Lifetime Free Credit Cards for Students and Young Professionals

Managing expenses efficiently while setting up a strong foundation of personal finance is a common desire among students and young professionals. A lifetime free credit card provides an excellent starting point, since it offers all essential features without the additional burden of paying annual fees. Whether travel benefits, reward points, or financial protection, the right card can make money management much easier while fast-tracking financial confidence.

IDFC FIRST Bank offers some of the best lifetime free credit cards in India, each crafted keeping in mind the spending habits commonly found in early earners. Whether you need a student-friendly credit card, a beginner-friendly option, or a feature-rich value card, these cards combine flexibility with long-term benefits, making them well-suited for anyone starting their financial journey.

1. FIRST WOW! Credit Card

·         A student-friendly card, as there is no income proof required, and it works on the Fixed Deposit (FD) backed model.

·         This card is also well-suited for individuals who spend money abroad or students who travel abroad, as there are no forex markup fees.

·         Cash withdrawals turn out to be stress-free with zero interest for up to 45 days, applicable on domestic as well as international ATMs.

·         Everyday purchases earn strong value, since the card offers up to 4X reward points on transactions, thereby ensuring every spend translates into long-term rewards.

·         The FD linked with the card earns an interest per annum, thereby supporting savings growth alongside active usage of the card.

·         Eligibility is quite simple: one needs to be at least 18 years or older and create an FD of at least ₹20,000. Credit history or income documentation isn't required for this credit card.

·         Spending confidence goes up because the credit limit is equal to at least 100% of the FD value, allowing first-time users to have predictable control.

·         UPI payments also earn rewards where users get up to 3X reward points on UPI spends through a UPI-enabled FIRST WOW! Credit Card.

·         Additional value for new users comes through a 100% cashback offer, up to ₹200, rewarded as ₹50 per transaction on the first four UPI payments once the credit card is linked to UPI. 

·         Digital issuance promotes convenience, as users get an instant virtual card upon completion of the KYC process, allowing immediate usage.

This makes the FIRST WOW! Card one of the best lifetime free credit card choices for beginners and students.

2. Millennia Credit Card

·         It is ideal for young adults who wish to combine lifestyle and everyday convenience.

·         Railway travellers enjoy comfort as the card provides four complimentary railway lounge visits every quarter. Spend ₹20,000 within the current calendar month to access railway lounge benefits in the following month.

·         Safer road travel with complimentary roadside assistance worth ₹1,399 up to four times a year.

·         A personal accident cover of ₹2,00,000 for the cardholder adds to the power of financial security.

·         Added protection is further facilitated by the lost card liability cover of ₹25,000 to account for unauthorised use.

·         Entertainment lovers save every month with 25% off on movie tickets up to ₹100, redeemable via the District by Zomato app.

·         Everyday commuters save more as the card includes a 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹200 for monthly transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000.

3. Classic Credit Card

·         A dependable lifetime free credit card that works well in building early financial discipline.

·         Railway lounge access is included, with four complimentary visits every quarter when monthly spending crosses ₹20,000.

·         Road-related emergencies are easier to handle with complimentary roadside assistance worth ₹1,399, provided up to four times annually.

·         Users remain covered through an individual accident cover of ₹2,00,000, which provides the bare minimum cover needed by a young professional.

·         Additionally, there is a lost card liability cover of up to ₹25,000, minimising the chances of financial loss.

·         Get a 25% discount up to ₹100 on movie tickets booked through the District by Zomato app.

·         Regular fuel consumption becomes cheaper as the card has a 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹200 per month.

4. Select Credit Card

·         A strong option for young professionals who seek occasional travel benefits in addition to daily savings.

·         Get 1 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per quarter. Simply spend ₹20,000 in the current month to unlock these benefits for the next month.

·         Railway travel gets an upgrade, too, in the form of four complementary railway lounge visits per quarter, applicable when the spends exceed ₹20,000 per month.

·         Users also get a personal accident cover of ₹ 5,00,000 with a lost card liability cover of up to ₹ 50,000.

·         The card also includes an air accident cover of ₹1 crore for better travel assurance while flying domestically or internationally.

·         Unexpected cancellations are less stressful, too, as the card has trip cancellation cover up to ₹10,000 for two claims.

·         International expenses are affordable with 1.99% forex fees.

·         The fun of movie outings with Buy One Get One up to ₹125 twice a month is now available exclusively through the District by Zomato app.

·         Save consistently with a 1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹300 per statement cycle for daily commuters.

5. Wealth Credit Card

·         This is a high-value lifetime free credit card targeted at young professionals.

·         1 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per quarter*

·         1 complimentary international airport lounge access per quarter*

·         Rail travel also gets added convenience in the form of four complimentary railway lounge visits per quarter, applicable upon qualifying spends.

·         Safety is ensured by a personal accident cover of ₹10,00,000 and a lost card liability cover of ₹50,000.

·         Trip cancellation cover of up to ₹10,000 and air accident cover of ₹1 crore are provided.

·         With 1.5% Forex fees, the international traveller earns some savings on purchases abroad.

·         Comprehensive travel insurance coverage of up to USD 1,200, including USD 500 for baggage loss, USD 100 for baggage delay, USD 300 for loss of passport/documents, and USD 300 for flight delay.

·         1 complimentary golf access per quarter**

* For lounge access spend ₹20,000 in the current month to unlock these benefits for the next month.

**For golf spend ₹20,000 in the current statement cycle to unlock the benefit for the next month.

Conclusion

The best lifetime free credit card chosen early in your financial journey can shape positive spending habits and build long-term stability. Whether you want the best travel perks, best reward points, best security benefits, or best approval for beginners, IDFC FIRST Bank has some of the topmost options with the FIRST WOW!, Millenia, Classic, Select, and Wealth Credit Cards. Each card delivers substantial value without annual fees, making them perfect for students and young professionals entering the world of financial independence.

Disclaimer: This article is published in association with IDFC First and not created by TNM Editorial.