The verdict
Scapia remains one of India's most compelling international spending tools. For zero annual fee, you save 3.5% + GST on every overseas swipe while earning 2% in travel coins. The only caveat is the 2026 lounge spend criteria hike to ₹20,000/month.
Spending ₹2,00,000 abroad per year saves ₹8,260 in avoided forex markup and GST compared to standard 3.5% cards, while yielding 20,000 Scapia Coins (worth ₹4,000 in free hotel/flight bookings). Total net benefit is ₹12,260 on a ₹0 annual fee card.
If you primarily seek unrestricted airport lounge visits without spending ₹20,000 monthly, or want direct cashback and airmiles transfer instead of Scapia in-app redemptions, a pure cashback card like SBI Cashback is better suited.
✓What works
- +True Zero Forex Markup: 0% fee on all international POS, online, and foreign currency transactions.
- +Lifetime Free: Zero joining fee and zero annual renewal fee forever.
- +Multi-bank partnership across Federal Bank, BOBCARD, and Axis Bank, offering flexible underwriting and dual network choice on Mastercard and RuPay.
- +10% Scapia Coins (2% return) on regular retail spends and 20% Coins (4% return) on in-app travel bookings.
- +Seamless modern app interface with instant transaction push notifications and security toggles.
✕What doesn't
- −Lounge access now requires ₹20,000 spend in the preceding billing cycle (hike from ₹5k).
- −Coins can only be redeemed for flights and hotels inside the Scapia app (no cash credit or airline miles transfer).
- −No rewards accrued on utilities, fuel, rent, or government transactions.
What it earns
Earn 10% Scapia Coins on eligible retail spends (5 Coins = ₹1 value; 2% yield). Earn 20% Scapia Coins on flight and hotel bookings inside the Scapia App (4% yield).
| Category | Rate | Monthly Cap | Per ₹1L spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scapia App Flight & Hotel Bookings | 20% Coins (4.0% Value) | Uncapped | 20,000 Scapia Coins (₹4,000) |
| General Retail & International POS/Online | 10% Coins (2.0% Value) | Uncapped | 10,000 Scapia Coins (₹2,000) |
| Fuel, Utilities & Rent | 0% (Excluded MCCs) | N/A | 0 Coins |
Accelerated earn
This card does not offer merchant portal or accelerated multiplier rates.
Redemption options
Reward points value varies significantly depending on the redemption channel you choose.
| Redemption Channel | Value Per Point | Minimum | Ceiling / Limits | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flights & Hotel Bookings in Scapia AppBEST VALUE | ₹0.20 per Scapia Coin (5 Coins = ₹1) | 250 Coins (₹50) | None | Nil |
| Statement Cash Credit | Not Supported | N/A | None | Nil |
| Airline Frequent Flyer Transfer | Not Supported | N/A | None | Nil |
Reward Scope: Inclusions & Exclusions
✓Eligible Spends (Inclusions)
- +True 0% forex markup on international retail, dining, and online purchases.
- +Unlimited domestic airport lounge access upon achieving ₹20,000 billing spend.
- +RuPay UPI credit linking for scan-and-pay transactions at local merchants.
- +24/7 in-app digital customer assistance.
✕Excluded Spends & Fee Traps
- −Fuel transactions, utility bill payments, and rent payments do not earn coins.
- −Wallet top-ups, cash withdrawals, and EMI transactions excluded.
- −No international airport lounge access included.
Fee Schedule & Waiver Criteria
| Fee Component | Amount / Rate |
|---|---|
| Joining Fee | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) |
| Annual Renewal Fee | ₹0 (Lifetime Free) |
| Forex Markup Fee | 0.0% (Zero Markup) |
| Interest Rate (APR) | 41.88% per annum (3.49% per month) |
Eligibility & Approval Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age Requirement | 21 to 65 years |
| Minimum Income | ₹3,60,000 per annum |
| Credit Profile | Existing credit history or prime bureau score (CIBIL 730+) |
| Issuing Partners | Allocated between Federal Bank or BOBCARD during in-app KYC |
Policy Changes & Devaluation History
1 RecordLounge Spend Threshold Doubled to ₹20,000/Month
Monthly spend needed for complimentary lounge access doubled from ₹10,000–₹15,000 to ₹20,000. Utility and insurance spends removed from reward calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scapia Credit Card offer airport lounge access?
What are the MITC charges, annual fees, and interest rates for Scapia Credit Card?
What is the reward rate and point redemption value on Scapia Credit Card?
Which transactions are excluded from earning rewards on Scapia Credit Card?
Who is Scapia Credit Card best suited for in 2026?
Editorial Deep-Dive Analysis
Comprehensive Overview: Scapia Credit Card
The Scapia Credit Card is a co-branded travel credit card issued in partnership with Federal Bank, BOBCARD, and Axis Bank. Built specifically for frequent travelers and international online shoppers, the card combines a true 0% forex markup with a lifetime-free structure requiring ₹0 joining and ₹0 annual renewal fees. Cardholders earn travel rewards structured as Scapia Coins, which can be redeemed seamlessly inside the Scapia application for flights and hotel bookings across Visa, RuPay, and Mastercard payment networks.
Key Privileges and Practical Everyday Benefits
- Zero Foreign Currency Markup: Enjoy a true 0% forex markup on all overseas retail, dining, and international e-commerce transactions, saving 3.5% plus GST on every foreign swipe.
- Accelerated In-App Travel Rewards: Earn 20% Scapia Coins (equivalent to a 4% effective return) on all flight and hotel bookings completed directly through the Scapia travel portal.
- General Retail Rewards: Earn 10% Scapia Coins (equivalent to a 2% effective return) on everyday domestic retail and international POS and online purchases.
- Transparent Coin Redemption: 5 Scapia Coins equal ₹1 (₹0.20 per coin), allowing direct redemption against flights and stays without blackout dates or booking fees.
- Domestic Lounge Access: Enjoy unlimited complimentary domestic airport lounge access across India upon achieving ₹20,000 in billing spends during the preceding statement cycle.
- RuPay UPI Integration: With the RuPay variant, link your credit line directly to UPI apps for seamless scan-and-pay transactions at merchant QR codes.
Important Terms and Spend Conditions to Keep in Mind
- Lounge Spend Requirement: Complimentary domestic lounge access is unlocked only after spending at least ₹20,000 in the previous billing cycle.
- Reward Redemption Exclusivity: Scapia Coins can only be redeemed for flights and hotels inside the Scapia app; direct statement cash credits or frequent flyer airline miles transfers are not supported with 0 cash payout.
- Category Exclusions: Zero rewards (0%) are accrued on fuel transactions, utility bill payments, rent, wallet top-ups, ATM cash withdrawals, and EMI conversions.
- Finance Charges: Unpaid revolving credit balances incur financing charges of 3.49% per month (41.88% per annum).
Who Benefits Most
The Scapia Credit Card is best suited for international travelers, overseas digital shoppers, and students abroad who want to eliminate forex markups entirely while earning 2% to 4% returns on travel. Spending ₹2,00,000 abroad saves ₹8,260 in forex fees while yielding 20,000 Scapia Coins worth ₹4,000, creating ₹12,260 in total annual savings at ₹0 fee. Those seeking unconditional lounge visits without spending ₹20,000 monthly or direct cashback should consider cards like SBI Cashback or AU Ixigo.
- Scapia & Federal Bank Official Co-Branded Card Agreement & Schedule of Benefits
- Scapia & BOBCARD Co-Branded Program Policy & 2026 Lounge Spend Schedule
- Scapia & Axis Bank Co-Branded Program Launch & Network Terms (03 Sep 2026)
- https://www.federal.bank.in/documents/d/guest/mitc_v11-30_04_26
- https://media.bobcard.co.in/media/wldj0y5t/bobcard-scapia-mitc-1.pdf
- https://www.axis.bank.in/cards/credit-card/scapia-axis-bank-credit-card
Independent Editorial & Statutory Disclaimers
Institutional Transparency & Nominative Fair Use Statement
CredSutra operates as an independent credit card discovery and consumer intelligence engine. CredSutra is NOT a bank, Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Direct Selling Agent (DSA), or Lending Service Provider (LSP).