HSBC Credit Cards in India: All you need to know
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Should you go for an HSBC Bank credit card? Here's everything you need to know before you start exploring the exact answer.
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HSBC India offers a small bouquet of cards catering to different spending profiles, from premium travellers to everyday spenders. Still, you’ll find options loaded with reward points, complimentary airport lounges, travel insurance, and dining & travel deals. Although eligibility depends on income, residency, and documentation, overall the bank positions itself for professionals who prefer a refined rewards structure.
Here's every HSBC credit card sold in India today, what it costs, who qualifies, and which one actually matches how you spend.
All HSBC Credit Cards
Card | Annual Fee | Reward Rate | Lifetime Free? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSBC RuPay Platinum | ₹0 | 1.33% effective on all spends, including UPI | Yes | First-time cardholders who want zero cost |
HSBC RuPay Cashback | ₹499 (waived after ₹2L annual spend) | 10% on dining, food delivery, groceries (capped ₹400/cycle); 1% elsewhere | No | Small households building dining rewards |
HSBC Live+ | ₹999 (waived after ₹2L annual spend) | 10% on dining, food delivery, groceries (capped ₹1,200/cycle); 1.5% elsewhere | No | Everyday spenders who want the widest cashback net |
HSBC TravelOne | ₹4,999 (waivable on ₹8L spend) | 4X points on travel and forex (capped 50,000 points/month); 2X points elsewhere | No | Frequent flyers who redeem for airline miles |
HSBC Taj | ₹1,10,000 | 5% on Taj, SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta, amã and Trails; 1.5% elsewhere | No | Ultra-frequent Taj and IHCL guests, by invitation |
HSBC Premier | ₹20,000 (waived for Premier banking customers) | 3 points per ₹100, up to 12X on hotels, flights and car rentals | No | Existing HSBC Premier banking clients who travel often |
HSBC Visa Platinum | ₹0 | 1.33% effective on all spends; accelerated points on hotels, flights and car rentals | Yes | Salaried applicants who want free air miles without a fee |
HSBC's lineup is small — see how it stacks up against every other issuer →
HSBC Credit Card Eligibility
Requirement | Salaried Applicant | Self-Employed Applicant |
|---|---|---|
Minimum annual income | ₹6,00,000 | ₹12,00,000 |
Age | 18–65 years | 25–65 years |
Credit score | 750+ preferred | 750+ preferred |
Citizenship | Indian citizen | Indian citizen |
City residency | Must reside in an HSBC-serviced city (Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and 10+ others) | Same |
That's the baseline for the entry-level cards. The Premier and Taj cards sit outside this table entirely. Premier is restricted to people who already bank with HSBC Premier, and Taj is invitation-only with an income floor of ₹36 lakh for salaried applicants and ₹45 lakh for the self-employed.
HSBC Credit Card Charges & Fees
Charge Type | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual fee | ₹0 to ₹50,000, depending on card (see comparison table) |
Late payment fee | 100% of Minimum Payment Due, floor ₹250, cap ₹1,200 |
Interest rate (finance charge) | 1.99% to 3.75% per month, varies by card |
Forex markup | 0.99% (Premier) to 3.5% (most other cards) |
Cash advance fee | 2.5% of amount withdrawn, minimum ₹500 |
Interest-free period | Up to 48 days, only if the previous cycle's bill was paid in full |
Read that interest-free period line twice. Forty-eight days sounds generous, but it only applies while you're carrying zero balance forward. Miss a full payment once, and every new purchase starts accruing interest from the transaction date.
Also, the RuPay Cashback and TravelOne cards strip out fuel, utilities, insurance, rent, and e-wallet loads from their earning categories – check our merchant category code list if you want to know exactly which of your regular payments will earn nothing.
Which HSBC Card Should You Get?
If your monthly spend is under ₹20,000 and you just want a card with zero annual cost, choose between the two free cards based on how you'll use the points. RuPay Platinum earns modestly – 1.33% on everything, UPI included. Visa Platinum earns a lower rate (2 points per ₹150) but lets you transfer those points to air miles.
If dining, food delivery, and groceries make up a real chunk of your spending, HSBC Live+ is a strong pick. Stronger even if you can comfortably cross ₹2 lakh a year to waive the fee. It also throws in two international lounge visits a year.
If you fly often and care about miles more than cashback, TravelOne is the only HSBC card worth the ₹4,999 fee. It transfers points 1:1 to Accor ALL. If you stay at Accor properties, that alone can cover the annual fee in one redemption.
HSBC Card Devaluations: What Changed
HSBC Premier took a real hit in April 2025. HSBC pulled many categories out of its cashback eligibility, and shifted reward redemption entirely onto the HSBC India mobile app.
Live+ moved the opposite direction. The July 26, 2026 update widened its 10% cashback beyond dining and groceries to include shopping and utility bills, lifted the monthly cap from ₹1,000 to ₹1,200, and added a complimentary international lounge visit that wasn't there before. It's a rare case of an Indian card getting meaningfully better.
Our broader roundup on Indian credit card devaluations in 2026 covers what's happened across other issuers, HDFC and Axis included, if you're holding cards from more than one bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current HSBC credit card charges in India?
Annual fees range from ₹0 on the RuPay Platinum to ₹50,000 on the invite-only Taj card. Across the lineup, expect a late payment fee capped at ₹1,200, a cash advance fee of 2.5% (minimum ₹500), and interest rates between 1.99% and 3.75% a month depending on the specific card.
How many credit cards does HSBC offer in India?
Seven active cards for individuals: RuPay Platinum, Visa Platinum, RuPay Cashback, Live+, TravelOne, Premier, and Taj. But the Premier card is restricted to HSBC Premier customers, and Taj is invitation-only.
Is the HSBC RuPay Platinum really lifetime free?
Yes. It carries no joining fee and no annual fee, with no spend condition attached. The trade-off is a modest 1.33% reward rate and no lounge access.
What changed with HSBC Live+ in July 2026?
The card's 10% cashback category expanded from dining, food delivery, and groceries to also include shopping and utility bill payments. The monthly cashback cap rose from ₹1,000 to ₹1,200, and cardholders now get one free international lounge visit a year.
Can anyone apply for the HSBC Premier or Taj card?
No. Premier is reserved for existing HSBC Premier banking customers. Taj is invitation-only and generally requires a declared annual income of ₹40 lakh or more for salaried applicants, ₹60 lakh for the self-employed.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Eligibility criteria, fees, interest rates, and product features mentioned are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of July 2026, but they can change without notice at the issuer's discretion. Please read the latest Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) on the issuing bank's website and consult a certified financial advisor before applying for any credit card or financial product.
About the Author
Anmol Ratan Sachdeva
Anmol has been tracking the Indian credit card market since 2019, reviewing benefits, changes across 40)+ cards and documenting issuer devaluations in real time. He personally has a card portfolio across HDFC, Axis, SBI Card, ICICI, and writes from direct usage experience. His analysis focuses on real-world return calculations rather than headline reward rates. He writes content for educational purposes.