If you frequently spend on travel, lifestyle, or international purchases and are looking for a credit card that offers premium perks rather than just basic rewards, the IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card might catch your eye. This card aims to solve problems like heavy foreign-exchange mark-ups, limited lounge access, and bland reward programmes. In this IDFC First Mayura credit card review, we’ll dive into what the Mayura card offers, its pros and cons, fees, who should apply, and whether it’s worth it in 2025. By the end, readers will know whether it fits their spending style or if they should look elsewhere.
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card Review: Quick Overview
- Card issuer: IDFC FIRST Bank
- Annual fee / Joining fee: ₹5,999 + GST (joining fee paid upfront)
- Welcome bonus: Up to around 12,000 Reward Points (worth approx. ₹6,000) on joining and meeting spends.
- Best for: Frequent travellers, luxury lifestyle spenders, and those doing substantial foreign transactions.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee (first year) | ₹5,999 + GST (joining fee) |
| Reward Points | Up to 10× on incremental spend above ₹20,000/month; 5× below that. |
| Travel & forex perks | 0% forex markup; airport/railway lounge access; trip cancellation cover up to ₹50,000 twice a year. |
| Lifestyle / other perks | Golf rounds/lessons, movie BOGO offers, discounts at luxury hotels. |
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card Benefits
Cashback/Rewards
The reward programme is one of the standout features (if you meet the thresholds). The base earning is 1 reward point for every ₹150 spent. But key accelerators:
- Spend up to ₹20,000 in a statement cycle → earn 5× reward points.
- Once you cross ₹20,000 in a statement cycle → earn 10× reward points on incremental spend.
- Special bonus: Book hotels via the bank’s travel app or flights → may get 50× / 30× bonus reward points per ₹150 spent.
- Reward points redemption value is better when used for travel bookings: 1 point = ₹0.50 when redeemed that way.
- No expiry of reward points while the card is active.
So essentially, if someone spends big and uses the travel/booking channels, they can get upwards of ~20% value back on certain spends.
Travel benefits
- 0% forex mark-up: International spends don’t attract the usual foreign exchange surcharge.
- Complimentary airport lounge access: Up to 4 domestic lounge visits per quarter + 1 guest visit; up to 4 global lounge visits per quarter.
- Complimentary railway lounge access: Up to 4 visits per quarter across India.
- Free trip cancellation cover: Reimbursement of the non-refundable portion of flight/hotel bookings up to ₹50,000 twice a year.
Shopping/Partner offers
- Buy One Get One (BOGO) movie tickets (twice a month) with a discount on the second ticket up to ₹500.
- Fuel surcharge waiver: 1% waiver on fuel surcharges up to ₹300 per statement cycle.
- Discount of ₹5,000 on luxury hotel/resort bookings (e.g., The Postcard Hotels & Resorts) on a minimum booking of ₹25,000 when using the card.
EMI/Big Spend Perks
- Annual milestone rewards: On spending ₹8 lakhs in a card anniversary year → 7,500 Reward Points (worth up to ~₹3,750 at travel redemption). On spending ₹15 lakhs → 15,000 Reward Points (worth up to ~₹7,500).
- The “metal card” feel: Premium look, heavier weight (17 g), making it more aspirational.
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card Fees and Charges
- Joining fee: ₹5,999 + GST, payable upfront before card dispatch.
- Annual fee: Essentially the same amount (₹5,999 + GST) from the second year. No waiver offered.
- Interest rate (APR): Standard for IDFC FIRST Bank unsecured cards; actual percentage depends on credit history. (The bank website does not publish a single flat APR publicly in the referenced sources.)
- Late payment fee, overlimit charges, cash advance fees: Example: cash withdrawal attracts ₹199 + GST per transaction (in India or abroad) plus interest from day one.
- Forex markup: 0% – this is a plus for international spends.
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 0% foreign-exchange mark-up – very useful if you spend abroad.
- Strong travel & lounge access benefits (airport + railway).
- Accelerated reward programme potentially offers high value if you meet spend thresholds.
- Premium metal build and aspirational lifestyle perks (golf rounds, luxury hotel discounts).
- Reward points don’t expire while the card is active.
Cons:
- High joining + annual fee with no waiver – steep cost to keep.
- To maximise rewards, you must spend at least ₹20,000/month; otherwise reward rate falls significantly.
- Exclusions on reward-earn: Fuel spends, EMIs, fees/charges, and cash advance don’t count for milestone / 10× categories.
- For many users, the effective reward rate is modest (some analysts estimate around 1.6% value back) unless you fully optimise.
- Upfront payment of the joining fee before card dispatch – risk if one changes mind.
Who Should Apply for the Mayura Credit Card?
Best for:
- Frequent travellers, especially those who travel internationally and will use lounge access, can benefit from 0% forex markup.
- High spenders who consistently spend over ₹20,000 per month can unlock big reward rates and milestone bonuses.
- Lifestyle spenders who will use the luxury hotel discounts, golf perks, and BOGO movie offers.
Not ideal for:
- Casual spenders or those with monthly spends under ₹20,000, the rewards will not justify the ₹5,999 fee.
- People whose spends are mostly on fuel, EMI, or other excluded categories (since they don’t count for 10× rewards).
- Someone looking for a fee-free or low-fee card: this is a premium product with a premium cost.
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card Eligibility
Eligibility criteria:
- As reported by sources, typically minimum annual income requirement around ₹25 lakhs for fresh applications.
- You need a good credit history (given the premium positioning)
- Some spends with the existing card may help (if upgrading)
Documents required:
- Proof of identity (PAN, Aadhaar, passport, etc)
- Proof of address (utility bill, Aadhaar, passport, etc)
- Proof of income (salary slips, ITR, bank statements)
- Completed application form (physical or online)
Link to apply:
You can apply via the IDFC FIRST Bank website under their credit cards section. [You may insert your affiliate link here.]
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card FAQs
IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card Review: Verdict
In summary: The IDFC FIRST Mayura Credit Card is clearly aimed at a niche: people who spend big, travel internationally, use lounges, and want premium lifestyle perks. If you tick all those boxes, it offers strong value and may justify the fee. On the other hand, if you spend moderately or rarely travel, the annual cost may outweigh the benefits.