5% of the amount | 3.5% of the amount | 3.49% of the amount | 3.5% of the amount |
| Network | RuPay | RuPay | RuPay | RuPay |
| Published minimum income | Not published by the bank | ₹35,000 a month | Minimum monthly income as specified by the bank (no figure published) | ₹50,000 a month |
| Status | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications | Taking applications |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card really free?
How much are Kotak UPI RuPay Reward Points worth?
Who can get the Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card?
Can I use the Kotak UPI RuPay card abroad or at airport lounges?
What changed on the Kotak UPI RuPay card in June 2025?
Can I send money to friends or withdraw cash with the Kotak UPI RuPay card?
Related
- Kotak Mahindra Bank Credit Cards 2026: The Lineup After the RBI Ban
- HDFC Bank UPI RuPay Credit Card Review: ₹99 Fee, Points Worth 25 Paise
- AU SPONT Credit Card Review: 1% Cashback on UPI, Capped at ₹500
- HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card Review: 10% on Food, ₹400 Total Cap
- Best UPI Credit Cards in India 2026: RuPay Cards That Pay Back
- Kotak mahindra bank
Sources
- Kotak Mahindra Bank: Most Important Terms & Conditions and Cardholder Agreement, Retail Cards (English); Key Fact Statement - Kotak UPI Rupay Credit Card (version KFSKUR12032026); Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card product page; Credit Card - Apply for Credit Card Online (Kotak credit card listing page); Contact Us (Kotak Mahindra Bank customer service)
Last verified: 5 November 2026
Written by Rashmi Mandana, 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.