Which are the Best Zero Markup Forex Credit Cards in 2026?

1. AU Ixigo Credit Card

When you apply for an ixigo AU Bank credit card, you can choose either the RuPay or Visa option. You can apply for this card through AU Bank’s website or ixigo’s website.

To be eligible for this card, you have to be between the ages of 25 and 65 if you are self-employed. You have to be between 21 and 60 years if you are salaried. You should also be an Indian resident and registered on the ixigo platforms.

Let’s look at the key offerings of this card, which offers zero forex markup -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • Lifetime Free 

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 10% off up to ₹3,000 on Flight and Hotel Bookings, once a month

  • 10% off up to ₹300 on Bus Bookings, once per month

  • No payment gateway charges on train bookings

  • Get 1000 reward points and 1,000 ixigo money vouchers on your first successful transaction within the initial 30 days of credit card issuance

  • 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter, total 8 in a year, on spending ₹50,000 in a calendar quarter. Only available for the primary cardholder. 

  • 1 complimentary international airport lounge access every year. 

  • 2 complimentary railway lounge visits per calendar quarter, total 8 in a year, for both the primary and the add-on cardholder.

  • 2.5% rewards on every ₹200 spent online, offline and on UPI. Capped at 10,000 reward points per statement cycle.

  • 5,000 bonus reward points on completion of ₹75,000 or more spends per calendar quarter. Reward points will remain valid for 2 years.

  • Zero liability on any fraudulent transactions

  • Convert transactions of ₹500 and above with a minimum total value of ₹2,000 into EMIs

  • ₹1.5 Lakh credit shield  in case of permanent total disability, critical illness or death

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% waiver up to ₹250 for fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 across all fuel stations in the country.

2. Scapia Federal Credit Card

The Scapia credit card offered in partnership with the Federal Bank is another card that offers zero forex markup. To be eligible for this card, the primary cardholder’s age should be between 21 and 65 years in case of salaried, and 25 to 65 years in case of self-employed. The candidate should also be a resident Indian citizen. 

Here are other details of the rewards and benefits of this card -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • Lifetime Free

• Rewards & Benefits

  • Unlimited domestic lounge, complimentary dining, shopping, or spa by spending ₹20,000 every preceding month. Get up to ₹1,000 back in rewards.

  • 10% reward on every eligible online and offline spend on VISA

  • 5% reward on all eligible UPI, online and offline spend of ₹500 or more on Rupay

  • 24x7 customer service

  • Duty-free shopping or dining at international terminals in India, and get up to ₹2,000 back in rewards. Unlocks with every ₹50,000 international flight booking on the Scapia app.

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% surcharge waiver for transactions up to ₹5000 

  • Maximum waiver of ₹500 per month

  • Fuel spends over ₹50,000 in a month will attract a convenience fee of 1% + applicable GST, max. ₹3,000 per transaction

3. Niyo Global DCB Credit Card

You are eligible for this zero forex markup credit card if -

• You are aged between 18 and 75 years

• You are a resident Indian with an active DCB Niyo Savings account

• Your PAN details are updated, and full KYC is completed

• Your mobile number and email address are updated in the bank records

Here are the remaining details about the card -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • A lien, i.e., an amount earmarked in your DCB Savings Account, secures this card. Your credit limit is 90% of the lien amount.

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 1% rewards on international online spends

  • 2% rewards on domestic online spends

  • 3% rewards on Niyo travel bookings

  • Zero forex markup in 180+ countries.

  • Free international lounge access

  • TCS benefits

4. RBL World Safari Credit Card

The RBL World Safari Credit Card is another great card if you’re looking for zero forex markup. To be eligible for this card, your age should be between 21 and 60 years, you should be an Indian resident, and you should have a credit score of 700 or above. 

If you are self-employed, you should have a minimum annual income of ₹4,00,000, and if you are salaried, your minimum annual income should be ₹3,00,000. Let’s see what else this card offers -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • ₹3,000 + GST

• Rewards & Benefits

  • MakeMyTrip voucher worth ₹3,000 as a welcome gift

  • 0% markup on all foreign currency transactions

  • Earn travel points on all spends, which can be redeemed to book flights and hotels

  • 2 reward points for every eligible domestic retail transaction worth ₹100

  • 5 reward points for every eligible retail transaction worth ₹100 spent on travel 

  • 10,000 bonus reward points on spending ₹2.5 Lakh or more in a membership year

  • 15,000 bonus reward points on spending ₹5 Lakh or more in a membership year

  • Vouchers worth ₹10,000 on spending ₹7.5 Lakh or more in a membership year from brands including Taj Experiences, Amazon, Croma, Myntra, MakeMyTrip

  • 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge access in a quarter, total 8 in a year, on spending ₹35,000 or more in the previous calendar quarter

  • Complimentary Priority Pass membership, which gives 2 complimentary international airport lounge access in a year. You get one extra lounge access on spending ₹50,000 or more in a calendar quarter.

  • 4 complimentary rounds of green fee in a year and one golf lesson each month

  • 50% discounted green fee beyond 4 complimentary rounds

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all fuel stations 

  • Valid for transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000 

  • Maximum waiver of ₹250 per month

5. IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card 

The IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card is a lifetime free credit card that offers zero forex markup fees on international spends. You have to be between the ages of 18 and 80 years, and an Indian citizen with a permanent address in India to be eligible for this credit card. You should also have a fixed deposit of a minimum ₹20,000 with IDFC FIRST Bank.

Other features and benefits of this card are as follows -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • Lifetime Free

• Rewards & Benefits

  • Zero Forex Markup fees on international spends 

  • No currency exchange hassles

  • Withdraw cash from global ATMs at just ₹199 + GST, with no interest for up to 45 days.

  • 4X reward points on online, offline, and international spends

  • 1X reward point on insurance premium payments, utility bill payments, FASTag recharges, and railway spends.

  • Up to ₹25,000 card liability cover, ₹2 Lakh personal accident insurance, and ₹25,000 purchase protection

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all fuel stations across India. 

  • This waiver is subject to a maximum cap of ₹200 per month.

6. BOBCARD Scapia Credit Card

To be eligible for this card, you should be an Indian resident aged between 25 and 60 years. You should be salaried or self-employed and must have a PAN and Aadhaar. This lifetime free credit card offers the following rewards and benefits -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • NIL

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 10% rewards on all offline and online spends on select categories on VISA card of a minimum ₹20 

  • 5% rewards on all offline, online, and UPI spends on the RuPay card of a minimum ₹500

  • 20% rewards on all your travel bookings via the Scapia app

  • Unlimited lounge access and airport privileges up to ₹1,000 by spending ₹20,000 a month 

  • Zero forex markup on all international spends

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver at petrol pumps across India for any fuel transactions up to ₹5,000

How to Maximise Zero Forex Markup Credit Card Benefits?

Now that you have chosen your favourite zero forex markup card, let’s learn how you can maximise its benefits.

• Use Your Zero Forex Card for International Digital Subscriptions

If you have any monthly subscriptions in USD for online tools, like ChatGPT Plus, AWS, Google Workspace, GitHub, or Coursera, move those payment methods to your zero forex card. That will help you save 4.13% on every recurring bill.

• Combine Forex Savings with Travel Rewards

Some cards, like the AU ixigo or Scapia, provide extra reward points on flight and hotel bookings made through their app portals. Booking international travel through these platforms earns you travel coins while keeping foreign transaction fees at zero.

• Use FD-Backed Cards to Build Credit Score

If you are not eligible for a zero forex card, consider applying for an FD-backed card such as IDFC FIRST WOW! You will be able to enjoy 0% forex fees immediately while building your CIBIL score.

What Mistakes to Avoid While Using Zero Forex Markup Credit Cards?

Avoid these common traps to ensure you do not pay unexpected charges during international transactions:

• Pay in Local Foreign Currency

When swiping your credit card at a foreign hotel or shopping counter, the POS machine might ask: "Pay in INR or Local Currency?" Make sure to always choose the Local Foreign Currency. If you pick INR, the foreign merchant's bank applies Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), slapping an extra 4% to 7% markup that bypasses your card's 0% forex feature.

• Avoid Cash Withdrawal from Foreign ATMs

While zero forex cards waive foreign currency transaction markups, withdrawing cash at an overseas ATM is still treated as a Cash Advance. Standard flat ATM fees (e.g., ₹199 to ₹500 per transaction) and daily cash advance interest apply from the moment of withdrawal. Use cash advances only for genuine emergencies.

• Check Spend Targets for Lounge Access

Most zero forex credit cards tie complimentary airport and railway lounge passes to minimum spend milestones in the previous month or quarter (e.g., ₹20,000/month on Scapia or ₹50,000/quarter on AU ixigo). Track your monthly spend on the bank's mobile app so you don't face unexpected lounge access rejections.

Conclusion

Using a zero forex markup credit card is an effective way to stop losing money to hidden bank surcharges on foreign currency transactions. Whether you choose an unsecured lifetime-free card like the AU ixigo or an FD-backed card like the IDFC FIRST WOW!, eliminating the 3.5% markup plus 18% GST saves your money.

If unexpected international travel or upfront business expenses disrupt your monthly budget planning, manage your cash flow with confidence. You can also apply for credit cards on the Moneyview website or by downloading the Moneyview app.