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Forex cards have revolutionized the way people carry foreign currency while traveling abroad. With the convenience of using them like a debit or credit card, forex cards are gaining immense popularity among travelers in India. If you are planning to travel abroad, you might be wondering which forex card to choose. In this article, we have compiled a list of the best forex cards in India to help you make an informed decision.
What is a Forex Card?
Also known as a prepaid card, prepaid travel money card, or Travel credit card, A Forex card is a ‘ready to use card’ instead of a regional currency. It is available in a fixed amount but offers the facility to top up the card as per your requirement.
You can load it with any currency and use it like your debit or credit. One of the significant advantages of this card is that it helps you pay when you travel abroad and saves you from the inconvenience of currency exchange. And just like a credit or debit card, it can also be used to withdraw cash from an ATM. Forex card helps to keep your money safe when you are traveling abroad.
Different Type Of Forex Cards In India:
There are two types of Forex cards in India. They are:
- Multi-currency Forex cards: A card that can be loaded with 23 different currencies and can be used throughout the world. When you are traveling from one country to another, it helps you change to the currency of the country you are going to visit from the currency you are currently using.
- Single currency forex cards: There is a high cross-currency charge on this card whenever you use a different currency and also comes with limited use.
There are few other kinds of forex cards also introduced like the Student Forex cards for students traveling abroad and the Contactless Forex Cards that help you pay for your purchase at retail outlets in a safe way. One should choose among these the best forex card as per his use.
21 Best Forex Cards India
Forex cards are one of the best options for spending your money wisely when you travel abroad. These cards are safe and serve as a less expensive replacement for your cash. Even if the forex market rates keep increasing or decreasing, the rate of the funds you have loaded in your forex card remains the same. Let us begin our list.
1. Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card
This card is offered by Axis Bank in association with Miles and More; this is one of the best forex cards that aim at Indian travelers who undertake frequent international trips. The card comes with free Miles and More membership. You can earn award miles for loading and each time you spend using the Travellers Forex Card.
The currencies which the card supports are:
- US Dollar
- Euro
- Saudi riyal
- Thai baht
- New Zealand dollar
- Hong Kong dollar
- Australian Dollar
- Canadian Dollar
- Swiss Franc
- Japanese Yen
- Indian Rupee
- Singapore dollar
- Pound Sterling
- UAE Dirham
- Swedish kronor
- Danish Krone
- South African Rand
- The transactions become fast and secure when we are able to pay with MasterCard’s contactless technology.
- The card uses the technology of chip and PIN, which is far more secure than legacy cards that use magnetic strips.
- With the locked-in exchange rate feature users can save up to 4% on exchange rates besides avoiding extra fees per transaction.
- Earn five award miles for every $5 spent on the card.
- Trip Assist provides you emergency assistance.
- Miles and More programs allow you to earn miles.
- Welcome bonus of 1,000 air miles and 2,000 miles as a bonus reward on loading more than $4,000.
- The remaining cash on the card can be used to do retail transactions in India through the INR wallet.
Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card charges and fees
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Welcome Award Miles | 1000 miles |
| Bonus award miles on loading more than 4000 USD | 2000 Miles |
| Spend linked award miles for every $5 spent | 5 miles |
You can redeem your miles both online and offline with miles and more and its partners. Some of the partners are Taj Hotels, resorts, and palaces, PVR Cinemas, India times shopping, etc.
| ATM Withdrawal abroad | Card activation charge | Encashment of funds | Reload fee | Balance inquiry | Statement request | Inactivity fees | Add-on Card Fee | Pin Change |
| US$2.36 | Rs. 500 + GST | Rs. 100+ GST | Rs. 100 + GST | Nil | US $2.36 | US $5.9 | Rs.100.00 + GST | Nil |
2. Multi-currency Forex cards by Axis Bank
Students traveling abroad for their studies or vacation or college trip or any other reason try to save money on each transaction they make, such as airfare, travel insurance, college fees, cash withdrawal, etc.
Axis Bank Multi-currency forex card is among the best forex cards for students and one of the best forex cards India that allows you to hold 16 different foreign currencies in a single card.
The 16 currencies are as follows:
- US Dollar
- British Pound
- Swedish Kronor
- Euro
- UAE Dirham
- Pound Sterling
- Singapore Dollar
- Danish Krone
- Australian Dollar
- Thai Bhat
- South African Rand
- Canadian Dollar
- New Zealand Dollar
- Japanese Yen
- Swiss Franc
- Saudi Riyal
Moreover, this card is of two types:
I. Contactless Forex Card: This card features Visa’s payWave technology. According to Visa’s payWave technology, you can just wave the card a secured card reader to make the payment. It is more secure because you don’t even need to hand over your card to someone to swipe it, you yourself can wave it over the card reader, and the payment is made.
II. Image Forex Card: This Axis Bank Multi-Currency Forex card gives you the option to personalize by allowing you to add an image of your choice on the card.
To apply for this card, you don’t need to be an existing customer of Axis Bank. The validity of this card is 5 years. You can reload and use it in as many trips as wanted in this time period. And the first 3 ATM transactions are complementary.
This card comes with TripAssist by Axis Bank – emergency assistance which allows you to:
- Block the card.
- Lost passport assistance.
- Get emergency cash.
- With locked-in exchange rate feature, the cash in the card remains unaffected from fluctuating currency rates.
- You can withdraw cash at any Mastercard/VISA ATMs across the world.
- Minimum 15% discount at various restaurants.
- Earn 2 reward points for every USD 5 or equivalent amount spent in any currency.
Special offer valid only for students:
- ATM transaction fee is waived off
- Issuance and reload fee is waived
- 1% cashback on ECOM/POS transactions
- Complimentary TripAssist service
Axis Bank Multi-Currency Forex Card Fees & Charges
The fees and charges for this forex card in India are mentioned below:
| Initial Sale Fee | Reload/Renewed Card Fee | Add-on Card Fee | Encashment Charges | Pin Change | Balance Inquiry | Cross Currency Fee |
| Rs.300.00 + GST | Rs.100.00 + GST | Rs.100.00 + GST | Rs.100.00 + GST | Nil | Nil | 3.5% |
3. Axis Bank Diners card
The Axis Bank diners card only allows you to load USD. There are several other benefits associated with the card for travelers going to the US. The card gifts you 2 points every time you spend USD 5 at any shops/merchant outlets.
- Along with the TripAssist features of the Axis Bank, they also have chip and PIN technology which works far better than old cards which used a magnetic strip.
- Can Pay without lag directly at any Diners powered merchant outlets.
- Coverage of medical treatment and ATM robbery. (Maximum amount Rs 60,000)
- Insurance coverage in case of theft/lost.
- Users can encash the balance, transfer it to a resident foreign currency domestic account.
Axis Bank Diners Card Fees & Charges
The fees and other charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| ATM Withdrawal abroad | Card activation charge | Encashment of funds | Reload fee | Balance inquiry | Pin Change | Add-on Card Fee |
| US $2 | Rs. 150 + GST | Rs. 100+ GST | Rs. 100 + GST | Nil | Nil | Rs.100.00 + GST |
4. HDFC Bank Multicurrency ForexPlus Card
HDFC ForexPlus Cards is among one of the best forex cards India, it is easy, safe as well as a cashless way of carrying foreign currency on your trip abroad. You can use this card to make payments for shopping, lodging, dining, etc.
This card allows you to avail currencies of 22 different countries, which are:
- US Dollar
- Euro
- Pound Sterling
- Australian Dollar
- Canadian Dollar
- Swiss Franc
- Japanese Yen
- Singapore Dollar
- Swedish Kronor
- UAE Dirham
- Saudi Riyal
- Thai Baht
- South African Rand
- Danish Krone
- Omani Riyal
- Qatari Riyal
- Korean Won
- Hong Kong Dollar
- Norwegian Krone
- Bahraini Dinar
- New Zealand Dollar
- Kuwaiti Dinar
- Its payWave NFC technology helps you make a payment without providing information about the card that means contactless.
- A backup card facility is available if your primary card is stolen or lost.
- It comes with an embedded chip and PIN-based transactions.
- Emergency Cash Delivery Assistance: if you lose your card or there is a card failure HDFC bank provides Emergency Cash delivery service all over the world.
- There is an extra assistant service for lost passport and lost luggage.
- Free complimentary international SIM that offers talk time worth ₹200.
- Customers also get insurance protection valued ₹5 lakh which protects the card against any misuse.
HDFC Bank Multicurrency ForexPlus Card Fees & Charges
The fees and other charges for this forex card in India are mentioned below:
| ATM Cash Withdrawal | Application fee | Re-active Fee | Reload Fee | Re-active Fee |
| USD 2.00 | 500/- plus GST | Rs 100 | Rs 75 | Rs 100 |
5. HDFC Bank ISIC Student ForexPlus Card
As the name suggests, this card is introduced for students and works as a student identity card. It comes with lots of benefits like you can get discounts in around 130 countries like books, travel, etc.
The card allows the following 3 currencies:
- USD
- Euro
- Sterling Pounds
- Can avail of special discounts and exclusive benefits.
- Protection from skimming and fraud, the card comes with an EMV chip.
- Card is accepted as student identity card across the country.
- An added benefit of insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakhs along with accidental death coverage.
- Baggage loss charges are Rs. 50,000.
- Passport reconstruction cover, maximum of Rs 20,000.
- Customers will get free, complimentary international SIM with talk time worth Rs.200.
- It can be purchased 60 days in advance from the date of travel.
Also Read: Best Banks For A Personal Loan In India
HDFC ISIC Student ForexPlus Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and other charges for this forex card in India are mentioned below:
| Card issuance fee | Reload Fee | Re-issuance of Card Fee | ATM Cash Withdrawal | Balance Enquiry | Charge slip Retrieval |
| Rs.300 | Rs.75 | Rs.100 | USD 2.00 | USD 0.50 | USD 3.00 |
Cross-reference: How prepaid forex cards differ from debit or credit cards
6. HDFC Regalia ForexPlus Card
This card comes loaded with USD currency. There are no-cost currency charges. You can pay for payments across other currencies as well. Also, the cross-currency charge for this card is zero.
- Contactless payment method.
- HDFC provides assistant worldwide if the Card is lost or is failing.
- Emergency cash delivery within 6-7 hours if card is lost.
- Complimentary service by Partner hotels.
- Earn reward points for every $1 spent.
- Free access to lounges in the international airport.
- Insurance coverage from Rs. 50000 to 5 lakhs.
- In case of cash withdrawals managed at ATMs associated to All Point Network, the ATM ownership charges get waived.
HDFC Regalia Forex Plus Card Fees & Charges
The fees and other charges for this forex card in India are mentioned below:
| Card issuance fee | Application fee | Reload Fee | Re-issuance of Card Fee | ATM Cash Withdrawal | Balance Enquiry |
| Rs.1000 | 500/- plus GST | Rs.75 per reload | Rs.100 per card | USD 4.00 | USD 0.50 |
*Rs. 1000 is the card issuance fee.
7. Thomas Cook Borderless Prepaid Card
Another best forex card in India, this card comes with a validity of 5 years, and another best thing about this card is that you get a backup card free of cost. You can use this backup card if you lose your card’s primary forex card or it gets stolen.
This card allows you to avail currencies of 9 different countries through one single card, which are:
- Swiss Francs
- US Dollars
- Australian Dollars
- British Pounds
- Euro
- Canadian Dollars
- Singapore Dollars
- Japanese Yen
- Arab Emirates Dirham
- Card protection based on a Chip and PIN.
- Backup card without any charges.
- Not linked to your bank account.
- Dedicated customer support and emergency service.
- No cash withdrawal charges at ATMs are deducted.
- Backup Card available at Zero Cost.
- No surcharge at ATM’s across All Point network.
- Insurance cover up to USD 10,000.
- Free replacement of lost or stolen card.
Thomas Cook Borderless Prepaid Card Fees & Charges
The fees and other charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| ATM Withdrawal Abroad | Card Activation Charge | Reload Fee | Inactivity Fees | Cross Currency Charge |
| USD $ 2 | Rs. 150 + GST | Rs. 100 + GST | USD $5 | Nil |
8. Thomas Cook One Currency Card
This card can be stuffed with USD and used throughout the world. Issued on the MasterCard network, this card is valid for up to 5 years.
- Like in a modern debit or credit card, to make the transactions safe and convenient, this forex card comes with Chip and PIN technology.
- Zero cross conversion charge.
- Chip and Pin protected.
- Free replacement of lost or stolen cards.
- No cash withdrawal charges at ATMs are deducted.
- Backup Card available at Zero Cost.
- No surcharge at ATM’s across All Point network.
- USD 10,000 cover-up under any complimentary insurance.
Thomas Cook One Currency Card Fees & Charges
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| ATM Withdrawal Abroad | Card Activation Charge | Reload Fee | Inactivity Fees | Cross Currency Charge |
| US$ 3.99 | Rs. 150 + GST | Rs. 100 + GST | US $5 | Nil |
9. IndusInd Bank Multi-Currency Forex card
This Forex card is for the once who frequently travel abroad. About 8 currencies can be loaded on this card. It is not necessary that you must be an existing IndusInd Bank customer to opt for this forex card. You also get dining, and safe transaction offers with this card.
There are different currencies that can be loaded are as follows:
- United States Dollar
- Euro
- Australian Dollar
- Great Britain Pound
- Singapore Dollar
- Saudi Riyal
- Canadian Dollar
- UAE Dirham
- Hong Kong Dollar
- Swiss Franc
- Japanese Yen
- New Zealand Dollar
- South African Rand & Thai Baht
- The card is highly secured as it comes with an embedded chip.
- Easy online transactions.
- Allows withdrawals from all VISA ATMs.
- It comes with a paired card key option, which is a backup card in case you lose the primary card.
- Cardholders can easily encash the remaining balance once they come back to India.
- Card replacement is available in case of loss or damage of card.
- It offers you 2 free ATM withdrawals per currency every month.
- The refund process is very convenient.
- Get instant alerts for transactions.
- It provides you with instant transaction alerts. This helps avoid fraud.
- Extra back up card is provided along with the primary card.
IndusInd Bank Multi-Currency Forex Card Fees &Other Charges
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Issuance Fee *(Single Card) in INR | Issuance Fee (Chip Single Card in INR) | Reload Fee in INR | Re-Issue Card Fee in INR |
| 150 | 150 | 100 | 100 |
10. ICICI Bank Multi-Currency Platinum Travel Card
This travel/forex card is a prepaid foreign currency card that will make your foreign trip enjoyable without constant worrying of cash problems. You can load this card with multiple foreign currencies in India and use it abroad to withdraw cash in the local currency.
The ICICI Bank MultiCurrency Platinum Travel Card also comes with features such as travel insurance, emergency assistance, advanced account management features.
The currencies that can be loaded are as follows:
- US Dollar
- Pound Sterling
- Euro
- Canadian Dollar
- Australian Dollar
- Singapore Dollar
- Arab Emirates Dirham
- Swiss Franc
- Japanese Yen
- Swedish Krona
- South African Rand
- Saudi Arabian Riyal
- Thai Baht
- New Zealand Dollar
- Hong Kong Dollar
- Liability insurance cover of up to Rs 2 lakhs on lost cards.
- In case of loss of card/the card being misplaced will get help 24*7.
- Duty Free shopping at Indian airports.
- Superior security through 3D Secure and CHIP & PIN technology.
- Discounts on shopping, dining, and stay.
- Up to Rs 10 lakhs of cover on personal air accident cover.
- Convenient refund process.
- Instant account update in real-time.
- It can be easily reloaded online.
- Wallet to wallet transfer.
ICICI Bank Single Currency Forex Card fees and charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| ATM withdrawals | Joining fee | Reload fee | Inactivity fee | Cross currency fee | ATM Balance inquiry fee | Replacement of lost card fee |
| USD 2.00 | Rs.150 + GST | Rs.100 + GST | USD 5 for every 180 days of inactivity | 3.5% + applicable GST | USD 0.50 | USD 3 if lost in India USD 20 if lost abroad |
Cross-reference: How Does a Forex Card Work?
11. Trip Money Global Cash Card
One of MakemyTrip’s best forex cards India is the SBM bank-issued TripMoney Global Cash Card. It provides financial support to overseas travelers and reduces the cost of currency exchange. People who want to handle their cash and cards online are the target market for the Tripmoney Global cash card. The fact that the card, unlike others, does not need a credit history has been a godsend to those who enjoy traveling abroad. The Tripmoney Global Cash Card is used worldwide. You may make purchases at every POS and ATM in any currency of your choice. You may quickly load money in INR and utilize it in any foreign currency with no forex markup or currency conversion fees, giving you freedom. This card can be used in 150-plus countries in a completely hassle-free manner.
This card lets you avail of the following currencies:
- Euro (EUR)
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Great Britain Pound (GBP)
- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
- United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
- Saudi Riyal (SAR)
- Thai Baht (THB)
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
- Swiss France (CHF)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Swedish Krone (SEK)
- South African Rand (ZAR)
- Regular audits take place to ensure the safety of the transactions.
- The forex card is secured by data encryption to ensure the safety of the digital data.
- The data of the cards and the customers are secured.
- Global Cash Card from Tripmoney is free for life.
- There are no additional expenses associated with this prepaid card, such as joining, yearly, or renewal fees.
- The card will be delivered within 7 days minimum.
- Borrow money in INR and use it in whatever you choose.
- The entire procedure is computerized.
- It provides easy app-based card management.
- Free subscription to MakeMyTrip (MMT) Black.
- A coupon is good for savings of up to INR 70,000 at MakeMyTrip.
- Customers save 2% to 4% when there is no foreign exchange markup on their purchases.
- When compared to the exchange rates at airport currency counters, you may save up to 10%.
Trip Money Global Cash Card Fees and Charges
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Cash Withdrawal Fee | Minimum activation load | Transaction Fee | Balance Enquiry | Foreign Currency Markup Fee | Cross Currency Usage Fee |
| Rs. 499+GST | Nil | Nil | Rs 1000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
12. YES Bank Multi-Currency Travel Card
It is considered one of the most beneficial foreign exchange cards of India, being cost-efficient and secure. The online customer care portal helps in easy management of cards from all over the world at any point of time. It has high security and low total cost compared to others.
The currencies that are supported by this card are:
- USD (United States Dollar)
- EUR (Euro)
- SGD (Singapore Dollar)
- GBP (British Pound)
- AED (UAE Dirhams)
- AUD (Australian Dollar)
- CAD (Canadian Dollar)
- JPY (Japanese Yen)
- HKD (Hong Kong Dollar)
- CHF (Swiss Franc)
- Chip based Card for higher security
- Instant SMS Alerts in real time
- Insurance coverage on Card
- Temporary Card Lock Feature
- Safer and Secured mode of carrying foreign currency
- You can see and analyze the details of any previous transaction made. You can also check your last 10 transactions.
- It is easy to manage this Card by connecting to the customer support portal accessible online.
YES Bank Multi-Currency Travel Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Issuance Fee | Reload Fee | Refund Fee | Cross Currency Fee (Mark-up Fee) | Cash Advance / Cash Disbursement fee |
| INR 125.00/- | INR 100.00/- | INR 75.00/- | 2.75% of Transaction Value | 2% of Transaction Value |
13. BookMyForex Travel Card
BookMyForex has launched its very own Visa-powered forex card in association with YesBank for making foreign payments simpler. Travelling students and working professionals like its service and find it beneficial. There are no costly fees for using ATMs to withdraw money or scanning balance at retail locations. BookMyForex has resulted in saving Rs. 19.25 crores by selling 1,25,000+ forex cards and this is what differentiates it from its competitors.
This card supports the following currencies:
- US Dollar
- British pound
- Euro
- Stringent PIN protection method that ensures security of the customer’s account and money.
- You can get notifications for all your transactions through automatic fraud prevention mechanism.
- Free Insurance Cover for theft or other unwanted incidents.
- The Card can support 15 different currencies of several countries at the same time.
- It is more convenient than other cards, since you can exchange currency for free.
- Bookmyforex waives off all charges commonly associated with forex cards, such as issuance, reloading, etc.
BookMyForex Travel Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Issuance Fee | Reload Fee | Refund Fee | Cross Currency Fee* (Mark – up Fee) | Inactivity Fee |
| INR 0.00/- | INR 0.00/- | INR 0.00/- | 3.5% of Transaction Value | USD 5/eqv |
14. Niyo Global Card
According to a survey by a trustworthy travel agency, the Niyo Global Card is a popular and beneficial currency card. In association with DCB Bank, this card was launched. It eases use of the card through their mobile application, and you can lock the card if unused for a long time.
This card lets you avail of the following currencies:
- US Dollar
- British pound
- Euro
- Canadian Dollar
- Australian Dollar
- Japanese Yen
- Saudi Riyal
- Singapore Dollar
- United Arab Emirates Dirham
- Swiss France
- South African Rand
- Thai Baht
- New Zealand Dollar
- Hong Kong Dollar
- Manage digital savings account by locking or adding limits on various transactions.
- Insurance cover of up to ₹5 Lakh
- Real-time updates for your transactions
- Besides the TripAssist capabilities given by DCB Bank, it functions on chip and PIN technology, that is more effective than older cards using magnetic strips.
- ATM ownership charges are waived for withdrawals made from machines connected to the All Point Network.
Niyo Global Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Joining fee | Annual fee | Account loading | International POS and Ecom transactions exceeding ₹7 lakhs in a given financial year | Reissue of lost, stolen or damaged card |
| Free | Free | Free | 5% is charged as TCS on the incremental amount exceeding ₹7 lakhs | ₹250 + GST |
15. Wise Borderless Card
Wise Borderless Cards are one of the best student forex cards. They allow transactions at minimum cost across countries and easy payments, both big and small, in respective local currencies. It is online-based, and you can transfer money throughout the world in 60+ currencies. If you are a student of the United States, Europe, Australia, or the United Kingdom, you can avail of a Wise multi-currency account, a single card that lets users carry 45+ currencies and make withdrawals of up to USD 350/INR 25,976 for free per month.
The currencies that are supported by this card are:
- AUD (Australia)
- CAD (Canada)
- EUR (European banks)
- GBP from any bank account in the UK, or by SWIFT
- NZD (New Zealand)
- MYR (Malaysia – only available for personal accounts)
- SGD (Singapore)
- USD (United States of America), or by SWIFT from certain countries
- RON (Romania – only available if you’re a resident in the EEA, Switzerland, the US, Canada, Australia, or Japan)
- HUF (Hungary)
- TRY (Turkey)
- Freeze and unfreeze card in one go.
- Generate new digital cards for safety and security.
- Get notifications for every transaction.
- This card has low uniform fees for exchange rates.
- It doesn’t require many formalities to send money to their home country.
- You can save up to 85% for international transactions.
Wise Borderless Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Opening an account | 2 or less withdrawals | + 1.50 USD per withdrawal | Hold 50+ currencies | |
| Free | Free | 2% | No subscription fees and 9 USD | Free |
Cross-reference: Forex card: Who is eligible, what paperwork is necessary, and what fees are associated with it
16. ICICI Bank Student Forex Card
ICICI Bank Student Forex Prepaid Card is made exclusively for students who want to study in foreign countries. One great feature is that you can reload it at any Forex branch of ICICI, their online platform Forex@Click, or through their iMobile app.
This card supports the following currencies:
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Great Britain Pound (GBP)
- Euro (EUR)
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
- United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
- Swiss France (CHF)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Swedish Krone (SEK)
- South African Rand (ZAR)
- Saudi Riyal (SAR)
- Thai Baht (THB)
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
- Liability insurance cover of up to Rs 2 lakhs on lost cards.
- In case of loss of card/the card being misplaced will get help 24*7.
- Provision of lost card/counterfeit card liability coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakhs.
- Card protection plus insurance worth Rs. 1,600.
- Duty Free shopping at Indian airports.
- International Student Identity Card (ISIC) membership at just Rs. 590.
- 40% discount on excess baggage.
- 20% discount on courier service by DHL.
ICICI Bank Student Forex Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Joining fee | Annual fee | Reissue card | Reload Fee | Cross currency charges |
| Rs. 499 | Rs. 199 (from the second year onwards) | Free for 1st time | Rs. 100 | 3.5% |
17. MakeMyTrip HDFC Bank ForexPlus Card
This is one of the best forex cards for students and workers abroad. MakeMyTrip HDFC ForexPlus Card is a co-branded prepaid forex card. The card has initial issuance fee of Rs. 500 (plus GST), but there is no annual membership fee for the card. Transactions from the card can be completed easily and do not incur any forex mark-up fee, however, a cross-currency usage charge of 2% of the transaction amount is charged for a currency other than the one loaded on the card.
This card lets you avail of the following currencies:
- Australian Dollar
- Dirhams
- Canadian Dollar
- Euro
- Hongkong Dollar
- Japanese Yen
- Singapore Dollar
- Sterling Pound
- Swiss Franc
- Swedish Krona
- Thailand Baht
- South African Rand
- Oman Riyal
- New Zealand Dollar
- Danish Krone
- Norwegian Krone
- Saudi Riyal
- Korean Won
- Bahrain Dinar
- Qatari Riyal
- Kuwait Dinar
- US Dollar
- Secured Transactions with Chip & PIN at POS feature
- Protection against Foreign Exchange rate fluctuation
- Facility to change ATM PIN according to your convenience
- Backup Card facility (available only on request)
- Complimentary MMT Black membership
- Ola voucher worth Rs. 500 for a minimum of USD 1,000 (or equivalent)
- Issuance fee waiver with a valid MMT flight/hotel/holiday booking ID, or on the first loading of a minimum of USD 1,000 (or equivalent)
- 2 complimentary lounge access at international airports across India.
MakeMyTrip HDFC Bank ForexPlus Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Joining Fees | Issuance Fee | Cash Withdrawal Charges | Reload Fee | Cross-Currency Usage Fee |
| Rs. 500 (plus applicable taxes) | Rs. 500 (plus applicable taxes) | USD 2 | Rs. 75 | 2% of the transaction amount |
18. Axis Bank Club Vistara Forex Card
Axis Bank Club Vistara Forex Card is a co-branded prepaid card, launched by the association of Axis Bank and Air Vistara. Though not a credit card, you can earn rewards as Club Vistara Points (CV Points) on all transactions through the card. No annual fee is charged for the card membership, but there is an initial fee of Rs. 500 (plus GST) during card issuance. Also, no minimum income criteria is required for its eligibility.
The currencies that are supported by this card are:
- USD (United States Dollars)
- EUR (Euro)
- GBP (Great Britian Pounds)
- SGD (Singapore Dollars)
- AUD (Australian Dollars)
- CAD (Canadian Dollars)
- JPY (Japanese Yen)
- CHF (Swiss Franc)
- SEK (Swedish Krona)
- THB (Thai Baht)
- AED (UAE Dirham)
- SAR (Saudi Riyal)
- HKD (Hongkong Dollars)
- NZD (New Zealand Dollars)
- DKK (Danish Kroner)
- ZAR (South African Rand)
- Ultra-short range of less than 4 cm
- Unique built in secret key to generate a unique code for every contactless transaction
- Every transaction is securely authorised.
- The power and global reach of the VisaNet system to help prevent fraudulent transactions.
- 500 Club Vistara Points (CV Points) as a welcome gift on loading the card for the first time.
- Cashback of up to Rs. 1,000 on international roaming packs by VI.
- No forex mark-up fee on transactions made in the currency loaded on the card.
- A cash withdrawal fee of USD 2.25 (or equivalent) is charged every time you withdraw cash from an ATM.
- A cash advance fee of 0.5% of the transaction amount (maximum fee of USD 75) is also applicable on cash withdrawals using the card.
Axis Bank Club Vistara Forex Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Cost of Purchase | Transaction fee | Cash Withdrawal Fee | Balance Inquiry | Cash Advance Fee |
| INR 500+GST | Nil | USD 2.25 (or equivalent) | USD 0.50 (or equivalent) | 0.5% of the Transaction Amount (Maximum Fee of USD 75) |
19. Goibibo ICICI Bank Forex Prepaid Card
Goibibo ICICI Bank Forex Prepaid Card is a co-branded forex card launched by ICICI Bank and Goibibo jointly. Like all other prepaid cards, you need to first load the card with cash before you can use it for transactions. Although there is no reward structure, few other benefits can be availed of, like discounts on forex rates, dining, cab vouchers, etc.
This card supports the following currencies:
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Great Britain Pound (GBP)
- Euro (EUR)
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
- United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
- Swiss France (CHF)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Swedish Krone (SEK)
- South African Rand (ZAR)
- Saudi Riyal (SAR)
- Thai Baht (THB)
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
- Liability insurance cover of up to Rs 2 lakhs on lost cards.
- In case of loss of card/the card being misplaced will get help 24*7.
- Complimentary comprehensive insurance plan with the card.
- Duty Free shopping at Indian airports.
- goCash+ Gift Voucher worth Rs. 500. goCash+ is a 100% redeemable currency on Goibibo.
- Goibibo vouchers worth Rs. 1,000.
- Cab voucher worth up to Rs. 1,000 on loading USD 1,000 on the card.
- Discount of Rs. 0.40 on forex rate on loading USD 1,000 on the card.
- Discount of 15% on dining at 100+ Indian restaurants in 6 countries- Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok when you make the payment with your Goibibo ICICI Forex Prepaid Card.
- Complimentary cards protection worth Rs. 1,600 from OneAssist wallet assistance.
- Discount of Rs. 500 on shopping at Croma outlets (including airport outlets and online).
Goibibo ICICI Bank Forex Prepaid Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Joining fee | Annual Fee | Cash Advance Charge | Reload Fee | Cross-Currency Mark-Up Fee |
| Rs. 499 + GST | Nil | 0.5% of the transaction amount | Rs. 100 | 3.5% of the transaction amount |
20. ICICI Bank Sapphiro Forex Prepaid Card
ICICI Bank Sapphiro Prepaid Forex Card is a premium forex card with a high issuance (joining) fee of Rs. 2,999 (Rs. 999/annum chargeable second year onwards), and benefits like complimentary international lounge access, discounts on hotel/flight bookings, etc. ICICI Sapphiro Prepaid Forex Card does not have any reward structure as it is not a credit card. No income-based criteria is required for eligibility for Sapphiro Prepaid Forex Card. You can apply for the card either online or through ICICI Bank’s forex branches where you can submit your application offline.
This card lets you avail of the following currencies:
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Great Britain Pound (GBP)
- Euro (EUR)
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
- United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
- Swiss France (CHF)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Swedish Krone (SEK)
- South African Rand (ZAR)
- Saudi Riyal (SAR)
- Thai Baht (THB)
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
- Liability insurance cover of up to Rs 2 lakhs on lost cards.
- In case of loss of card/the card being misplaced will get help 24*7.
- Complimentary comprehensive insurance plan with the card.
- Duty Free shopping at Indian airports.
- Central shopping voucher worth Rs. 500.
- Uber discount vouchers worth Rs. 1,000.
- 2 complimentary international lounge access at airports worldwide with Dragon Pass membership.
- 5% discount on hotel and flight bookings with a monthly max cap of Rs. 3,000 on the cashback.
- Discounts on international roaming packs.
- No mark-up fee on cross-currency usage.
- A free replacement card is provided in the welcome kit.
- The card can be used for shopping at duty-free stores at international airports across India.
ICICI Bank Sapphiro Forex Prepaid Card Fees & Charges:
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Issuance fee | Annual Membership Fee | Foreign Currency Mark-Up Fee | Cross-Currency Usage Charges | Cash Advance Fee |
| Rs. 2,999 (plus GST) | Rs. 999 (plus GST) | Nil | Nil | USD 2 |
Cross-reference: Forex cards are a cheaper, value-loaded option for international travel
21. ICICI Bank Coral Prepaid Forex Card
The ICICI Bank Coral Prepaid Forex Card is one of the best forex cards India, and it is available only for transactions involving foreign currencies. It is a prepaid card, thus before using it for foreign exchange transactions, you must fill the card with one of the supported foreign currencies. It’s important to note that the card cannot be used at any Indian online or offline retailers; however, it may be used at any international online or offline retailers that accept Visa credit or debit cards that are registered outside of India. The card is also accepted in duty-free shops in all of India’s international airports. Although the card doesn’t have a reward system (reward points or cash back), you still get a lot of extra advantages like cinema tickets, insurance covers, taxi vouchers, etc.
This card lets you avail of the following currencies:
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Great Britain Pound (GBP)
- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
- United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
- Swiss France (CHF)
- Euro (EUR)
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
- Swedish Krone (SEK)
- South African Rand (ZAR)
- Saudi Riyal (SAR)
- Thai Baht (THB)
- Complimentary Complete card security with OneAssist.
- With the new 3D Secure authentication available on the Card, you can protect your online transactions.
- Card a 24-hour GCAS service for a fee to owners. Customers can use this service, subject to relevant fees, in the event of an emergency, a lost or stolen card, or to obtain certain types of information when traveling abroad.
- A joining bonus of Rs. 500 for each BookMyShow and Uber voucher.
- Comprehensive insurance coverage includes insurance payouts for check-in luggage delays, card loss, and aviation accident coverage.
- The card can be used to make purchases at duty-free shops at all Indian airports.
- The welcome kit includes a free replacement card. The backup card can be triggered if the primary card is lost.
- During overseas travel, concierge services and emergency cash delivery are available.
- Exciting discounts available just like various best forex cards India on international travel, eating, and shopping.
Insurance benefits
With the ICICI Coral Prepaid Forex Card, you receive a comprehensive insurance package that includes liability coverage for lost cards as well as travel-related insurance benefits like protection from delayed checked baggage, lost passports or tickets, missed connections to international flights, and hijacking of aircraft.
- Air accident – Rs. 10 lakh
- Counterfeit Card Liability – Rs. 5lakh
- Lost card liability – Rs. 5 lakh
- Missing connecting international flight – USD 300
- Delay of Checked-in baggage- USD 300
- Loss of passport or tickets – USD 500
- Flight Hijacking – Up to USD 3,000
ICICI Bank Coral Prepaid Forex Card Fees and Charges
The fees and charges for this forex card are mentioned below:
| Joining Fee | Annual Fee | Cash Withdrawal Fee | Transaction Fee | Balance Enquiry | Foreign Currency Markup Fee | Cross Currency Usage Fee |
| Rs. 499+GST | Rs. 299+GST | USD 2 or equivalent or 0.5% on POS transactions | Nil | Nil | Nil | 3.5% |
Benefits Of A Forex Card
A forex card comes with a lot of benefits, especially when you are traveling abroad. Here are a few benefits you get when you opt for a Forex Card in India:
- A safe option to handle foreign currency while traveling abroad.
- It is less expensive and comes with fewer charges than that of credit or debit cards.
- It offers exclusive discounts and privileges.
- For making payment of any purchase, all you need to do is swipe your card to pay.
- The best Forex cards offer better rates for currency exchange than a traveler’s check or cash.
- Forex cards in India come with special discounts, no ATM access fee, no cross-currency charges, and low transaction charges.
- Its features make it a safe method of payment.
- It is accepted worldwide.
- It also offers free international sim cards, emergency cash assistance, and a lot of other privileges.
A few interesting facts about Forex Travel Cards
- The bank issue these cards at a very low price ranging from Rs 150 to Rs200.
- The foreign currency loaded on the card will be at the present day’s exchange rate. Even if the market values of the currencies change, your rate remains fixed and unchanged.
- The Fees charged for the conversion of currency is included in the price. There are no charges charged extra for that.
- No additional amount is charged every time you make any purchase. When you buy something from a retail shop, you can simply swipe your Forex card to pay the bill, and for that, no fees will be charged.
- You can withdraw money from the ATM worldwide, but if you use an international ATM, you’ll be charged.
- You cannot top-up your Forex Card abroad. If you want to, contact the centre which issued your card first.
- One cannot put more than $2000 in the Forex Card ( as directed by RBI)
Forex Card Vs International Debit and Credit Card
If you look into all the benefits and offers a Forex Card has, it is a much better option than a credit or debit card. You can look through different benefits you get from different forex cards and choose for yourself, the best forex card.
Below are a few reasons why opting for a Forex card in India is a good decision:
- Easier to apply and get it approved than credit cards. The process to get a forex card in India is very easy and convenient.
- Unlike credit or debit cards, you can load multiple foreign currencies. If you are traveling from country-to-country Forex card helps you load the currency you need in your card.
- There are no currency conversion charges when you swipe your Forex Card.
- A low issuance fee is charged.
- You can opt for a replacement card without any inconvenience if your forex card is lost or it fails to work.
- Even if the market rate of the currencies keeps falling or rising, the exchange rates remain fixed.
Which Forex Card Should You Choose?
Forex cards can be used for all kinds of transactions. Multiple currencies can be loaded in one single card, and you can load money up to 2.5 lakh at maximum as directed by the RBI.
You can get yourself a forex card from your bank or a forex dealer, and you are not required to be an existing customer of the bank for getting yourself a forex card.
Just fill out an application form with your details, the amount of foreign currency you need, etc., along with it, you need to submit a self-attested photo of your passport, a copy of Visa and few other documents as asked by the bank.
There are multiple options before you choose a good forex account as per your need.
There are a few charges applied to your forex card:
- Cash withdrawal charge at any ATM
- Balance inquiry charge
- International SMS Alert charge
- Replacement Card Fee
- Statement request charge
- Charge slip retrieval charge
- Statement request charge
- Cross currency markup charge
- Inactivity Fees
Forex cards come with lots of privileges and special offers. You must choose the best option among all the forex cards and decide after that as it will throw a light on your business history. The card you choose depends entirely on your requirement. Some card may have higher fees, or some cards are of single currency while others are multiple currencies, some might be best for students while some for travelers who are traveling abroad.
Forex cards are ideal for traveling abroad because:
- It does not incur any conversion charges. When you use a credit card to make a purchase in a foreign country, conversion charges are applied. And that is charged up to 3.5% of the transaction value. But a forex card has no such charges.
- Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates have no effect on it. Through other methods of payment, there are chances that as the rates of foreign currencies go higher, you will also be charged accordingly no matter what. When you use a forex card, your foreign exchange rates remain the same, and you are not charged any extra fees.
- No cash withdrawal fee is charged. While withdrawing money from an ATM using a credit card or debit card, there is a withdrawal fee charged to you which may go up to 2 percent to 3.5 percent of the withdrawal amount. There is also the involvement of mark-up fees and other charges. Forex cards have a limited withdrawal limit, and the withdrawal of cash through it is much cheaper or not at all.
- You can load different currencies and exchange them anytime as forex cards are really flexible. You can exchange up to 22 foreign currencies through it.
Forex cards have emerged as a convenient and secure mode of carrying foreign currency while traveling abroad. The forex card market in India is growing rapidly, and several banks and financial institutions are offering attractive forex card options to customers.
As a traveler, it is essential to compare the various forex cards available in the market and choose the one that best suits your needs. By doing so, you can enjoy a hassle-free and cost-effective travel experience while making the most of your foreign currency.
