IRCTC SBI Card Premier Review: Up to 10% Back on AC Train Tickets

IRCTC SBI Card Premier is a ₹1,499 (plus GST) rail card that returns up to 10% as Reward Points on AC and chair car tickets booked on the IRCTC website or app, with no cap. SBI Card values each point at ₹1, redeemed through IRCTC, and the card adds 8 railway lounge visits a year. The renewal fee is reversed at ₹2 lakh of yearly spend, but away from IRCTC the card earns just 0.8%.

By Ramesh Kulkarni · Content Writer Updated 5 November 2026 Reviewed by BankCreds Financial Experts

Key facts

Joining fee: ₹1,499 + GST
Annual fee: ₹1,499 + GST. Spend based reversal of annual fee on spends of Rs. 2 Lakhs (MITC: annual spends of Rs. 2 lakh or more in the preceding year)
Base reward: 1 Reward Point per Rs (about 0.8% value)
Best category: Rail tickets on IRCTC website and app: about 10% value
Lounge: Domestic: 8 complimentary railway lounge visits a year in India (max 2 per quarter), primary cardholder only; no airport lounges listed International: None listed
Forex markup: 3.5% of the amount
Network: Visa, RuPay

Apply on SBI Card's site

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

In short

A strong card for families who book AC train tickets on IRCTC every month, and a weak everyday card for most other spending.

Best for

Families who book AC1, AC2, AC3 or chair car tickets on IRCTC regularly
People who also book flights and meals through IRCTC
Rail travellers who want railway lounge visits

Skip it if

You travel mostly by sleeper class or fly without using IRCTC
You want airport lounges or low forex charges
Your card spend will stay well below ₹2 lakh a year

Highlights

Annual fee ₹1,499 plus GST, reversed at ₹2 lakh of yearly spend
Up to 10% back as points on AC rail tickets booked on IRCTC, no cap
1,500 welcome points worth ₹1,500
2,500 and 5,000 bonus points at ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh of yearly travel spend
8 railway lounge visits a year, up to 2 a quarter

What the IRCTC SBI Card Premier does

This is SBI Card's premium co-brand with IRCTC, the railways' ticketing and catering arm, and nearly all its value comes from one habit: booking AC train tickets on the IRCTC website or app. Tickets in AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car and Chair Car earns up to 10% back as Reward Points, and SBI Card says there is no monthly or annual cap. Points move to your IRCTC loyalty account on the 15th of every month, and SBI Card values them at ₹1 each.

It comes on Visa or RuPay, and the RuPay card works on UPI at shops. The rest of the range is on our SBI Card hub.

Three things to know first

You must be on the train. Value back on rail tickets is given only when the cardholder is one of passenger. Since 26 December 2024 points are worked out on the whole booking, co-travellers included.
Air and catering pay 4%, not 5%. The card page says 5% back on air tickets and e-catering through IRCTC, but the terms give 5 points per ₹125, which is 4%, with air capped at 750 points a cycle.
Everything else is ordinary. 3 points per ₹125 on dining and utility standing instructions (2.4%) and 1 point per ₹125 (0.8%) elsewhere.

Changes since 2024

Rent stopped earning points from 15 April 2024 and government payments from 15 July 2024. From 26 December 2024 points are given on the complete booking and stays valid 2 years from the member's registration. The free air accident cover of ₹50 lakh and rail accident cover of ₹10 lakh ended on 26 July 2025. The card is active and open to applicants.

IRCTC SBI Card Premier fees and charges

Annual fee and the ₹2 lakh reversal

You pay ₹1,499 on issue and ₹1,499 each year after, plus 18% GST of ₹269.82, so ₹1,768.82 a time. Add-on cards cost nothing. SBI Card's MITC reverses the renewal fee once the previous year's spend touches ₹2 lakh, though the card page's fees section list the renewal without any waiver; the benefits section of the same page agrees with the MITC.

₹2 lakh a year is about ₹16,667 a month (₹2,00,000 divided by 12). Rail alone rarely gets there: ₹5,000 of tickets a month is ₹60,000 a year. You'll need most of household spending on this card to cross it. The 1,500 welcome points, worth ₹1,500, cover most of the first fee.

Savings and charges on IRCTC itself

The card saves IRCTC's 1% transaction charge on rail tickets and 1.8% on air tickets booked through IRCTC, so ₹5,000 of rail bookings a month saves ₹50. A 1% charge applies on the refund amount when you cancel a rail ticket.

Interest, late fee and cash

Interest runs at 3.75% a month, 45% a year, on anything carried forward, and the 20 to 50 day interest-free period is lost once a balance is carried. The late fee is nil up to ₹100 due and rises through slabs to ₹1,300 above ₹50,000, plus ₹100 a cycle when the minimum is missed two cycles together, taxes extra. ATM cash costs 2.5%, minimum ₹500, with interest from day one.

Forex and special fees

Forex markup 3.5%, also on rupee payments of ₹1,000 or more to merchants registered abroad.
Rent ₹199 plus taxes per payment; utilities 1% of the total above ₹50,000 a cycle.
Wallet loads above ₹1,000 and education fees through third-party apps: 1%, since 1 November 2025.
From 1 December 2026: 1% on transport transactions above ₹30,000 and on a cycle's fuel spend above ₹50,000. SBI Card applies the transport fee by merchant codes 4111, 4784 and 4131, and our data don't say which code IRCTC bookings carry.
Fuel surcharge: 1% back on fills of ₹500 to ₹4,000, up to ₹250 a cycle.

IRCTC Premier: fees and charges

Joining fee	₹1,499 + GST
Annual or renewal fee	₹1,499 + GST
Annual fee waiver	Spend based reversal of annual fee on spends of Rs. 2 Lakhs (MITC: annual spends of Rs. 2 lakh or more in the preceding year)
Add-on card fee	Nil
GST	Charged on top of the fees and charges listed
In the bank’s words	Annual Fee: Rs. 1,499 + taxes; Renewal Fee (per annum): Rs. 1,499 + taxes; Add-on Fee (per annum): Nil
Interest on unpaid balances	Up to 3.75% a month (45% a year)
Late payment fee	Nil up to Rs.100; Rs.100 (Rs.100-500); Rs.500 (Rs.500-1,000); Rs.750 (Rs.1,000-10,000); Rs.950 (Rs.10,000-25,000); Rs.1,100 (Rs.25,000-50,000); Rs.1,300 (above Rs.50,000) of outstanding amount due; plus Rs.100 additional if MAD is missed two consecutive cycles (continues each cycle until MAD is cleared). Taxes extra.
Cash withdrawal	2.5% of transaction amount, minimum Rs.500, at domestic and international ATMs; finance charges from the date of withdrawal (no free credit period); max Rs.15,000 cash per day at ATMs (MCC 6011), within cash limit.
Over-limit fee	2.5% of overlimit amount, minimum Rs.600, once per billing cycle; only if the cardholder has consented to over-limit use
Forex markup	3.5% of the amount
Other fees	Rent payments (MCC 6513): Rs.199 + taxes processing fee per transaction Utility payments (MCC 4900): 1% of total utility payments if they exceed Rs.50,000 in a billing cycle (since 1 Dec 2024) Education payments via third-party apps (CRED, Cheq, MobiKwik etc.): 1% of amount (since 1 Nov 2025); paying the school or college directly is free Wallet loads (MCC 6540, 6541): 1% of every load above Rs.1,000 (since 1 Nov 2025) Transportation (MCC 4111, 4784, 4131): 1% of every transaction above Rs.30,000 (from 1 Dec 2026) Fuel (MCC 5172, 5541, 5542, 5983): 1% of total fuel spends if they exceed Rs.50,000 in a billing cycle (from 1 Dec 2026) Dynamic currency conversion fee on INR transactions of Rs.1,000 or more at international locations or overseas-registered merchants: same rate as the card's forex markup Cash payment at SBI branch: Rs.250; cheque payment: Rs.200; payment dishonour: 2% of amount, minimum Rs.500 Card replacement: Rs.100 to Rs.250 (Rs.1,500 for AURUM) Reward redemption fee: Rs.99 on physical products, statement credit and physically sent vouchers (not on AURUM) Priority Pass lounge use beyond complimentary visits: up to USD 27 per visit + taxes Minimum finance charge Rs.25; interest-free period 20 to 50 days on retail purchases only if previous balance paid in full; 3-day grace period after due date

Rail points, their value and three travellers

How the points add up

AC rail tickets on IRCTC earn 10 points per ₹100, and at ₹1 a point that is the 10% headline. Air tickets and e-catering through IRCTC earn 5 points per ₹125 (4%), with air capped at 750 points a statement cycle, reached on ₹18,750 of air bookings (750 divided by 5, times ₹125). Dining and utility standing instructions earn 3 points per ₹125 (2.4%), other non-fuel spends 1 point per ₹125 (0.8%).

Fuel, wallet loads, rent, government payments, cash, balance transfers and fees earn nothing, and points on Flexipay and merchant EMI gets reversed. Tickets paid with vouchers such as military warrants don't count.

Value, expiry and bonuses

You redeem on the IRCTC website or app after the monthly transfer. SBI Card uses 1 point = ₹1 for its own adjustments and calls the welcome 1,500 points worth ₹1,500, but publishes no other value inside IRCTC's programme, so ₹1 is the guide. Points stay valid 2 years from registration.

On top: 1,500 points within 45 days of paying the first fee, 2,500 points at ₹50,000 of yearly travel spend and 5,000 at ₹1 lakh. These are listed as 2 milestones, so we count both past ₹1 lakh. The list of codes that count as travel sits in a document we haven't read, so confirm IRCTC rail and air qualifies.

Three travellers, worked out

Per month	Occasional	Regular family	Frequent
AC rail on IRCTC	₹2,000	₹5,000	₹12,000
Air on IRCTC	Nil	₹3,000	₹20,000
Dining and utility standing instructions	₹2,000	₹7,000	₹13,000
Other spends	₹4,000	₹10,000	₹20,000
Points a month	280	868	2,422
Travel bonus points a year	Nil	2,500	7,500
Renewal fee	₹1,768.82 paid	Reversed	Reversed

Occasional, ₹8,000 a month. Rail earns 200 points, dining 48 (₹2,000 divided by 125, times 3) and the rest 32, so 280 a month and 3,360 a year, worth ₹3,360. Saving 1% on ₹24,000 of rail adds ₹240. Yearly spend is ₹96,000, so the ₹1,768.82 fee stays and you are left ₹1,831.18 (₹3,360 plus ₹240, less ₹1,768.82).

Regular family, ₹25,000 a month. 500 rail points, 120 on air (₹3,000 divided by 125, times 5), 168 on dining and standing instructions and 80 on the rest make 868 a month, 10,416 a year. ₹96,000 of yearly travel crosses ₹50,000 for 2,500 more, so 12,916 points, ₹12,916. The saved charges are ₹600 on rail (1% of ₹60,000) and ₹648 on air (1.8% of ₹36,000), ₹14,164 in all, and ₹3,00,000 of spend reverses the fee.

Frequent, ₹65,000 a month. Rail gives 1,200 points. Air would give 800 (₹20,000 divided by 125, times 5) but stops at 750, the last ₹1,250 earning nothing extra. Dining and standing instructions add 312 (₹13,000 divided by 125, times 3) and the rest 160, so 2,422 a month, 29,064 a year, plus 7,500 in milestones: 36,564 points, ₹36,564, with the fee reversed.

IRCTC Premier: higher-reward categories

Category	Rate	Cap
Rail tickets (AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car, Chair Car) on IRCTC website and app	up to 10% value back as Reward Points (10 Reward Points per Rs.100 on AC ticket purchases), about 10% value	There is no capping on monthly/ annual value back amount
Air tickets on air.irctc.co.in and e-catering on ecatering.irctc.co.in	5 Reward Points per Rs.125 (page: '5% back'), about 4% value	Earning on Air ticket booking is capped at 750 Reward Points in each monthly statement cycle, statement cycle
Dining (MCC 5812, 5813, 5814) and Standing Instructions on utility spends	3 Reward Points per Rs.125, about 2.4% value	No cap stated

IRCTC Premier: how rewards work

Earned as	Reward Points (transferred monthly to the IRCTC loyalty account)
Base rate	1 Reward Point per Rs. 125 spent on other non-fuel retail purchases (domestic and international). About 0.8% value back
Minimum spend rules	Not published by the bank
No rewards on	Fuel (MCC 5172, 5541, 5983, 5542) e-Wallet loads (MCC 6540, 6541) Rent (MCC 6513, 7349) since 15 Apr 2024 Government (MCC 9399, 9311) since 15 Jul 2024 Balance transfer, Encash, cash advance Financial charges, disputed transactions Flexipay and merchant EMI (points reversed) Rail tickets bought with vouchers such as military warrants
Lower rewards on	Value back on rail tickets only if the cardholder is a passenger on the ticket
Value of a point	Redeem on IRCTC website or app after monthly transfer to IRCTC loyalty account: Welcome '1,500 reward points worth Rs. 1,500'; statement-debit adjustments at 1 Reward point = INR 1
Redemption fee	Not stated for IRCTC loyalty redemption
Expiry	Points move to the IRCTC loyalty account on the 15th of every month; from 26 Dec 2024 reward points are valid for 2 years from the date of the member's registration (T&C wording)
Welcome benefits	1,500 Reward Points (stated worth Rs. 1,500) on payment of first annual fee, credited within 45 days
Milestone benefits	2,500 Reward Points on annual travel spends of Rs. 50,000 5,000 Reward Points on annual travel spends of Rs. 1 lakh Annual fee reversal on spends of Rs. 2 lakh
Lounge access	Domestic: 8 complimentary railway lounge visits a year in India (max 2 per quarter), primary cardholder only; no airport lounges listed International: None listed Condition: Primary cardholder only
Fuel surcharge waiver	1% waiver on transactions of Rs. 500 to Rs. 4,000 at all petrol pumps in India; max Rs. 250 per statement cycle
Insurance cover	Fraud liability cover of Rs. 1 lakh. Complimentary air accident cover of Rs. 50 lakh and rail accident cover of Rs. 10 lakh discontinued from 26 July 2025.

Eligibility, documents and applying

SBI Card treats this card like the rest of its range. Salaried people from 21, the self-employed above 25 for online applications, retired pensioners above 40. Its own page isn't consistent on the maximum age: 60 in the "Get ready to apply" checklist and 70 in the FAQ further down.

SBI Card publishes no minimum income for any card. Its card finder files IRCTC Premier under "50 to 99K" a month, which is a filter, not a rule. Beyond that it wants stable income, a positive repayment record and, if possible, a credit score of 750 to 900, and you must to live where SBI Card operates. An SBI savings account is not a condition.

Papers

PAN for digital KYC.
Aadhaar with the first 8 digits masked, or any valid government address proof.
Salary slips or an ITR when your eligibility calls for them.

Ways to apply

The button on this page opens SBI Card's online form. You can also use the ILA chatbot, phone 39 02 02 02 after your city code, or walk into a State Bank of India branch. For UPI pick the RuPay variant: merchant payments only, up to ₹5 lakh a day within your limit, and in first 24 hours after your first UPI payment only ₹5,000. Our SBI Card helpline page has service numbers.

The bank decides

RBI's 2025 card Directions make SBI Card weigh your independent income and other limits, give you a Key Fact Statement and write down any rejection reason. Approval and limit is decided by SBI Card only.

IRCTC Premier: eligibility and documents

Age (salaried)	21 years or above (minimum). Maximum age stated as 60 years in one place and 70 years in another on SBI Card's listing page
Age (self-employed)	Above 25 years (minimum, for online application)
Income (salaried)	Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not publish it for this card
Income (self-employed)	Stable income; minimum not published for this card
Other conditions	Positive credit history preferred; good credit score, preferably between 750 and 900; SBI banking relationship not mandatory; residence must be in a location serviced by SBI Card; retired pensioners above 40 can apply online. SBI Card's card finder files this card under monthly income '50 to 99K' - a browsing filter, not a stated eligibility minimum.
Documents	PAN card (for digital KYC) Copy of Aadhaar card with first 8 digits masked, or any valid government address proof (for digital KYC) Income documents such as salary slip or income tax return may be required, depending on card eligibility and SBI Card policy
How to apply	Online at sbicard.com (eApply; card pages carry an "Apply Now" link for cards sold online), through the chatbot ILA, by calling the SBI Card helpline 39 02 02 02 (prefix city STD code) or at the nearest SBI branch. Since 23 Sep 2026, SBI fixed-deposit holders can also apply for the secured "Advantage" variants (ELITE, PRIME, SimplyCLICK, SimplySAVE) on SBI's YONO app. Some co-brand cards (PhonePe, Google Pay Flex, Eternal) have no Apply button on sbicard.com.
Card customer care	1860 180 1290 / 1860 500 1290 / 39 02 02 02 (prefix local STD code) / 1800 180 1290 (toll free); AURUM: 1860 500 2000

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

IRCTC Premier against other travel co-brands

Rail travellers have one close rival in HDFC Bank's IRCTC card, and two travel co-brands covered people who fly more than they ride.

IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card

The IRCTC HDFC Bank card costs ₹500, waived at ₹1.5 lakh. It earns 5 points per ₹100 on IRCTC train tickets, capped at 1,000 points a month and 12,000 a year, worth ₹1 each but only against train tickets on SmartBuy. It also reverses IRCTC's 1% charge up to ₹1,000 a month and gives 8 railway lounge visits a year. On ₹5,000 of AC tickets it earns 250 points against 500 here. Cheaper card, half the rail rate. Our IRCTC Premier vs IRCTC HDFC comparison goes deeper.

MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank

The MakeMyTrip ICICI card costs ₹999, waived at ₹3 lakh, and pays 6% on MakeMyTrip hotels, 3% on flights, cabs and buses there, and 1% on domestic spends elsewhere, as myCash worth ₹1. Its forex markup is 0.99% until 9 November 2026 and nil from 10 November 2026. It suits flyers, not who ride trains.

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip

The EaseMyTrip card costs ₹350, waived at ₹50,000, and earns 2.5% on tickets bought directly from airlines and hotels, plus booking discounts on EaseMyTrip.

You mostly	Pick
Book AC trains on IRCTC every month	IRCTC SBI Card Premier
Book a few trains and want a low fee	IRCTC HDFC Bank
Book hotels and flights on MakeMyTrip	MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank
Fly a few times a year and want the cheapest card	Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip

More options are in our best travel credit cards list.

IRCTC Premier against similar cards

Term	IRCTC SBI Card Premier This card	IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card	MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card	Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank Credit Card
Bank	SBI Card	HDFC Bank	ICICI Bank	HDFC Bank
Joining fee	₹1,499 + GST	₹500 + GST	₹999 + GST	₹1,499 + GST
Annual fee and waiver	₹1,499 + GST. Spend based reversal of annual fee on spends of Rs. 2 Lakhs (MITC: annual spends of Rs. 2 lakh or more in the preceding year)	₹500 + GST. Spend ₹1.5 lakh or more in a year before the renewal date to get the renewal fee waived.	₹999 + GST. Annual fee waived from the 2nd anniversary year if spends are ₹3,00,000 or more in the previous anniversary year (annual benefits then not given)	₹1,499 + GST. Spend ₹3,00,000 or more in a year, before your Credit Card renewal date and get your renewal fee waived off.
Base reward	1 Reward Point per Rs (about 0.8% value)	1 Reward Point for every ₹100 spent on other spends, capped at 1,000 RP a month...	1% myCash on domestic spends outside MakeMyTrip (excluding rent and EMI) (about 1% value)	1.5% back as NeuCoins on non-EMI spends on non-Tata brands and on merchant EMI... (about 1.5% value)
Best category	Rail tickets on IRCTC website and app: about 10% value	Train tickets booked via HDFC Bank SmartBuy: about 5% value	Hotel bookings on MakeMyTrip: about 6% value	Non-EMI spends on partner Tata brands: about 5% value
Lounges	Domestic: 8 complimentary railway lounge visits a year in India (max 2 per quarter), primary cardholder only; no airport lounges listed International: None listed	Domestic: 8 complimentary IRCTC Executive Lounge (railway station) visits a year, maximum 2 per quarter; no airport lounge benefit International: None	Domestic: 2 domestic airport lounge accesses per quarter (primary) on ₹75,000 spend in the previous quarter International: 1 complimentary international lounge access per calendar year (Priority Pass, primary)	Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic lounge vouchers per calendar quarter (up to 8 a year) International: Visa: Priority Pass on request, up to 4 complimentary visits per calendar year (1 per quarter) for primary and add-on combined; RuPay: 4 per year (1 per quarter)
Forex markup	3.5% of the amount	3.5% of the amount	0% (no markup)	2% of the amount
Network	Visa, RuPay	Not stated by the bank	Mastercard, RuPay	Visa, RuPay
Published minimum income	Stable income; SBI Card says the specific minimum varies by card and does not...	₹12,000 a month	₹20,000 a month	₹1,00,000 a month
Status	Taking applications	Taking applications	Taking applications	Taking applications

Frequently asked questions

What is the IRCTC SBI Card Premier annual fee, and can it be reversed?

The fee is ₹1,499 at joining and every year after, plus 18% GST, so ₹1,768.82. SBI Card's MITC reverses the renewal fee when spend in the previous year reaches ₹2 lakh, about ₹16,667 a month, although the fees section of the card page does not mention it. Add-on cards are free, and 1,500 welcome points worth ₹1,500 offset most of the first fee.

How much is an IRCTC SBI Card Premier reward point worth?

SBI Card values each point at ₹1. Points move to your IRCTC loyalty account on the 15th of every month, and you redeem them on the IRCTC website or app; SBI Card publishes no other value inside IRCTC's programme. AC rail tickets earn 10 points per ₹100, so up to 10% back, while ordinary spends earn 1 point per ₹125.

What is the eligibility for the IRCTC SBI Card Premier?

SBI Card's general rules apply: salaried applicants from 21, self-employed applicants above 25 and retired pensioners above 40, with the maximum age shown as 60 in one place and 70 in another. No minimum income is published for this or any SBI card. You also need stable income, ideally a 750 to 900 credit score and an address SBI Card services.

Does the IRCTC SBI Card Premier give airport lounge access?

No. It gives 8 complimentary railway lounge visits a year in India, at most 2 a quarter, for the primary cardholder only, and no airport lounge access in India or abroad. Foreign currency spends carry a 3.5% markup, so the card is not built for trips abroad; a travel card with lower forex suits those better.

What changed on the IRCTC SBI Card Premier in 2024 and 2025?

Rent stopped earning points from 15 April 2024 and government payments from 15 July 2024. From 26 December 2024, points are awarded on the complete booking, co-travellers included, and stay valid 2 years from registration. On 26 July 2025 SBI Card ended the free air accident cover of ₹50 lakh and the rail accident cover of ₹10 lakh.

Is it 5% or 4% back on air tickets booked through IRCTC?

It is 4% under SBI Card's terms. The card page advertises 5% back on air tickets and e-catering booked through IRCTC, but the terms give 5 points per ₹125, which is 4% at ₹1 a point. Air earnings are also capped at 750 points a statement cycle, which you reach at ₹18,750 of air bookings.

Sources

SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd: Most Important Terms & Conditions (PDF 'MITC- Common-30OCT26', Ver FY 27, 16); IRCTC SBI Card Premier T&C booklet; IRCTC SBI Card Premier product page (page content served from SBI Card's card data file); SBI Card credit card listing (data feed behind the 'Credit Cards' listing page and card finder); SBI Card credit cards listing page, 'Get ready to apply' checklist (content file /templatedata/common/content-tab); SBI Card credit cards listing page, 'Get ready to apply' checklist; SBI Card credit cards listing page FAQ (content file /templatedata/common/faq); SBI Card credit cards listing page FAQ; SBI Card credit cards listing page, 'Documents Required'; SBI Credit Card Customer Care - Helpline Numbers, Contact Address

Last verified: 5 November 2026

Written by Ramesh Kulkarni, 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.