Kotak Mahindra BankLifetime Free

Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card

Last updated: 17 October 2026

Welcome offerExperience absolute financial freedom with a virtual, Lifetime Free (LTF) credit card—zero joining fees and zero annual renewal fees.
Annual fee
Lifetime Free
Reward rate
Flat 3 Reward Points per ₹100
Editorial score guidance
700+
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Free to apply via CardsGuruji · subject to issuer approval

Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card | CardsGuruji
RuPay
Rewards

How the rewards work

What you earn on every spend, and the ways you can cash it in.

You earn

Flat 3 Reward Points per ₹100

Engineered for pure simplicity: Earn a flat 3 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent across all eligible UPI and standard credit card transactions. There are no complex category caps or spending tiers to track. Points never expire. (1 Reward Point = ₹0.07).

Redeem for

  • Direct Statement Credit (Cashback)
  • Vouchers & Merchandise via Kotak Rewards
Reward currency
Reward Points
Card network
RuPay
Perks

What you get with this card

The privileges that come bundled in, beyond the reward points.

  • Seamless UPI Integration: Link this RuPay credit card directly to your favorite UPI applications (Google Pay

  • PhonePe

  • Paytm) to scan and pay at millions of local merchants.

  • Lifetime Free: No minimum spend requirements to chase. The card carries zero annual maintenance charges forever.

  • Virtual Instant Issuance: The card is issued virtually through the Kotak mobile banking app for immediate use, offering enhanced security for digital transactions.

  • Milestone Freedom: Enjoy limitless point accumulation without any monthly or billing cycle limits on your Reward Points.

Our verdict

Pros & cons

An honest read on where this card earns its keep — and where it doesn't.

What we like

  • Absolutely lifetime free (LTF) with zero hidden maintenance fees

  • Bridges the gap between traditional credit and modern UPI by allowing merchant QR code payments

  • Very simple flat reward structure means you don't have to memorize category exclusions

  • Reward points never expire allowing you to comfortably pool them for a larger redemption

What to watch out for

  • The monetary value of the rewards is quite poor (1 Pt = ₹0.07) yielding an effective return of just 0.21%

  • Completely lacks lifestyle benefits such as airport lounge access dining discounts or movie ticket offers

  • Issued primarily as a virtual card (a physical card may require an additional request/fee)

  • High 3.5% forex markup fee makes it unsuitable for international travel or online foreign currency purchases

Costs

Fees & charges

Everything the issuer can bill you for, in one place.

Annual fee
₹0Lifetime free — no renewal charge

Other charges

Applied only when the situation arises

Balance transfer
Standard Kotak lending rates apply
Foreign currency markup
3.50% + GST
Late payment
Tiered charges ranging from ₹0 (under ₹100 balance) up to ₹1,200
Returned payment
₹500 per instance
Over-limit
₹500 per instance

Interest rates

Charged on any balance you carry forward

Purchases
3.50% per month (42.0% annually)
Balance transfer
3.50% per month
Cash advance
3.50% per month
Penalty rate
Tiered late fee structure up to ₹1,200
Eligibility

Credit-score and eligibility guidance

Issuer-stated requirements and CardsGuruji guidance are shown separately.

700+out of 900
CardsGuruji editorial guidance: 700+

What this means for your application

  • A score range is general guidance, not an issuer's eligibility requirement.
  • Issuers independently assess income, employment, existing obligations, repayment history and other criteria.
  • Check the issuer's current eligibility terms before applying; no score guarantees approval.

Note: A displayed score is editorial guidance only unless separately identified as an issuer-stated requirement.

FAQs About Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card

Everything you need to know about Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card fees, reward conversion, lounge access, and application eligibility.

Yes, Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card is issued as a Lifetime Free (LTF) credit card with ₹0 joining fee and ₹0 annual renewal fee. Cardholders do not need to hit an annual spend target to waive the fee. Standard GST is only applicable on interest or fee-based services if incurred.

Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card earns Reward Points at a primary rate of Flat 3 Reward Points per ₹100. Specifically, Engineered for pure simplicity: Earn a flat 3 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent across all eligible UPI and standard credit card transactions. There are no complex category caps or spending tiers to track. Points never expire. (1 Reward Point = ₹0.07).. Spends in Entry Level, Lifetime Free, Lifestyle, UPI categories provide the maximum valueback per transaction on this card.

Yes, because Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card is on the RuPay network, you can link it directly to any UPI application including Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM. This allows you to scan merchant QR codes at local stores and pay from your credit card account while earning reward points.

Rewards earned on Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card can be redeemed for Direct Statement Credit (Cashback), Vouchers & Merchandise via Kotak Rewards via Kotak Mahindra Bank's official rewards portal or mobile banking app. Points typically carry a multi-year validity period, though regular redemption against high-value vouchers or statement balances is advised.

A CIBIL credit score of 700 or above is strongly recommended for approval of Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card. Applicants should be Indian residents aged 21 to 65 years with a stable monthly income (salaried or self-employed with ITR) and no recent payment defaults or high credit utilization over 30%.

Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card levies a forex markup fee of 3.50% + GST on transactions processed in foreign currencies. For cross-border shopping and overseas travel, remember that standard 18% GST applies on the markup charge.

Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card currently features a welcome offer: "Experience absolute financial freedom with a virtual, Lifetime Free (LTF) credit card—zero joining fees and zero annual renewal fees.". To claim this joining perk, cardholders typically need to activate the card and complete a qualifying initial transaction within 30 to 60 days of card issuance.

Key highlights include Absolutely lifetime free (LTF) with zero hidden maintenance fees and Bridges the gap between traditional credit and modern UPI by allowing merchant QR code payments. However, keep in mind that The monetary value of the rewards is quite poor (1 Pt = ₹0.07) yielding an effective return of just 0.21% and Completely lacks lifestyle benefits such as airport lounge access dining discounts or movie ticket offers. Overall, Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card delivers strong value if your regular spending aligns with Entry Level, Lifetime Free, Lifestyle, UPI.

Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card is focused on Entry Level and Lifetime Free and Lifestyle and UPI valueback and does not include unconditional complimentary airport lounge visits as a core benefit. If lounge access is a deciding factor for your travels, consider pairing this with a dedicated premium travel credit card.

You can apply for Kotak Upi Rupay Credit Card directly through Kotak Mahindra Bank's official website or digital portal. Essential documents include your PAN card, Aadhaar card for video KYC, proof of address, and recent income documentation (3 months' salary slips or latest ITR with computation). Decisions are typically communicated within 2 to 4 working days.