Best Student Credit Card in India 2023

Confused how to choose the best student credit card for your studies abroad or credit score? Here are the best student credit cards in India in 2023.

by Sahil_Jain Updated: 03 May, 2024, 01:23 IST
22 5479

The best credit card for a student...yup, that same old topic that keeps bothering everyone, and finding the most suitable student cc has always been a big challenge. Best student credit card for studying abroad, travel, credit building, and more; these multiple categories of credit cards for students in India have been really confusing.  So, if you are struggling to find the best student credit cards for yourself, we will help you with our list which includes the best student credit cards from banks like SBI, Axis Bank, Bajaj, and more.

A student credit card lets the user meet his/her expenses while studying abroad or traveling too. It may not be that easy for students to pay for their expenses just yet and that's why they can get a student credit card that may have special benefits solely for students in India. This article lists some of the best credit cards for students in India, so make sure you choose the best one for yourself.

Best Student Credit Card in India 2023

Top Student Credit Cards from Banks like SBI, ICICI, HDFC & More

Which bank credit card is best for students in India? This is a very common question that cannot be answered that easily. With different students, their situations, and different services provided by various banks, no credit card would be perfect for all students, right? Moreover, the biggest problem for Indian students is getting a credit card without any income. So, are you one of those students too? If you are, rest assured that this guide will help you choose the right credit card for students easily.

Let’s get started with our list of the best student credit cards in India 2023:

Add-On Credit Card: Best Credit Card for Students

As discussed earlier, the biggest problem for students in India is getting a credit card without having any source of income for themselves. And that’s certainly fair; most students may lack income sources. So, how would a student get a credit card without earning? That’s where banks come in with their add-on credit cards.

An add-on credit card can be issued by an existing credit card holder for their children/family members for free. In this case, a pre-existing credit card holder can apply for an add-on credit card for a student. This facility of getting an add-on credit card is provided by almost all major banks like HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, SBI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and ICICI Bank.

This helps the parents give financial freedom to their kids who may not have any income source of their own. But wait, what about the credit limit? That’s not a big concern with add-on cards as parents can set a credit limit to their wards’ student credit card as per their preferences. With an add-on card, parents can make sure that children never run out of money while even having some control over their expenses.

HDFC Bank Add-On Credit Card Application

The Housing Development Finance Corporation or HDFC Bank offers an add-on card facility to all of its existing credit card holders. Thus if you have an HDFC credit card, make sure that you get an add-on card issued at no extra cost. If the international payment facility is enabled on the primary credit card, an HDFC Add-on card can be used abroad too, making it a great student credit card for studying abroad. For more details, make sure you visit HDFC Bank’s official website.

SBI Add-On Credit Card Application

SBI/State Bank of India is one such bank that offers n number of services to the majority of the customers in the banking industry. Now wouldn’t you expect an add-on card from SBI too? All SBI credit card holders can apply for an add-on credit card quite easily, though there are a few things about the same that one must know before going forward, so do visit SBI to check all the necessary details.

Axis Bank Add-On Credit Card Application

For all Axis Bank credit card holders, it is quite easy to get add-on credit cards for their wards. Just like other banks, Axis bank too offers many benefits with its add-on credit cards like international transactions, shared credit limits, and more. For more information, do visit Axis Bank.

HDFC/SBI/Axis Add-On Card Eligibility

For getting an add-on card for a student from any of the banks mentioned above, you must fulfill these requirements:

  • The applicant’s age should be 18 years or more.

  • The primary credit card holder and the applicant must be related to each other.

  • An add-on card can be issued if and only if the primary card holder approves of it.

Features of an Add-on Credit Card for Students

Here are the features of an Add-on card provided by different banks:

  • You can get an add-on credit card for free from your bank.

  • Simple application process.

  • Parents can set a sub-limit for add-on cards.

  • Parents have easy access to all monthly transaction details and the add-on card’s expenses are included with the bill of the original credit card.

Benefits of an Add-On Credit Card for Students

Here are some benefits of getting an HDFC Add-on card:

  • Suitable for use in other countries.

  • Shared credit limit with the primary card.

  • Add-on card’s expenses can be monitored by the primary card holder.

  • Add-on card gives reward points to the user.

Add-on cards are provided by all the major banks, so you just have to visit their websites and apply for one. Or, you may walk-in to the nearest branch and the staff would help you with the same. Though make sure that you visit SBI after their lunch time, if you know what it means.

SBI Student Plus Advantage Card: Student Credit Card by SBI

The State Bank of India, or SBI, is the biggest bank in India with the greatest market share. Since it’s a government owned bank, this bank is generally known for better returns to its customers as the primary motive of any government organization is to provide service rather than earning profits.

  1. It has an annual fee of Rs.500 which is waived off if a user spent Rs.35,000 or more in the previous year.

  2. Its Flexipay benefit converts large bills/transactions into smaller EMI payments. This puts less pressure on a student.

  3. The users get reward points on each transaction of Rs.100 or more. These reward points help students to pay their outstanding balance if any.

  4. Gives a waiver of 2.5% on fuel transactions from Rs.500 to Rs.3,000.

Along with these features, there are many other benefits that you will get with the SBI Student Plus Advantage Card. Make sure that you check them all on SBI's official site.

SBI Student Plus Advantage Credit Card Eligibility

This student credit card is available for only those students who have taken a student loan from the State Bank of India or have made a fixed deposit. So yeah, it makes it a bit difficult to avail the SBI Student Plus Advantage Credit Card, but for those students who really need a student loan, this option would prove to be a better one.

Kotak 811 Dream Different Credit Card Benefits

The Kotak 811 Dream Different credit card can be a really good option for those students who need a credit card without any income documents. It is a lifetime free credit card that even allows interest free cash withdrawals. Thus, this credit card is a decent offering from Kotak. Here are some of its most interesting features:

  1. Students get 500 reward points if they spend Rs.5,000 within the first 45 days of setting up the credit card.

  2. You also get 2X rewards on online transactions.

  3. Except for fuel, you get 1 reward point on every Rs.100 spent.

  4. You can withdraw 90% of your credit limit in cash.

  5. No income proof credit card.

  6. Lifetime free credit card for students.

Yup, with all these benefits, the Kotak 811 Dream Different credit card definitely seems a great CC for students. Make sure that you check all the features of this excellent student credit card from Kotak.

Kotak Mahindra Bank 811 Dream Different Credit Card Eligibility

Students need to make a new Fixed Deposit or link their existing one to get this credit card from Kotak Mahindra Bank. So it is kind of a one time investment that would pay you in the coming years.

ICICI Bank Student Forex Prepaid Card

Students who study abroad often face problems with getting a good enough credit card for them. This problem can be solved with the ICICI Bank Student Forex Prepaid Card that can be availed after opening a savings account in the bank. This student credit card from ICICI Bank can be a good choice for these reasons:

  1. 40% discount on excess luggage.

  2. 20% discount on courier service by DHL.

  3. Get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) worth ₹999. It unlocks new rewards for the user. Do not forget to check all the ISIC discount offers to understand the benefits of this international student identity card.

  4. Card Protection Plus insurance worth ₹1,600.

  5. Coverage of up to ₹5,00,000 on lost card or counterfeit card liability.

Do not forget to visit ICICI for more details on the ICICI Bank Student Forex Prepaid Card.

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card: Student Credit Card with Highest Benefits

Axis sets a bar for all student credit cards with the Axis Bank Ace Credit Card that comes with many, seriously many benefits. For starters, the Ace credit card gives you complimentary lounge access across select domestic airports, unlimited cashback, fuel surcharge waiver, and many more benefits. We have mentioned all the offerings and advantages of the Axis Bank Ace Credit Card right below:

  1. 5% cashback on bill payments and mobile recharges. 4% cashback on Swiggy, Zomato, and Ola. No upper limit on cashback.

  2. 4 lounge visits are included with the card.

  3. 1% fuel surcharge waiver.

  4. 50 days free credit period.

With all these offers, it is quite difficult to resist the Axis Bank Ace Credit Card, right? So make sure to check it out on Axis Bank’s official website.

Axis Bank Ace Credit Card Eligibility

These are the required conditions for applying for an Axis Bank Ace Credit Card:

  1. Primary card holder’s age must be between 18 and 70 years.

  2. The applicant must be a resident of India.

Yup, these are the only requirements for getting an Ace credit card from Axis Banks. The bank holds the ultimate right of issuing/not issuing an ace card, so make sure you have all the necessary documents too.

HDFC ISIC Forex Card: Student ForexPlus Card by HDFC Bank

The HDFC ISIC ForexPlus Card does just what its name suggests. It is a great help for students who plan to study abroad. To be precise, it can be labeled as the best forex student credit card in India. We have listed some of its benefits right below:

  1. An ISIC that comes with a great number of discounts and offers.

  2. Free comprehensive insurance covers worth up to ₹5,00,000.

  3. Supports all VISA and MasterCard outlets.

  4. Prevents users from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

  5. You need not have an account in HDFC bank to get this card. Simply get it with the necessary documents and you're good to go.

  6. This card supports ten major currencies which are used in the world. So you don't have to worry about your whereabouts.

So if you think that the HDFC ISIC Student ForexPlus Credit Card is good for you, make sure to check it out on HDFC Bank’s official website.

HDFC ISIC Forex Card for Students Eligibility

These are the conditions that must be met in order to get an HDFC Bank ISIC ForexPlus credit card:

  1. The applicant must be at least 12 years old.

  2. Required documents specified by HDFC Bank.

Once you meet the requirements, you can get yourself an HDFC Bank ISIS forex card for students.

These are the best student credit cards that you can get in India. Even though all these cards give appealing offers, it's your call to make the right decision regarding the perfect option for you. Every bank has a better deal than the previous one, but not every credit card is suitable for all students, right?

Is a Credit Card Good for Students?

This is a very important question that every student should ask himself/herself before getting a credit card. Although the idea of having a credit card to spend money sounds really good, it definitely comes with its disadvantages. Students, generally, are not aware of the value of money and they may end up spending more money than required. This, in turn, would create bigger problems for them in the future.

On the other hand, students using their credit cards is a good idea too as it would help them get independent financially and they would also learn about money management. We learn many things from our schools and colleges but certain things can be learned only in the real world and thus, having a credit card would greatly help a student.

So before making any hasty decisions, it’s better for parents and children to think and discuss whether they need a credit card or not. If yes, then parents should set a reasonable limit on their kids’ credit cards to make sure they do not go off-track with money.

Best Student Credit Card Buying Guide

There are many banks in India that provide various financial services for students with their cards. But, the problem is choosing the perfect credit card for a student. Though, we have set criteria that an ideal student credit card should meet. So, here are the features that your credit card must have if you are a student:

Credit Limit on Student Credit Cards

A student credit card must have a lower credit limit. Students may not be aware of money management and may incur a big amount of debt. Providing them a source of funds is good, but only if they do not overuse it. On the other hand, an extremely low credit limit may also be problematic for students. Thus, the credit limit of a student credit card should be appropriate.

Less Fee on a Student Credit Card

Banks often charge a high amount of interest and taxes on their credit card holders. Though this may not be such a big problem for businessmen, students may have a hard time dealing with high charges, right? Thus, make sure that the credit you pick for yourself has a lesser fee. There are different aspects for a bank to charge you based on your usage. So you should first ask all the necessary questions to the bank officials before getting a student credit card.

No Income Eligibility Student Credit Card

Since the primary consumer here is a student, income eligibility is the last thing a credit card should ask for. Having an income source may not be possible for all students and that is the reason why they need a credit card, right? So make sure that your student credit card does not have any income eligibility.

Rewards on Student Credit Cards

Banks often provide their student cardholders with certain rewards. These rewards can be helpful for you depending on your preference. But the basic idea of a credit card is to give the best benefits to a student, who is the card holder here, right? Thus, a student credit card must have the best rewards in the form of cashbacks, reward points, discounts, and more.

That's it! These are the minimum requirements that a good student credit card should meet. You may add some other pointers to the list if you may need some other features as well.

Now, if you're a concerned parent and need a good, rewarding credit card for yourself, do check out our thread on the Best Credit Card with Max Benefits.

Generous
Sahil Jain is a personal finance and tech enthusiast who excels in matters related to tech and investment. His content revolves around mobile phone reviews, computers, operating systems, investments, credit cards, and other tech & finance topics.
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Deal Detective Deal Detective
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All are FD Based

Generous Generous
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Hey!
Can you please share your source with us? Or maybe tell us more about these cards so that we can help other users.
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Generous Generous
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As a community, let's be responsible enough and not encourage student credit cards. Students do not need credit cards. Students do not need to maintain their CIBIL. Students do not need offers and all on shopping websites.
There is no service/product that accepts "only credit card". Nearly everything in India supports debit card/upi.

Students are not earning as such, which is why they're highly likely to fall in debt trap if given credit cards. For master/pg students, this might be different though, but for undergrads/school students, parents should be the one giving them options.

Generous Generous
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I understand your concern and you have a point too. But, many students do not have any income source to even use a debit card or UPI. Even though credit cards have a high risk of increasing a student's debt, they can be quite helpful if used properly. At the end of the day, everything comes down to a person's money management skills. Also, if they can make a good career by using a credit card now, they will surely be able to pay off their debts too in the near future. This article is just our way to help students pick a good CC if they're looking for one. 
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Post Mogul Post Mogul
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Unable to see full article
Flame Flame
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Students should focus on their future and careers.
Deal Cadet Deal Cadet
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Students must not use credit cards.

Community Angel Community Angel
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The kotak card 100% FD based. Please include all the relevant information. This looks like a pointless article. 

Generous Generous
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Thank you for your help. 
Will include this information right away.
Helpful Helpful
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Irrelevant thread

Afaik it is nearly impossible for a student to get credit card directly on the basis of cibil as they have no source of income and that is why bank will never give them cc ..

Students should not use credit card and instead focus on study 

A short message to OP :- 

https://cdn0.desidime.com/attachments/photos/795848/original/images_%281%29_%2821%29.jpeg?1660238189

Deal Subedar Deal Subedar
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Well, that's the point you are are falling into. I am a student, and I know your statement, "it is nearly impossible for a student to get credit card directly on the basis of cibil as they have no source of income and that is why bank will never give them cc" is entirely wrong regardless of my age. 

I had my cumulative savings from festivals and opened an FD, and the bank gave me my first credit card against it. By the time I received my first freelance pay cheque(during bachelor's only), I already had 750+ CIBIL, and another bank had already issued me my second CC against C2C. In fact, it is a pretty common method for "adults" to revamp their CIBIL after mishaps in the payments.

And it is not like if I had no CC, I would automatically become sincere and crack UPSC. Apart from study, it is a side knowledge; some likes to read novel, watch cricket/TV and some preference to read stuff like finance.

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Deal Newbie Deal Newbie
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I want a credit card

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