About Scapia Credit Card
The Scapia Credit Card (issued in partnership with Federal Bank and occasionally available through BOBCARD) is a standout travel-focused credit card in India, particularly for those who enjoy exploring without having to worry about extra fees. It is free for life, has no forex markup, offers solid rewards on everyday and travel purchases, and provides unlimited domestic lounge access with a simple spend threshold. Here's a detailed breakdown to help you decide if it's the best option for your wallet.
Fees and Charges
- Joining Fee: Nil
- Annual Fee: Nil – Lifetime free, no renewal or membership charges.
- Annual Fee Waiver Spends: NA (no annual fee to waive)
- Forex Markup Fee: 0% (zero forex markup on all international spends)
Welcome and Milestone Benefits
- Welcome Benefits: NA
- Milestone Benefits: NA
Cashback and Rewards
- Card Type: Co-branded travel rewards credit card (Visa and/or RuPay variants)
- Card Network: Visa (for general/international) and RuPay (for UPI and domestic)
- Best For: Frequent travelers, international spends (zero forex), domestic airport perks, and those who book travel via the Scapia app
- Cashback/Rewards on Online Purchases: 10% Scapia Coins (effective ~2% value) on eligible spends (Visa); varies for RuPay
- Cashback/Rewards on Offline Purchases: 10% Scapia Coins on eligible spends
- Maximum Cashback per Statement Cycle: No cap on regular rewards; 20% on travel bookings via Scapia app (no cap)
- Rewards Redemption Options: Scapia Coins redeemable instantly for flights, hotels, buses, trains, and other travel on the Scapia app (5 Scapia Coins = ₹1)
Lounge Access
- Domestic Lounge Access: Unlimited domestic airport lounge access (plus complimentary dining, shopping, or spa up to ₹1,000 back in rewards at select airports) – unlocked by spending ₹20,000 combined monthly across Visa/RuPay variants.
- International Lounge Access: NA (no international lounge access)
Category Spend Benefits
- Online Shopping: 10% Scapia Coins on eligible spends
- Food and Grocery: Eligible for base 10% rewards (if not excluded)
- Travel Booking: 20% Scapia Coins on bookings via Scapia app (flights/hotels/etc.)
- Utility Bill Payments: NA
- Fuel: 1% surcharge waiver (up to ₹500/month on transactions ≤₹5,000); rewards typically excluded
Excluded Categories
- All Excluded Categories: Rent, education/school fees, gift cards, fuel, government services, wallet top-ups/loads, insurance, utilities/telecom/cable (over certain limits or fully in recent updates), cash withdrawals, EMI conversions, crypto/digital assets, money transfers, credit card repayments, and certain business/MCC codes.
Why Choose Scapia Credit Card?
The Scapia Credit Card is ideal for budget-conscious travel enthusiasts. With no joining or annual fees, and no forex markup, it's one of the few lifetime-free cards that saves you 2-3.5% on every international transaction—no need for preloaded forex cards. Scapia app offers up to 20% rewards on travel bookings, unlimited domestic lounge access after a ₹20,000 monthly spend, and solid base rewards (10% on most spends), making it an ideal choice for domestic or occasional international travelers. The dual Visa/RuPay setup provides more flexibility for UPI and wider acceptance. If you spend moderately and value travel benefits without paying premium fees, this card outperforms its (zero) weight.
Who is eligible for the Scapia Credit Card?
- Age: 21–65 years (salaried) or 25–65 years (self-employed)
- Indian resident/citizen (some NRIs may qualify)
- Good credit score (generally 720–750+ CIBIL helps)
- Regular income (salaried ~₹18,000+ monthly or annual equivalent; self-employed higher thresholds like ₹4–5 lakh p.a.)
- Not holding another Federal Bank co-branded card (one-card policy in some cases, though updates allow more)
- Application is fully digital via the Scapia app
Is the Scapia Credit Card worth applying for?
Yes, absolutely—if you are a traveler. It's one of the best lifetime-free options for no forex fees and unlimited domestic lounge access (with spend limits). For frequent bookers, the rewards (particularly the 20% off app travel) can add up quickly, and there is no annual fee, which means low risk.
However, if your spending is concentrated in excluded categories (rent, utilities, insurance), or if you require international lounges/premium perks, look elsewhere (for example, higher-end cards). Recent 2026 updates (higher lounge threshold, reward exclusions) have slightly devalued it, but it remains an excellent value for budget-conscious domestic and international travelers. If this position fits your schedule, apply through the Scapia app.