NRI Royale Signature Credit Card

Can you get a Kotak credit card as an NRI?

Yes, and this is the card. Kotak's NRI Royale Signature is one of the few ways for a non-resident Indian with no Indian credit history to get a credit card in India. Users describe it as backed by a fixed deposit in an NRE or NRO account. Kotak's card record does not state the deposit rule, so confirm it when you apply.

This is not Kotak's resident Royale Signature card, and not IDBI Bank's Royale Signature. Reddit threads about "Kotak Royale Signature" are usually about the resident version.

Rewards worth 1 rupee a point, but slow to earn

Kotak's page confirms the earn rates and that each point is worth ₹1:

• International spends: 2 reward points per ₹200, so 1%
• Spends in India: 1 reward point per ₹200, so 0.5%

The catch abroad is the 3.5% forex markup. Earning 1% while paying 3.5% leaves you about 2.5% down on every foreign spend. Paying in rupees in India avoids conversion costs, but that is not the same as zero forex.

Here is a trip home that is typical. You spend ₹1.5 lakh over a month in India on shopping, restaurants and fuel. That earns 750 points, worth ₹750. The annual fee of ₹1,000 + GST is about ₹1,180, and our record shows no spend waiver. To earn the fee back in points you would need about ₹2.36 lakh of Indian spending a year.

The deposit is the real cost

Six threads in our sentiment report complain about money locked in a deposit while the card stays open. If your card is FD-backed, ask Kotak before you open the deposit:

1. What is the minimum deposit, and how much of it becomes your limit?
2. How long does it take to release the deposit after you close the card?
3. Can a pending fee or disputed charge delay the release?

The card also gives 2 domestic lounge visits a quarter at select Indian airports and a fuel surcharge waiver of up to ₹3,500 a calendar year. Users like that they can issue add-on cards to family living in India.

Who should apply for NRI Royale Signature

Apply if you are an NRI starting an Indian credit history, visit India often, or want add-on cards for parents back home. Use it for 6 to 12 months, pay in full, then look at unsecured cards; users who get upgrade offers prefer Kotak Zen Signature. If most of your spending is abroad, users prefer IDFC FIRST WOW for its zero forex markup.

Credit Card Information Compiled by: Abhijeet Kumar | Reviewed by: Anmol Ratan Sachdeva