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NRI Infinia and Doubts
- Thread starter Half Human
- Start date
- Replies 27
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Update as of 14/08:
Platinum debit card has been disabled and anew NRO RuPay card has been issued.
Credit cards untouched.
Was able to request an add-on card for wifey who holds an NRO account with HDFC. Card issued successfully and has been dispatched. So now have two addons, The other one being mum who’s a resident Indian.
Platinum debit card has been disabled and anew NRO RuPay card has been issued.
Credit cards untouched.
Was able to request an add-on card for wifey who holds an NRO account with HDFC. Card issued successfully and has been dispatched. So now have two addons, The other one being mum who’s a resident Indian.
ShadowLurker
TF Neo
NRI Infinia User here - answers based on my experience
1) Would infinia for NRI be still usable in the smartbuy app for my overseas flight travels and hotels? For eg, I used my NRI infinia for a flight ticket from Paris to Heathrow, using smartbuy. Would I be getting 16.6% CB as RP?
Useable. However you need to register on the Smartbuy website with a local mobile number (sim must be active overseas, as it is OTP-based login). Then you can register your credit card on the website.
2) In the scenario of Smartbuy, would that be considered as international transaction or domestic? (Consider the same situation of flight from Paris to Heathrow as in question 1)
Everything on the Smartbuy website is treated as domestic transaction and in Rupees.
3) Would all of my international spends be deducted with 20% TDS, even for an NRI card? I understand it will happen on all spends beyond 5L with an Indian CC. But since this is an NRI card, would there be a 20% TDS still? Its true that all of it would be refundable, but why pay that much money upfront only to recieve it a year later refunded, thereby meeting an average of 3-4% loss.
Not sure about this. I registered my NRI Infinia Card on my NRE Account, not NRO, so theoretically there should be no TDS.
4) Since in one article somewhere I read that all NRI cards will have pre-enabled Autopay debit feature linked to an NRO account. So is there any way to pay the bill via other ways? Eg: Can I use sbiunipay/canara setu (if they are still rewarding in 2026), to pay the infinia NRI card bill, using IDFC wealth DC (NRO account with wealth programme)?
This is correct. Autopay is enabled on my NRE Account by the bank, and I cannot disable it. I haven't tried to pay my credit card via external means. I just did a test on Amazon Pay, and it looks possible but only via Netbanking. There is also a question of whether the bill can be paid with non-NRE money. If you know of any other external payment methods that also gives us points for paying the credit card bill, let me know. It will be interesting to see if it works.
5) Also, if payment via other way is possible, can I use any of my UK bank's DC to pay off the due of NRI infinia across any UK bill payment portal?
Unlikely.
6) Can I apply for an NRI Infinia, even before I attain the NRI status. Eg, to obtain NRI status you need to stay in India for less than 182 days in an year. So as soon as I leave to UK and start living there can I apply for NRI status and apply for NRI infinia?
You need to have a non-resident bank account and an FD, so I don't think you can apply for the card before even gaining NRI status.
7) With NRI Infinia can I apply for an add-on for my parent residing in India, for their domestic use? So that I can accrue rewards from my personal domestic+international transactions, and my parents domestic transactions?
Yes, you can - Parents, Spouse & Children (18+), but only 4 add-on cards are available. You will accrue points from their spending.
8) If my landlord in UK accepts CC for rent payment, would it be a wise idea to use NRI Infinia to pay off my rents? I will definitely try for one month, get the MCC and assess the situation. Still if anyone does this please do opine.
If it is allowed to use non-UK credit cards for local payments, then yes you can use your Infinia card. There is a 2% fee (+18% GST on the 2%) for each international transaction. Very useful if you are travelling out of India, and don't have that country's card.
1) Would infinia for NRI be still usable in the smartbuy app for my overseas flight travels and hotels? For eg, I used my NRI infinia for a flight ticket from Paris to Heathrow, using smartbuy. Would I be getting 16.6% CB as RP?
Useable. However you need to register on the Smartbuy website with a local mobile number (sim must be active overseas, as it is OTP-based login). Then you can register your credit card on the website.
2) In the scenario of Smartbuy, would that be considered as international transaction or domestic? (Consider the same situation of flight from Paris to Heathrow as in question 1)
Everything on the Smartbuy website is treated as domestic transaction and in Rupees.
3) Would all of my international spends be deducted with 20% TDS, even for an NRI card? I understand it will happen on all spends beyond 5L with an Indian CC. But since this is an NRI card, would there be a 20% TDS still? Its true that all of it would be refundable, but why pay that much money upfront only to recieve it a year later refunded, thereby meeting an average of 3-4% loss.
Not sure about this. I registered my NRI Infinia Card on my NRE Account, not NRO, so theoretically there should be no TDS.
4) Since in one article somewhere I read that all NRI cards will have pre-enabled Autopay debit feature linked to an NRO account. So is there any way to pay the bill via other ways? Eg: Can I use sbiunipay/canara setu (if they are still rewarding in 2026), to pay the infinia NRI card bill, using IDFC wealth DC (NRO account with wealth programme)?
This is correct. Autopay is enabled on my NRE Account by the bank, and I cannot disable it. I haven't tried to pay my credit card via external means. I just did a test on Amazon Pay, and it looks possible but only via Netbanking. There is also a question of whether the bill can be paid with non-NRE money. If you know of any other external payment methods that also gives us points for paying the credit card bill, let me know. It will be interesting to see if it works.
5) Also, if payment via other way is possible, can I use any of my UK bank's DC to pay off the due of NRI infinia across any UK bill payment portal?
Unlikely.
6) Can I apply for an NRI Infinia, even before I attain the NRI status. Eg, to obtain NRI status you need to stay in India for less than 182 days in an year. So as soon as I leave to UK and start living there can I apply for NRI status and apply for NRI infinia?
You need to have a non-resident bank account and an FD, so I don't think you can apply for the card before even gaining NRI status.
7) With NRI Infinia can I apply for an add-on for my parent residing in India, for their domestic use? So that I can accrue rewards from my personal domestic+international transactions, and my parents domestic transactions?
Yes, you can - Parents, Spouse & Children (18+), but only 4 add-on cards are available. You will accrue points from their spending.
8) If my landlord in UK accepts CC for rent payment, would it be a wise idea to use NRI Infinia to pay off my rents? I will definitely try for one month, get the MCC and assess the situation. Still if anyone does this please do opine.
If it is allowed to use non-UK credit cards for local payments, then yes you can use your Infinia card. There is a 2% fee (+18% GST on the 2%) for each international transaction. Very useful if you are travelling out of India, and don't have that country's card.
Last edited:
Half Human
TF Ace
Best reply. Will be marking this as solution ♥️♥️✌️💃
I am in a similar boat, initially I thought of making a nre thread but then eventually decided to not increase count, rather just contribute to this.
So, my situation is that I have some rough 11-12L that I need to park in FD as emergency funds for me and family. I talked with my RM, he said it is possible however I asked him to double check, he will get back by this week. My doubds are the following:
1. I already hold LTF CC (Business Regalia and Tata Neu Infinity), what will happen to them?
2. I hold Current Accounts and SB Accounts and all, will they be converted to NRE/NRO? Is it mandatory or can I just skip that?
3. Is there a better way to utilize this money, initially my plan was to just put FDs through StableMoney in Small Finance Banks of about 4L each to have that RBI Insurance and peace of mind (because obviously, higher interest). But here the goal of this money is not for profit but just as FD. So I don't really bother about this difference in interest. Is there any other bank which has similar scheme?
4. I read somewhere (not sure TF Community or Reddit) that someone was able to get ICICI EPM based on Infinia as C2C basis. Can I do that? I mean, ICICI wouldn't know that my Infinia is NRI basis or secured? (Unless they check credit report very carefully). Has anyone done that?
5. Are there any other premium CCs that I can get through secured way? (TBH, my requirement is just unlimited global lounge access, I don't care about rewards).
So, my situation is that I have some rough 11-12L that I need to park in FD as emergency funds for me and family. I talked with my RM, he said it is possible however I asked him to double check, he will get back by this week. My doubds are the following:
1. I already hold LTF CC (Business Regalia and Tata Neu Infinity), what will happen to them?
2. I hold Current Accounts and SB Accounts and all, will they be converted to NRE/NRO? Is it mandatory or can I just skip that?
3. Is there a better way to utilize this money, initially my plan was to just put FDs through StableMoney in Small Finance Banks of about 4L each to have that RBI Insurance and peace of mind (because obviously, higher interest). But here the goal of this money is not for profit but just as FD. So I don't really bother about this difference in interest. Is there any other bank which has similar scheme?
4. I read somewhere (not sure TF Community or Reddit) that someone was able to get ICICI EPM based on Infinia as C2C basis. Can I do that? I mean, ICICI wouldn't know that my Infinia is NRI basis or secured? (Unless they check credit report very carefully). Has anyone done that?
5. Are there any other premium CCs that I can get through secured way? (TBH, my requirement is just unlimited global lounge access, I don't care about rewards).
Half Human
TF Ace
1) Mostly will have to be closed if NRI Infinia is needed. This is what my RM and CC team told
2) Yes it is mandatory to convert them to NRO/E, without which NRI Infinia will not be accepted
3) Just 16% cashback on atleast 1 L spend is 16000. This is equal to 1.6% interest on 10 L FD. So this is the best way to maximize the FD. Consider any spend beyond 1L in an year. It's high returns (Tax Free RP's)
4) On cibil it will be shown as a secured CC and not an unsecured. So less likely EPM will be given.
5) Idk. BUT this is the best i believe. Global value back programme gives a net reward of 2% on Forex
Technically my Customer ID is different for my CC Accounts and SB account / Current Account. (for some weird reason, I have 3 customer IDs and 3 separate net banking credentials). Maybe this can be helpful in my senario where I can just convert my SB Account and leave my other CC and Current account as is, lol. Let's see. I'll update here.
