Synopsis: If you often spend in foreign currencies, forex charges can quietly eat into your budget. This article lists the best credit cards with zero forex markup fees to help reduce your international spending costs.
Most regular credit cards charge around 2% to 3.5% extra on every foreign transaction. You may not notice it immediately, but it adds up very fast. Book a flight, pay for a hotel, shop online from an international website, or subscribe to a global app, and you end up paying more than you planned.
A zero forex markup card solves this problem. You pay exactly what you see, without that extra conversion charge. When the card is also lifetime free, it becomes even better. To keep it easy and simple for your future purchases, we have listed below cards with zero joining fee and zero annual fee joining fee.
Niyo SBM Global Credit Card
- Joining fee: Nil
- Renewal fee: Nil
- Forex Markup: Spend on 0% forex markup in 180+ countries. Only the VISA exchange rate applies to a forex transaction, and nothing else.
Eligibility: The applicant should be an Indian citizen with a valid Aadhaar card, PAN card, and Indian passport. The age range is above 18 years of age. You must deposit a minimum of ₹5,000 with SBM Bank via GILD mobile app.
Other Benefits
- 1% value back on international online spends
- 2% value back on domestic online spends
- 3% value back on travel bookings via Niyo
- Free international lounge access
- 1 Free international ATM withdrawal per quarter
- No credit checks
- Interest rate Up to 6.5% on linked FDs
Who Should Choose This Card
Niyo SBM Global Credit Card is one of the most popular zero forex cards in India. It is designed mainly for international usage and works well for travel, studies abroad, and foreign online spending.
Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card
- Joining fee: Nil
- Renewal fee: Nil
- Forex Markup: 0%
Eligibility: The applicant must be an Indian citizen with a minimum annual stable income of Rs 3 lakh. The age range is between 21-60. Another important criteria is that the applicant must not have any other co-branded credit card from Federal Bank.
Other Benefits
- Unlimited domestic lounge access on spending above 10k on VISA or 15k on RuPay card.
- Earn 10% rewards on offline and online shopping in VISA card
- Earn 20% rewards on shopping and bookings made via Scapia app
- Earn up to 5% rewards on all eligible offline and online shoppings made through RuPay card.
- Redeem coins for free travel bookings via Scapia app.
Who Should Choose This Card
This card is ideal for people who travel often and want a mix of savings and comfort. If you like lounge access and also want to avoid forex charges, this card fits well.
Ixigo AU Credit Card
- Joining fee: Nil
- Renewal fee: Nil
- Forex Markup: 0%
Eligibility: For applying for this card, you must be an Indian citizen with a stable monthly income min. Rs 30,000 and between 21-60 years old. You need to be registered on the ixigo app.
Other Benefits
- 10% off on flight tickets, bus tickets and hotel booking
- No PG charges on train bookings
- 5% reward points on online and offline spends
- Get up to 1000 reward points on one successful transaction within the first 30 days
- Get ₹1000 ixigo money on one successful transaction within the first 30 days of card issuance
- 16 lounge access
- Insurance cover up to Rs 2 lakh
Who Should Choose This Card
Ixigo AU Credit Card is a travel-friendly card co-branded with Ixigo. It focuses on flight and travel benefits while keeping forex costs at zero.
IDFC First WOW! Credit Card (Secured Card)
- Joining fee: Nil
- Renewal fee: Nil
- Forex Markup: 0%
Eligibility: For Indian Residents, the age range is between 18 to 80 years, with a permanent address in India. They must have a minimum Fixed Deposit (FD) of ₹20,000 with IDFC FIRST Bank
For NRIs, the age limit Criteria is between 18 to 80 years. The applicant must have a NRE Savings Account with IDFC FIRST Bank. They should have a minimum Fixed Deposit (FD) of ₹25,000 with IDFC FIRST Bank.
Other Benefits
- Earn 4X Reward Points on online, offline, and international spends
- Earn 1X Reward Point on insurance premium payments and utility bill payments
Who Should Choose This Card
This card is perfect for beginners, students, or anyone with no credit history. It is also useful for people who were rejected for unsecured cards but still want zero forex benefits.
Also Read: 5 Best Credit Cards That Offer Zero Interest Rates on Balance Transfers (2026)
Other Smart Options
BookMyForex True Zero Markup Card (Prepaid Forex Card)
- Joining fee: Nil
- Renewal fee: Nil
- Forex Markup: 0%
Eligibility: There is no criteria or minimum monthly income requirement for applying for this card. You just need to meet the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit of 250,000 USD or equivalent.
Other Benefits
- Load 14 Currencies At Fixed Exchange Rates
- Load US Dollars and Spend in 200+ Countries for Free
- Instant load and unload your card
- Use Your Left Over Balance in India
- Zero ATM Withdrawal Fees
YES Bank UNI credit Card
- Joining fee: First Year Membership Fee of INR 499+ taxes. It is waived off on spending above Rs 5,000 within 30 days.
- Forex Markup: 0%
Eligibility:The applicant must be an Indian citizen between the age range of 21-60 years with a minimum salary of Rs 25,000 per month or Income Tax Return of INR 7.5 lakhs and above.
Other Benefits
- Unlimited 1% Reward points as Uni coins
- 1% Fuel Surcharge Waiver
Things to Keep in Mind Before Choosing a Zero Forex Card
Zero forex markup does not mean zero cost in all cases. International networks may still charge a small currency conversion fee. Always check international acceptance and ATM withdrawal rules if you plan to use the card overseas.
Use these cards mainly for foreign spends. For domestic usage, some regular reward cards may offer better benefits.
Final Words
Zero forex markup lifetime free cards are simple, powerful tools. They help you save money without forcing you to chase rewards or milestones. Whether you are a frequent traveller, an online shopper, or a beginner building credit, there is a card that fits your needs.0
The key is to choose based on how you spend, not just on how attractive the card sounds.
FAQs
Yes, these cards do not charge forex markup. However, international networks may apply small conversion fees.
Yes. Cards like IDFC First WOW! are specially designed for beginners.
As per current official information, yes. There is no joining or renewal fee.
It depends on your spending style. Prepaid cards offer control, while credit cards offer flexibility.
Written by Supriya
