This Article was fact checked and last updated for accuracy on June 23, 2025 by Mani Karthik
Hey folks! Mani here. The guy who wished someone had told him about student credit cards when he was broke in engineering college.
Back then, I was surviving on ₹2,000 monthly pocket money and thought credit cards were for “rich people with jobs.” Boy, was I wrong.
Today, students can get credit cards without salary slips or ITRs. I’m breaking down the best options that actually work in 2025.
Why I Wish I Had a Student Credit Card in College
Picture this: 2005, final year engineering. Placement season. Had to travel to Mumbai for interviews. Parents sent ₹5,000 for tickets and hotels.
Ticket booking site crashed. By the time it worked, prices had doubled. Missed the interview because I couldn’t afford the new price.
A credit card would’ve saved that opportunity. Sometimes it’s not about spending money you don’t have. It’s about having access when you need it most.
The Student Credit Card Reality in India
Let me bust some myths first:
Myth: “Students can’t get credit cards”
Reality: Banks offer specific student cards with relaxed eligibility
Myth: “You need ₹25,000 monthly income”
Reality: Student cards need ZERO income proof
Myth: “It’ll hurt your credit score”
Reality: Used responsibly, it BUILDS your credit score from day one
How Student Credit Cards Actually Work
There are three ways to get a credit card as a student:
1. Secured Credit Cards (Against Fixed Deposit)
- Put ₹25,000 in FD
- Get credit card with ₹25,000+ limit
- Keep earning interest on your FD
- Zero income proof needed
2. Add-on Cards
- Parents get you an additional card
- Spend limit set by parents
- Builds your credit history
- Parents responsible for bills
3. Unsecured Student Cards
- Rare but some banks offer these
- Need to be enrolled in college
- Very low limits (₹10,000-₹50,000)
- Usually require co-signer
Top 5 Student Credit Cards Without Income Proof (2025)
1. IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card – The No-Brainer
Rating: 9.5/10
This card is perfect for students. No BS, just works.
Why it’s brilliant:
- Zero income proof needed
- Minimum ₹25,000 FD (₹20,000 in some cases)
- Credit limit = 100% of your FD
- No joining fee, no annual fee (lifetime free!)
- 0% forex markup (perfect for international students)
- 4X reward points on most spends
- You still earn 7.5% interest on your FD
Real example: FD amount: ₹50,000 Credit limit: ₹50,000 Annual FD interest: ₹3,750 Card benefits: Forex savings + rewards
Total value: ₹5,000+
The catch: Need ₹25,000 minimum for FD. Not everyone has this lying around.
Best for: Students with some savings who want maximum benefits
2. HDFC Swiggy Credit Card – The Foodie’s Choice
Rating: 8.5/10
Can be issued as secured card for students.
Why students love it:
- 10% cashback on Swiggy (where students actually order from)
- 5% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart, BookMyShow
- ₹500 annual fee (reasonable)
- Works as secured card with FD
Reality check: Great if you’re a heavy Swiggy user. Otherwise, limited benefits.
3. Tata Neu Plus HDFC Credit Card – The Versatile Option
Rating: 8/10
Available as secured card for students.
Strengths:
- Works across Tata ecosystem (BigBasket, Croma, Tanishq)
- Airport lounge access (rare for student cards)
- Decent reward rates
- Can be secured against FD
Limitations: Locked into Tata ecosystem. Limited if you don’t shop at Tata brands.
4. Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card – The Simple Starter
Rating: 7.5/10
Basic but reliable student option.
Benefits:
- Low eligibility requirements
- Instant approval for some students
- Basic reward structure
- Reasonable annual fee
Honest take: Nothing fancy, but gets the job done for building credit history.
5. SBI Student Plus Advantage Credit Card – The Traditional Option
Rating: 7/10
Old school but still relevant.
Features:
- Designed specifically for students
- Low annual fee
- Basic rewards
- SBI’s wide acceptance network
Downside: Limited benefits compared to newer options.
The FD-Backed Strategy (My Recommendation)
If you have ₹25,000-₹50,000 in savings, go for IDFC FIRST WOW!
Here’s the math: ₹50,000 FD at 7.5% = ₹3,750 annual interest Credit card benefits = ₹2,000+ value annually
Total value = ₹5,750
Plus benefits:
- Build credit score from age 18
- Learn financial discipline
- Emergency credit access
- International transactions at zero markup
The Add-on Card Alternative
If you don’t have FD money, ask parents for add-on card.
Best add-on cards for students:
HDFC Millennia: Parent gets primary, you get add-on
- 5% cashback on partner merchants
- 2.5% on online spends
- Your transactions build your credit history
SBI Cashback: Parent’s primary + your add-on
- 5% cashback on online spends
- Perfect for student shopping habits
- Builds your credit profile
Application Process (IDFC WOW Example)
Step 1: Check eligibility
- Age 18+ ✓
- Indian resident ✓
- Have ₹25,000 for FD ✓
Step 2: Apply online
- Visit IDFC website
- Create savings account (if needed)
- Upload Aadhaar + PAN
- Complete video KYC
Step 3: Create FD
- Transfer ₹25,000 to FD account
- Choose tenure (I recommend 1 year)
- Link FD to credit card application
Step 4: Get your card
- Digital card in 2-3 days
- Physical card in 7-10 days
- Activate and start using
Total time: 1 week
Building Credit Score as a Student
This is the real reason to get a student credit card.
Credit score benefits:
- Start building credit at 18
- Get better loan rates later
- Easier approval for future cards
- Higher credit limits over time
My credit building strategy:
- Use card for 10-20% of limit only
- Pay full amount before due date (NEVER carry balance)
- Set up auto-pay for peace of mind
- Check credit score monthly (free apps available)
Common Student Credit Card Mistakes
Mistake #1: Treating it as free money
Credit cards are borrowed money. Every rupee spent must be paid back.
Mistake #2: Only paying minimum amount
Always pay full amount. Interest rates are 40%+ annually. Will ruin you financially.
Mistake #3: Multiple cards too early
Start with one card. Master it for 6 months. Then consider a second card.
Mistake #4: Ignoring due dates
Late payments = penalty fees + credit score damage. Set up auto-pay.
Mistake #5: Cash withdrawals
Never withdraw cash from credit cards. Charges are insane (2-3% + interest from day 1).
Smart Usage Tips for Students
Use for Regular Expenses
- Online shopping (books, gadgets)
- Food delivery (Swiggy, Zomato)
- Movie tickets (BookMyShow)
- Travel bookings
Don’t Use for
- Cash withdrawals
- Peer-to-peer payments (PhonePe to friends)
- Gambling/betting
- EMI purchases (unless 0% interest)
Smart Spending Rules
- 30% Rule: Never use more than 30% of credit limit
- Pay in Full: Always pay 100% of bill amount
- Track Spending: Use apps to monitor expenses
- Emergency Only: Don’t spend just because you have limit
International Student Special Case
If you’re studying abroad or planning to, student cards with 0% forex markup are goldmines.
IDFC WOW benefits for international use:
- Zero forex markup (saves 3-4% on every transaction)
- Widely accepted Visa network
- No international transaction fees
- Digital card works immediately
Real savings example: Monthly foreign spends: $500 (₹42,000) Forex markup saved: ₹1,260 per month Annual savings: ₹15,120
Parent’s Perspective (What to Tell Them)
Parents worry about credit cards. Here’s how to convince them:
Benefits for parents:
- You learn financial responsibility early
- Emergency access to money when needed
- Builds credit score for future loans
- Better than giving cash for expenses
Address their concerns:
- Show them secured card option (FD-backed = safe)
- Propose spending limits they’re comfortable with
- Set up spending alerts to their phone
- Agree to monthly expense reviews
Real Talk: Do You Actually Need One?
Get a student credit card if:
- You’re responsible with money
- Want to build credit score early
- Shop online frequently
- Travel or study abroad
- Have emergency fund (FD) sitting idle
Skip it if:
- You’re impulsive with spending
- Don’t have steady income (allowance/part-time job)
- Can’t commit to paying full amount monthly
- Already struggling with money management
My Personal Student Card Journey
I got my first credit card at 22 (too late). Wish I’d started at 18.
What I’d do differently:
- Get IDFC WOW with ₹50,000 FD at 18
- Use it for online purchases only
- Pay full amount every month
- Build 750+ credit score by graduation
Result: Better loan rates for bike, car, house. Easy approval for premium cards later.
The 4 years of missed credit building cost me lakhs in higher interest rates on future loans.
Alternative: No-Credit Options
If credit cards feel scary, consider these:
Prepaid Cards:
- HDFC ForexPlus
- ICICI Travel Card
- Good for international travel
- No credit risk
Digital Wallets:
- Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay
- Good for daily transactions
- No credit building though
The Bottom Line
Student credit cards are financial tools, not free money.
Best strategy for most students:
- Start with IDFC FIRST WOW (if you have FD money)
- Or get add-on card from parents
- Use responsibly for 6 months
- Monitor credit score improvement
- Graduate to better cards later
The goal: Build credit history early, learn financial discipline, access emergency credit when needed.
Don’t let fear stop you. The students who master credit cards in college have massive advantages in their 20s and 30s.
Remember: The best time to start building credit was 5 years ago. The second best time is today.
Disclaimer: Credit cards involve debt. Only get one if you can commit to paying full amount monthly. Late payments can damage credit score and create debt problems. This is educational content, not financial advice.