Best Student Credit Cards in India

A student credit card is offered to students at the college level. Any college student of 18 years or older can apply for this credit card as it does not have an income eligibility limit. These cards are offered lower interest rates and have a validity of up to five years. The main difference between a student credit card and a standard credit card is the eligibility criteria. Student credit cards are for students attending college, and applicants without a credit history can apply for them.

Below is the list of the top 6 student credit cards in India:

IDFC FIRST WOW Card

IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card is offered against a Fixed Deposit (FD). This credit card for students offers 4X reward points on all spending and involves zero joining and annual fees.

Key features & benefits:

• No income proof or credit history is required to apply for the FIRST WOW Credit Card.
• Any student aged a minimum of 18 years can apply for this card. 
• No forex conversion fee is applicable. 
• Earn 4X reward points on spending. 
• ATM cash withdrawal limit of 100% of the Fixed Deposit’s value. 
• Fet discounts at 300+ merchants & 1500+ restaurants.
• Get Credit Chield Protection from theft and fraud. 
• Complimentary Roadside Assistance and Personal Accident cover. 
• Fuel surcharge waiver.
• Applicants must have an FD account (minimum Rs. 2,000) in cumulative, re-invest, and auto-renew mode.
• Low-interest rate, starting from just 9% p.a.
• Joining fee: Nil.
• Renewal fee: Nil.

Kotak 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card 

The 811 #DreamDifferent Credit Card offered by Kotak Mahindra Bank can be set up through a Fixed Deposit (FD) at Kotak Bank and can be operated with zero annual fees. This enables the students to get a credit card even if they are not earning. 

Key features & benefits:

• No joining or annual fees are involved.
• 811 #DreamDifferent Shield helps you secure your credit card against theft and fraudulent use.
• Get 500 activation bonus reward points after spending Rs. 5,000 after the card is set up.
• Attractive cashback offers on annual spending.
• Interest-free cash withdrawals for up to 48 days.
• Credit limit available up to 90% of the FD amount (maximum up to Rs. 16 Lakhs).
• Earn 2 reward points for spending every Rs. 100 online and 1 reward point for spending every Rs. 100 offline.
• No additional costs for fuel and railway.
• Joining fee: Nil.
• Renewal fee: Nil.

HDFC Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus Chip Card

With HDFC Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus Chip Card, carry up to 22 currencies with utmost ease and security. Anyone (including students) can apply for this card, even if they are not an HDFC Bank customer.

Key features & benefits:

• It is a multi-currency forex card with 22 currency wallets Australian Dollar, US Dollar, AED (Dirhams), Canadian Dollar, Hongkong Dollar, Euro, and other currencies.
• This card provides protection against exchange rate fluctuation in future.
• Withdraw cash or use the card at the Point of Sale (POS) terminal in any currency anywhere in the world.
• Add a currency, and transfer the balance from one currency to another using Prepaid Card NetBanking facility.
• In case the card is lost, you can block your card instantly using Prepaid Card NetBanking.
• Complimentary Insurance Cover:
  • Up to Rs. 5 Lakhs protection against misuse due to counterfeiting/skimming.
  • Up to Rs. 2 Lakhs Road/Rail Accident Death Insurance coverage.
  • Up to Rs. 5 Lakhs Air Accident Death Insurance coverage.
  • Up to Rs. 20,000 Loss of Checked-in Baggage cover.
  • Up to Rs. 50,000 Loss of Personal Documents (only passport reconstruction) coverage. 
  • Up to Rs. 60,000 Loss of Cash in Transit coverage. 

• Contactless Tap & Pay feature.
• 24x7 concierge services.
• Card issuance fee: Rs. 500 + applicable GST per card.
• Reload Fee: Rs. 75 + applicable GST per reload transaction currency-wise.

West Bengal Student Credit Card

The West Bengal Student Credit Card (WBSCC) is launched by the Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal. It allows students to pursue their secondary or post-graduate degree education without any financial restrictions. 

Key features & benefits:

• Under the WBSCC scheme, a student can apply for up to Rs. 10 Lakhs loan at an annual interest rate of 4% p.a. from the State Cooperative Bank and its other affiliated banks.
• The maximum age eligibility for a student credit card West Bengal is up to 40 years old for applying for the loan and the repayment tenure is up to 15 years.
• You can visit https://wbscc.wb.gov.in/ and click on ‘Student Registration’ to register yourself for the scheme.

Bihar Student Credit Card

The Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme (BSCCS) was launched in October 2016 with the aim to financially help students of Bihar who have passed the 12th standard, for their further studies. The aim of this initiative is to bridge the gap between the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Bihar. 

Key features & benefits:

• The students of Bihar can apply for a student credit card Bihar online.
• Under this program, the state government provides a loan of up to Rs. 4 Lakhs to underprivileged Bihar state 12th-grade students who wish to pursue further education. 
• The loan amount can be used for financing B.Sc, B.A., M.B.B.S., or B.Tech programs.
• A 1% low-interest rate is charged on the loan for girls, divyang, and transgender students.
• The funds can be used to pay fees, buy books and laptops.
• The students must repay the loan amount on securing jobs after the completion of the program.

ICICI Bank Student Forex Prepaid Card

ICICI Student Forex Credit Card is a prepaid credit card that functions like a credit card. This card is offered a t a joining fee of Rs. 499 and an annual fee of Rs. 199. 

Key features & benefits:

• International Student Identity Card (ISIC) membership worth Rs. 590
• Get a 40% discount on excess baggage. 
• Get a 20% discount on DHL courier service.
• Get Card Protection Plus Insurance worth Rs. 1,600.
• Get Croma shopping voucher
• Counterfeit/lost card liability coverage up to Rs. 5 Lakhs.
• Joining fee: Rs. 499.
• Renewal fee: Rs. 199.

Some common student credit card eligibility criteria in India are mentioned below:

• Any student aged at least 18 years can apply for this card.
• No income proof or credit history is required to apply for these cards.
• Since students usually do not earn, student credit cards don’t have any income eligibility. 
• Most student credit cards are offered against Fixed Deposits. 
• You can opt for these cards even without a job. 
• These cards are usually valid for 5 years.

Here are some common student credit card documents requirements:

• Duly filled and signed credit card application form
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Aadhaar card 
• PAN Card
• A valid identity proof
• A valid address proof.
• Additional documents like a Cancelled Cheque/Passbook, a copy of 1 year's Bank Statement, etc. may be asked for by the bank.

The application process for a student credit card depends on the type of card you are applying for. Some lenders may provide student credit card online application facility. Given below are the details.

• Add-on Credit Card: If you are aged 18 years or older, you can apply for an add-on card along with your immediate family member’s credit card. The process is quick and only requires basic KYC documents.
• Secured Credit Card: You will be required to open a Fixed Deposit (FD) account in a bank to get a secured credit card. In case you already have an FD account, request your bank for a secured credit card against it.
• Credit Card against Student Loan: If you have a student loan in your name, you can avail of a student credit card from the concerned bank.
• Strong Savings Account: You can also avail of a student credit card if you have a strong savings history with a bank from which you intend to apply. However, this facility is offered to customers only by a few banks.

Once applied for the card, you can opt for student credit card login to check your credit card account.