This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on July 17, 2025 by Mani Karthik
Back in 2018, barely a year after moving back to India, I was clueless about credit cards.
My Chase Sapphire Reserve from Seattle days was useless here.
I needed an Indian card. Fast.
My HDFC relationship manager suggested Regalia.
“Sir, this is our most popular premium card. Very good for travel.”
At ₹2,500 annual fee, it seemed reasonable.
That card became my gateway to understanding Indian credit cards. 🚀
My Regalia Discovery Story 📖
The Transition Struggle
Moving back from the US in 2017 meant starting fresh financially.
No Indian credit history. No local cards.
My wife was skeptical about the move anyway.
“Mani, even getting a credit card is complicated here!”
I needed to prove that our financial life could work in India.
The First Application
Walked into HDFC Koramangala branch. October 2018.
Had my US salary slips. Citirix paycheck stubs.
“Sir, we need Indian income proof.”
Explained my situation. Recently returned NRI.
Manager offered Regalia based on my NRE account balance.
Got approved. ₹3 lakh limit.
The Learning Curve Moment
First international trip using Regalia.
Family vacation to Singapore. December 2018.
Used Priority Pass at Changi Airport.
My wife’s reaction: “This is actually better than our US cards!”
That moment I realized Indian cards had evolved.
HDFC Regalia At A Glance ⚡
The All Rounder Legacy
Regalia has been one of India’s most popular all-round credit cards from HDFC Bank for well over a decade now. One of the USP’s behind Regalia’s longevity is a good reward rate for a low annual fee, coupled with good travel benefits.
The Current Reality
Note: This credit card has been phased out. Content on this page is for information purpose only. While HDFC Bank is no longer accepting applications for Regalia Credit Card, existing cardholders can continue using the card.
But there’s good news! HDFC launched Regalia Gold as the successor.
The Regalia Family Tree 🌳
| Variant | Status | Annual Fee | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regalia (Original) | Discontinued | ₹2,500 | The legend that started it all |
| Regalia Gold | Active | ₹2,500 | Enhanced benefits, better rewards |
| Regalia First | Active | ₹1,000 | Entry level variant |
The focus has shifted to Regalia Gold. That’s what I’ll primarily review.
The Competition Face Off 🥊
| Feature | Regalia Gold | HDFC Millennia | Axis MyZone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ₹2,500 | ₹1,000 | ₹500 |
| Welcome Benefit | ₹2,500 voucher | ₹1,000 Amazon voucher | ₹500 voucher |
| Base Reward Rate | 2.66% | 2.5% cashback | 1% |
| Partner Brands | 4 brands at 5X | 5+ brands at 5% | 8+ brands discounts |
| Lounge Access | 12 domestic + 6 intl | 4 quarterly (spend based) | 4 quarterly |
| Forex Markup | 2% | 2% | 3.5% |
| Fee Waiver | ₹4L spend | ₹1L spend | ₹1L spend |
| Best For | Travel + Rewards | Online shopping | Lifestyle discounts |
My Take: Regalia Gold offers the best balance of rewards and travel benefits.
The Reward Structure Deep Dive 💰
Base Earning Rate
Individuals get 4 Reward Points on every retail spend of ₹150 and accelerated 5X Reward Points on every ₹150 spent in-store and online at Nykaa, Reliance Digital, Myntra, and Marks & Spencer.
My Annual Spend Analysis (Regalia Gold)
| Category | Annual Spend | Points Earned | Redemption Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular purchases | ₹4,00,000 | 10,667 | ₹5,333 |
| Partner brands | ₹1,00,000 | 3,333 | ₹1,667 |
| Milestone benefits | – | – | ₹16,000 |
| Total | ₹5,00,000 | 14,000 | ₹23,000 |
The Math Reality
Annual fee: ₹2,500 Total value: ₹23,000 Net benefit: ₹20,500
That’s a 4.1% effective return on ₹5 lakh spend!
The Welcome Benefits Reality 🎁
What You Actually Get
After successfully paying joining fees, you will receive a gift voucher worth ₹2500. You will also receive a complimentary MMTBLACK Gold and Swiggy One membership upon spending over ₹1 Lakh within 90 days of getting the credit card issued.
My Welcome Benefits Experience
| Benefit | Stated Value | My Experience | Actual Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gift voucher | ₹2,500 | Used on SmartBuy | ₹2,500 |
| MMT Black Gold | ₹1,499 | Never used | ₹0 |
| Swiggy One | ₹899 | Used frequently | ₹899 |
| Club Vistara Silver | ₹1,000 | Got one upgrade | ₹1,000 |
| Total | ₹5,898 | Reality | ₹4,399 |
The gift voucher essentially makes the first year free.
The Milestone Benefits Strategy 🎯
The Spending Tiers
Assuming you can spend Rs 7.5 Lakh in a membership year and also achieve the Rs 1.5 Lakh spend per calendar quarter, this is a total benefit of Rs 16,000. That makes it an extra return of 2.1% over the base reward rate.
My Milestone Achievement Plan
| Quarterly Spend | Benefit Earned | Annual Value |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1.5L x 4 | ₹2,000 voucher each | ₹8,000 |
| ₹5L annually | ₹4,000 travel voucher | ₹4,000 |
| ₹7.5L annually | ₹4,000 brand voucher | ₹4,000 |
| Total | ₹16,000 | ₹16,000 |
The quarterly vouchers are surprisingly easy to achieve.
The Airport Lounge Experience 🛫
The Access Details
12 complimentary access within India (both at domestic and international terminals) using the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card. Using Priority Pass, you and your add-on member can together avail up to 6 Complimentary Lounge Access per calendar year, outside India.
My Family’s Lounge Usage (2023)
- Domestic lounges: 8 visits
- International lounges: 4 visits
- Guest access: Wife and kids with add-on cards
- Total value: ₹9,600
The Family Advantage
HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card is an amazing card for family travellers as you can get Add-on cards for your family members which allows access not only to domestic airport lounges but also international lounges.
This is huge for families like ours.
The SmartBuy Portal Advantage 🛒
The Accelerated Rewards
The SmartBuy cap for HDFC Bank Regalia Gold credit card is 4000 RP per calendar month and 2000 RP per day. These caps are only for the bonus points. The base reward points are uncapped.
My SmartBuy Strategy
Monthly Amazon vouchers: ₹15,000 spend = 1,500 bonus points Flight bookings: Via SmartBuy for 5X rewards Hotel stays: Always through SmartBuy first
The Monthly Optimization
Target ₹30,000 monthly SmartBuy spend to maximize 4,000 point cap.
Mix of vouchers and travel bookings.
Stack with milestone benefits for maximum value.
The Partner Brands Analysis 🏬
The 5X Partners
5X Reward Points on spends at Marks & Spencer, Myntra, Nykaa & Reliance Digital!
My Family’s Partner Usage
| Partner | Monthly Spend | Wife’s Usage | My Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myntra | ₹5,000 | High (fashion) | Low |
| Nykaa | ₹3,000 | High (beauty) | None |
| Reliance Digital | ₹2,000 | Electronics | High |
| Marks & Spencer | ₹1,000 | Occasional | None |
The partner selection works well for Indian families.
The International Travel Benefits 💱
The Forex Advantage
Enjoy a low foreign currency mark-up fee of 2% when you use your card overseas.
My 2023 US Trip Calculation
- Total foreign spend: $4,000 (₹3.3L)
- Forex markup: ₹6,600 (2%)
- Rewards earned: 8,800 points (₹4,400)
- Net cost: ₹2,200
Compare this to regular bank debit cards at 3.5% markup.
The card almost pays for itself on international trips.
The Fee Waiver Mathematics 📊
The ₹4 Lakh Challenge
A fee of ₹99 is applicable for reward redemption. Card renewal fee waiver is at a high cost of ₹4 lakhs.
My Annual Spend Strategy
| Category | Monthly Target | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | ₹8,000 | ₹96,000 |
| Groceries | ₹15,000 | ₹1,80,000 |
| Dining/Entertainment | ₹8,000 | ₹96,000 |
| Shopping | ₹5,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Total | ₹36,000 | ₹4,32,000 |
We typically hit the ₹4 lakh waiver threshold by month 11.
The Application Process Journey 💻
Current Eligibility
Salaried professionals should be aged 21 years and above but below 60 years. Income should be more than Rs.1 lakh per month.
My Upgrade Experience (2023)
Started with Regalia First in 2018. Built spend history over 5 years. Upgraded to Regalia Gold in December 2023.
The NRI Application Strategy
- Open HDFC savings account (NRE/NRO)
- Start with Regalia First (easier approval)
- Build spend history (₹1L+ monthly)
- Request upgrade after 12 months
The Family Impact Analysis 👨👩👧👦
Wife’s Perspective
She loves the Myntra and Nykaa 5X rewards.
“Finally, my shopping earns us points!”
Monthly beauty and fashion spends: ₹8,000 Points earned: 267 monthly Annual value from wife’s shopping: ₹3,200
Kids’ International School Experience
Used Priority Pass during school trips.
Singapore trip: Saved ₹1,200 on lounge access. Dubai trip: Saved ₹800 on lounge access.
The kids now know to look for Priority Pass lounges.
The SmartBuy Redemption Strategy 💎
The Value Hierarchy
Flights / hotel bookings: 1 RP = Rs 0.5 (via Smartbuy portal), Airmiles conversion: 1RP = upto 0.5 airmiles (via Smartbuy portal), Exclusive Gold Catalogue: 1 RP = Rs 0.65 on premium brand vouchers (via Smartbuy portal).
My Redemption Priority
- Gold Catalogue: ₹0.65 per point (best value)
- Travel bookings: ₹0.50 per point (practical)
- Air miles: Variable value (strategic)
- Regular vouchers: ₹0.30 per point (avoid)
The Annual Redemption Plan
Save points throughout the year. Redeem in November for family vacation. Book flights and hotels through SmartBuy.
The NRI Returnee Perspective 🏠
Why Regalia Worked for Us
Moving back meant learning new shopping patterns.
Indian brands. Local preferences.
Regalia’s partner mix matched our adaptation.
The Cultural Transition
In the US, we used cash back cards.
In India, we learned to love points and vouchers.
Regalia taught us the Indian reward system.
The Travel Bridge
Regular US trips for family visits.
Priority Pass made airports comfortable.
Low forex markup kept costs reasonable.
The Customer Service Reality 📞
My Support Experiences
- Priority Pass application: 5 days processing
- Milestone benefit query: Same day email response
- Card upgrade: 2 weeks completion
HDFC’s premium card service is solid.
Dedicated Regalia support team helps.
The Recent Changes Timeline 📅
The Lounge Access Update
HDFC Bank recently announced revised airport lounge access conditions on its Regalia, Millennia and Diners Club Privilege credit cards. On these variants, we now get airport lounge access only if we spend Rs 1 Lakh in a calendar quarter.
The Regalia Gold Advantage
Original Regalia: Spend-based lounge access Regalia Gold: Unconditional lounge access
This makes Gold the clear winner.
The Alternative Cards Analysis 🔄
If You Want Lower Fees
| Alternative | Annual Fee | Why Consider | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Millennia | ₹1,000 | Online cashback | Digital shoppers |
| Axis MyZone | ₹500 | Lifestyle discounts | Young professionals |
| SBI SimplySave | ₹499 | Offline focus | Traditional spenders |
If You Want Higher Benefits
| Alternative | Annual Fee | Why Consider | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Diners Black | ₹10,000 | 3.33% rewards | High spenders |
| Axis Magnus | ₹12,500 | Transfer partners | Travel hackers |
| ICICI Emeralde | ₹12,000 | Premium benefits | ICICI loyalists |
The Target Audience Reality 🎯
Who Should Get Regalia Gold?
✅ NRI returnees (good starter premium card)
✅ Families (multiple add-on cards)
✅ Moderate travelers (decent lounge access)
✅ HDFC bank customers (ecosystem benefits)
✅ Balanced spenders (rewards across categories)
Who Should Skip It?
❌ High reward seekers (better options at higher fees)
❌ Non-travelers (travel benefits unused)
❌ Single category spenders (focused cards better)
❌ Fee sensitive users (lower cost options available)
The Upgrade Path Strategy 📈
The HDFC Journey
My recommended progression:
- Start: Regalia First or MoneyBack
- Upgrade: Regalia Gold (after 12 months)
- Goal: Diners Black or Infinia (invite only)
The Credit Limit Game
Regalia Gold typically needs ₹3L+ existing limit.
Build this through consistent usage and payments.
Request limit enhancement every 6 months.
The Verdict: Should You Get This Card? 🏆
My Bottom Line After 5+ Years
Regalia (now Gold) was instrumental in my credit card education.
Good balance of rewards and benefits.
Perfect stepping stone to premium cards.
The Current Recommendation
If you’re eligible for only one HDFC card, get Regalia Gold.
If you can get Diners Black, skip Regalia.
If you’re new to India, start here.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Strong all-rounder. Not the best at anything specific.
Perfect for building HDFC relationship.
The 2025 Outlook 📅
What’s Likely to Happen
HDFC will keep enhancing Regalia Gold.
Competition from other banks intensifying.
Expect minor benefit improvements.
My Prediction
- Short term: Stable benefits
- Medium term: Enhanced partner rewards
- Long term: Possible merger with other variants
Get it now if you’re interested.
Final Thoughts: The Starter Premium Card 💭
Look, Regalia isn’t the sexiest card in my wallet.
Infinia and Diners Black get more attention.
But Regalia taught me the Indian credit system.
For NRI families transitioning back, it’s perfect.
Reasonable fees. Decent benefits. Reliable service.
Sometimes the best card is the one that just works consistently.
My Current Status
I still keep Regalia Gold as my daily driver.
Other cards handle specific categories.
But Regalia handles everything else reliably.
The NRI Family Recommendation
If you’re moving back to India, start with Regalia Gold.
Learn the system. Build your history.
Upgrade to premium cards later.
It’s the sensible first step in your Indian credit journey.
Want More Credit Card Insights? 📬
I’ll keep reviewing Indian credit cards from an NRI returnee perspective.
Because building a smart credit portfolio shouldn’t require a finance degree.
Coming Next:
- HDFC Millennia (the cashback alternative)
- HDFC MoneyBack+ (the entry level option)
- HDFC Diners Black vs Regalia Gold (the upgrade decision)
Subscribe for practical guidance that actually helps your family’s financial transition!
Sources & References 📚
- HDFC Regalia Gold Official Page
- PaisaBazaar Regalia Gold Analysis
- PaisaBazaar Regalia Review
- CardInsider Regalia Gold Review
- CardInsider Original Regalia Review
- BankBazaar Regalia Features
- Card Maven Regalia Gold Review
- CardExpert Regalia Gold Analysis
- CardExpert Original Regalia Review
- HDFC Regalia Gold Fees Page
