Best Credit Cards for International Spending in India
Overseas value is the reward rate minus the forex markup. These figures net the markup off, so a high-reward card with a 3.5% markup ranks where it belongs.
Short answer
On ₹10,000 a month of international spending, Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) Eterna returns the most in the CardMasters model at about ₹375 a month (₹4,500 a year) before its annual fee of ₹2,499. 15 issuer-verified cards return anything at all on this category; the rest cap it, exclude it or charge a surcharge. Figures apply each card's published caps, exclusions and surcharges rather than its headline reward rate, and are calculated from issuer terms recorded on 2026-08-01.
Source: CardMasters issuer-evidence catalogue, release 2026-08-01. Confirm final terms with the issuer.
| # | Card | Per month | Per year | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) Eterna | ₹375 | ₹4,500 | ₹2,499 + GST |
| 2 | Standard Chartered Ultimate | ₹333 | ₹3,996 | ₹5,000 + GST |
| 3 | AU Small Finance Bank Zenith+ | ₹200 | ₹2,400 | ₹4,999 + GST |
| 4 | Axis Bank IndiGo Premium | ₹200 | ₹2,400 | ₹5,000 + GST |
| 5 | Axis Bank ACE | ₹150 | ₹1,800 | ₹499 |
| 6 | HSBC Live+ | ₹150 | ₹1,800 | ₹999 + GST |
| 7 | IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Select | ₹125 | ₹1,500 | ₹0 |
| 8 | IDFC FIRST Bank FIRST Wealth | ₹125 | ₹1,500 | ₹0 |
| 9 | HSBC TravelOne | ₹120 | ₹1,440 | ₹4,999 + GST |
| 10 | Axis Bank Magnus for Burgundy | ₹120 | ₹1,440 | ₹30,000 + GST |
| 11 | Amazon Pay ICICI | ₹100 | ₹1,200 | ₹0 |
| 12 | HDFC Bank PIXEL Play | ₹100 | ₹1,200 | ₹0 |
| 13 | Paytm SBI Card | ₹100 | ₹1,200 | ₹499 + GST |
| 14 | Airtel Axis Bank | ₹100 | ₹1,200 | ₹500 + GST |
| 15 | Flipkart Axis Bank | ₹100 | ₹1,200 | ₹500 + GST |
Your own spend level changes this order, because monthly caps bind at different points. Run the ranking at your actual monthly spend →
What to check before applying
- Forex markup attracts GST on top of the published percentage.
- Some cards exclude international transactions from rewards entirely.
- Check network acceptance in your destination before relying on one card.
Frequently asked questions
Which credit card is best for international spending in India?
At ₹10,000 a month of international spending, Bank of Baroda (BOBCARD) Eterna ranks first at about ₹375 a month in the CardMasters model, followed by Standard Chartered Ultimate (₹333) and AU Small Finance Bank Zenith+ (₹200). The ranking changes with your spend level because monthly caps bind at different points, and the annual fee has to be subtracted from the annual total.
How is the monthly value calculated?
Each card's published earn rate is applied to ₹10,000 of monthly international spending, then its category cap, exclusions and any surcharge are applied, and reward currency is valued at a conservative redemption rate rather than the issuer's best-case example. This is the same calculation CardMasters uses for personalised recommendations.
Why do some well-known cards return nothing here?
Because they exclude this category from rewards, cap it at zero, or levy a surcharge that cancels the earn. Cards returning nothing on international spending are left out of the table rather than shown with a headline rate they do not actually pay here.
Does the annual fee change the ranking?
Yes. This table ranks by reward return only. Subtract the annual fee plus GST — unless your spend clears the waiver threshold — before deciding, and compare the result against the cards already in your wallet rather than in isolation.